Lake Maloney State Recreation Area - North Platte, Nebraska - Recreation Area and Campsite

Lake Maloney State Recreation Area is situated at East State Road Farm in North Platte, Nebraska. To get here from North Platte take highway 83, five miles south to the Lake Maloney sign and go half a mile west. As one of the state parks, a Nebraska State Park Permit is required when entering Lake Maloney State Recreation Area, with fees generated from these permits helping to improve facilities in the park system across Nebraska.

This area is a popular place for taking a picnic, walking the dog or enjoying a gentle stroll and enjoying the scenic views, but there are many other activities visitors can enjoy here. Picnickers will find 136 tables here, whilst water lovers can enjoy swimming or boating on the lake and there are two fish cleaning stations here too as well as a handicap accessible fishing pier. Lake Maloney is over 1,000 acres and is used to regulate the flow of water for generating electricity at Nebraska Public Power District's nearby North Platte Hydro facility.

The Lake Maloney Golf Course at the appropriately named Birdie Lane is an 18-hole par 72 public course built in 1960. Designed by Bill Burns there is 6,660 yards of golf to be played at this course and it also features an eight tees driving range. Other courses relatively close to North Platte include Indian Meadows Golf Course, Iron Eagle Municipal Golf Course and North Platte Country Club.

The campsite here is a non-modern recreation available throughout the year at this 132 acre site. Camping here is available on a first come first served basis with facilities including 56 pads with 30 amp hookups, showers, dump station and water. Camping is very popular for visitors passing through or wishing to stay longer, although the facilities are not very modern and horses are not permitted here either.

Maloney Reservoir is near North Platte, which is the home of Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park. The house here recaptures the life and career of William F. "Buffalo Bill'' Cody the famed Pony Express rider, Army scout and buffalo hunter turned showman. A state historical park since 1965 visitors can see many interesting features at the ranch, which was built during Buffalo Bill's profitable Wild West Show and provided him with plentiful funds to build and furnish the house.

Visitors perhaps looking for a more comfortable stay whilst in North Platte will find several hotels within two or three kilometers of Lake Maloney, including Comfort Inn, Super 8 North Platte and Holliday Inn Express. There are a number of restaurant and bars in the area too such as Applebee's at Platte Oasis Parkway, Canteen Bar & Lounge in S Jeffers Street and Kings Mongolian Buffet, which is approximately three and a half kilometers from Lake Maloney. Another attraction visitors might like to see in North Platte is the Union Pacific Railroad Bailey Yard, which is a great place to see if you are interested in trains.