Ogallala is one of Nebraska's most popular recreational areas due in large part to Lake McConaughy, the state's largest lake. Charged with fun for all seasons, this snippet of a town keeps the tourists coming year after year.
A stroll down Main Street is a history lesson in and of itself with 15 landmarks marked for viewing. Front Street and Cowboy Museum adds another glimpse into life in a 19th Century town.
On the banks of Lake Ogallala is one of the country's best birding environs, characterized by the biggest and most diverse avian populations recorded in the United States. Overhead, the bald eagle flies, peering over the shimmering waters. And hoards of spectators migrate to the Bald Eagle Viewing Center to marvel at their beauty.
Other points of interest in and around town include: Mansion on the Hill, Boot Hill, Lake McConaughy Visitor/Water Interpretive Center, and Petrified Wood Gallery.
Ogallala's lakes reinforce a healthy environment for active play. Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala State Recreation Areas provide many recreational resources. With 36,000 acres of water and 5,000 acres of land, there's all sorts of fun here from boating, fishing and camping to viewing the wonders of nature.
West Wing Golf Club, 15 minutes from Lake McConaughy, offers a relaxing 18-hole game through moguls and greens. But, the real draw to the area is Lake McConaughy where the sandy north shore presents excellent opportunities for boating, swimming, wind surfing and water skiing. Camping is also available. More than 300 species of birds, attracted by the varied habitats, have been documented here and provide an excellent subject for nature photography.
Trout fishing is great in the cold waters of Lake Ogallala, in the small lakes off of the Nebraska Public Power District's supply canal, and at the Elwood Reservoir. The area also supports camping, canoeing, and hiking.
Ogallala, "Nebraska Recreation Capital", is an oasis of pleasure in southwest Nebraska, located at the intersection of I-80 and SR-26.