Sandhills, what are the 'cant miss' places.. (Omaha, Grand Island: how much, house)
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I am planning to get in full touch with that area of this state... and one of my plans in the future is to potentially retire there..
What are some of the best areas, and what about areas that people are trying to protect from development as well as areas that are primed for development and etc..
SCGranny, Sandhills Guru, and the rest of you please input!! Thanks!
Spend some time around the Dismal River
Take a leisurly drive along Nebraska Hwy 2 (e.g Grand Island to Alliance)
Suprising how much art is in that area - check out the local art galleries (e.g. Thedford)
If you like nature, go to the recreaton areas (e.g. Calamus around Burwell)
I love the history that is shown in the various small towns museums (lots of them)
Driving the backroads around Rose was always fun
If you are looking for an event to go to - this has always been a great source: Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway (http://www.sandhillsjourney.com/events/ - broken link)
If I had to predict places that might be primed for development in the sandhills its Ord, Broken Bow, Valentine, Calamus Lake and the golf course areas. However, keep in mind development in these areas and Omaha development are two different things. I don't see any of these places absoluelty booming and I don't think local residents will let it either.
If your taking a trip to scope out the Sandhills, check out Calamus, Halsey National Forest, the waterfalls in the Valentine area, etc..
I think Ord would be a good area for you to scope out for retirement. It's just into the sandhills, could be labeled a gateway town to the sandhills and would have the services you need. I see you as a person that enjoys some development and Ord has done a downtown improvement project and just broke ground on a big hospital project. Yet is not a boom town by any means.
The sandhills of Nebraska cover a huge area of our state. Most of the area is not accessible by road.
I will admit I am pretty partial to the Valentine area. Valentine has pretty much everything you would need in my opinion. Specialized health care may be its shortfall. And what surrounds this region of the state has a lot to offer also. The Niobrara River Valley is quite unique. Smith Falls to the east of Valentine offers viewing of the states largest waterfall with a short walk. Valentine Nat'l Refuge southwest of the town offers some of the best fishing anywhere to be had. And we can't forget Merrit down that way also.
I have traveled the sandhills back and forth, up and down. There are many a fine town in its boundries. Many that would fit the need of a person wanting to retire.
I would suggest a week's drive through the area taking time to travel some of the backroads and getting to meet the folks. See the towns and what they have to offer.
You let me know when and we will have a cup of joe on me in my area.
OH! GIVE me an opportunity to tell you about the Sandhills!
From an outsider's viewpoint... first on the two lane roads crisscrossing it, you will be surprised at how - well, hilly it is. Once you get off of the flat interstates and start driving into them, you will be amazed at the sudden peaks and valleys. When you cross the rivers, especially the many crossings of the Niobrara, you will look over the side of the road and gasp; it looks like any mountain river in Colorado or Utah. Wind down around onto the little gravel roads (still two-lane - kinda!) that weave in and out around the rivers, and you will see herds of antelope, deer, and flocks of wild turkeys as well as pheasant. Follow little signs that say "German Settlement Road" or "Cottonwood Lake" or "Refuge" or "Falls" and the sudden dirt roads that lead to incredible views will feast your weary eyes. Get out of the car as often as you can, and walk as far as you can, exploring the many facets of what the area has to offer. You'll see everything from gently tumbling streams to thundering (Snake Falls) behemoths, and all manner of fish, flora, and wildlife. White Pelicans? No, not the miserable grey ones of the coast, but brilliant WHITE ones, flock around the Dam and frequent the little watering holes even as far away as Cody.
Now, stop in Valentine. Don't just sit in the restaurants; but walk around the town. The shopkeepers are proud of what they sell and love to chat, to discover who you are and why you are here. The folks at Young's can get you the perfect fit on your boots; everyone is happy to show you around or to let you wander until you've made a decision. In the restaurants, few of the servers are blind or deaf to your needs; and they'll be happy to tell you what mountain oysters taste like and to reccommend them. (Don't pass them up!) Or describe anything else on the menu, and make sure that you are happy with it.
What impressed me the most is the cleanliness and respectful funloving of the folks. You won't see pants around the knees. You won't see graffiti or gangsign, imitation or real. The trees in the parks all have little plaques that tell you who donated them. Someone's family donated this or that so you had better not destroy it or mutilate it! One young man was driving down Main Street in Valentine at dusk. He was playing his radio a little loudly. At a stoplight, someone walked over to his car and asked him to turn it down. He apologised and did, and then drove on.
The people are helpful and funny and fun, intelligent and sharp, with a ton of common sense. I was looking for the greenhouse in Merriman, and couldn't find it. So I stopped at a house where a lady was working in her garden. We talked for over an hour, and somewhere in the conversation I found out what had happened to the greenhouse - and made a new friend.
Yes, there are drugs, there are meth labs, there are problems; make no mistake, there are those types everywhere. It isn't really perfect. But it is probably as close to heaven - my heaven, anyway! - as I have found here on earth.
As for 'development', please don't think you will come here and find one of those fancy schmancy retirement villages. People don't want to move here because it is cold, it doesn't have Wal Mart, it doesn't have this or that, and it doesn't cater to those who are looking to have their desperately empty lives filled by others. For those types this place is 'empty' and 'boring'. But they do like people here with purpose and direction, with a sense of humor, and who can get along and work with others.
Development? In the Sandhills??
You're going to have a much harder time finding areas that are being developed than those being left alone.
The Niobrara valley in Cherry co. might be about it for "development"...
For my druthers, I'd pick Hyannis, Mullen, or maybe Dunning. While I liked Valentine OK, I like the western "big hills" better.
Lakeside and Ellsworth are nice, too, (though tiny) and they're closer to Alliance.
What are your requirements? Maybe that would help with suggestions...
On thing I would like to see in the Sand Hills or maybe the Panhandle would be an Observation Tower, around 400-500 ft tall, maybe near Valentine, Scottsbluff or Chimney Rock. But who knows.
On thing I would like to see in the Sand Hills or maybe the Panhandle would be an Observation Tower, around 400-500 ft tall, maybe near Valentine, Scottsbluff or Chimney Rock. But who knows.
Just climb the huge tower down by Rose (if they rebuilt it after its collapse a few years back).
oops...maybe that was my youth speaking about it being a good idea... my adult says no don't do it....
Or Mt Baldy north of Lynch. Or the tallest sand hill you can find.
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) that weave in and out around the rivers, and you will see herds of antelope, deer, and flocks of wild turkeys as well as pheasant. Follow little signs that say "German Settlement Road" or "Cottonwood Lake" or "Refuge" or "Falls" and the sudden dirt roads that lead to incredible views will feast your weary eyes. Get out of the car as often as you can, and walk as far as you can, exploring the many facets of what the area has to offer. You'll see everything from gently tumbling streams to thundering (Snake Falls) behemoths, and all manner of fish, flora, and wildlife. White Pelicans? No, not the miserable grey ones of the coast, but brilliant WHITE ones, flock around the Dam and frequent the little watering holes even as far away as Cody. 
)
