Area Attractions in and around Creighton, NE

Creighton's location is a prime one for visitors checking to see all that Northeast Nebraska has to offer. The drive to most attractions is less than an hour. For further information on these and other tourism opportunities, visit the Nebraska Tourism website at www.VisitNebraska.org

• Bruce Park Arboretum ... A place to grow

  More than a city park, Bruce Park Arboretum in Creighton is a green oasis where visitors can retreat, relax and recreate. It hosts a unique collection of trees and shrubs, an outdoor classroom, and serves as an informal laboratory to test the adaptability of plants to northeast Nebraska.

  Included in the arboretum:

  • Over 200 labeled species of woody plants
  • Memorial trees
  • An oak collection
  • A footbridge to a butterfly garden
  • Native grass plantings
  • An historic WPA concrete table & shelter
  • Multiple flower gardens
  • Plus many other amenities for children & adults to use & enjoy - playground, picnic shelter, swimming pool, sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, baseball & softball complexes, camper pads & a dump station

  Bruce Park Arboretum was started in 1992 and is an affiliate site of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. The community, through its Tree Board, has achieved Tree City USA status each year and received other awards many times. It is the farthest North site in the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. Read more, click here.
  

• BerryPepper Days
  Creighton'sannual celebration, BerryPepper Days, is held in June each summer, on Father's Day weekend. Visitors to the celebration take part in a health walk and run, kiddie parade, a family barbecue in the park, car show and road rally, bathtub races, tractor pull, fly-in breakfast, VFW breakfast and the Legion chicken feed and baseball tournament. IN 2004 and every 5th year, a large parade and fireworks add to the celebration. BerryPepper Days are hosted by the Creighton Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the BerryPepper click here.
  
  
• Santa Land
  Santa Land is Creighton's annual holiday lights display located in Bruce Park during the month of December. Setting up the display usually begins early November and over 2,000 manhours later, the 300,000 lights and displays are attracting visitors from many miles around. In addition to the large number of outdoor displays, SantaLand also houses Santa's Workshop. Sixteen of Santa's motorized elves can be seen hard at work making toys and packing the sleigh. Visitors to the workshop can visit with Santa and enjoy holiday refreshments provided by local businesses. The display is maintained by the Creighton Area Chamber of Commerce and other volunteers.
  
  
• Ashfall State Park
  Only 16 miles to the West of Creighton is one of this countries greatest treasures. An operating paleontolgy excavation has uncovered fossil remains of rhinos, camels, horses, turtles and birds that were buried at a watering hole by volcanic ash over 10 million years ago.
  
  
• Niobrara State Park
  The breathtaking Niobrara river valley, home to Niobrara State Park, lies only 30 miles to the North of Creighton. The park offers 15 cabins, modern camping facilities, a swimming pool, picnic shelters, boat ramps, and hiking and biking trails with scenery that is Nebraska at its finest.
  
  
• Winnetoon
  The World's only Winnetoon is home to a mini-mall of historic old-west buildings and shopping. Winnetoon also holds many chainsaw carvings by their local "carving cowboy". Winnetoon is located 9 miles Northwest of Creighton.
  
  
• Northeast Nebraska Zoo
  The Northeast Nebraska Zoo is located 22 miles southwest of Creighton in Royal, NE. The zoo has a nice collection of animals including snow monkeys, lemurs, mountain lions, animals native to this area and "Reuben", a chimpanzee that knows American Sign Language. Hours of operation are from 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday through Sunday. Please check for winter hours. Admission is $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for children. Children under the age of 2 are admitted free of charge. For further information, please contact 402.893.2002 or email zoonebraska@frontier.net
  
  
• Grove Trout Rearing Station
  Located within the Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area, 20 miles southwest of Creighton, this hatchery raises over 200,000 trout on the crystal clear Verdigre Creek. Visitors can "feed the fish" in beautiful surroundings and learn more about this unique area at the information center.
  
  
• Lewis & Clark Lake
  Formed by Gaving Point Dam, Lewis & Clark Lake covers 32,000 acres and is a popular site for boating, camping and fishing in Northeast Nebraska. The lake is an easy 25 miles North of Creighton
  
  
• Ohiya Casino & Bingo in Santee
  Do you feel lucky today? Try your luck at the casino in Santee. For more information, please contact 52946 Hwy. 12 Suite 2, Niobrara, NE 68760 - Phone (402)857-3860, FAX (402)857-3862. E-mail: Ohiya@gpcom.net or check out their website at http://www.ohiyacasino.com.