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(developed by the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerce & TCD) (requires Adobe Reader) (developed by the Chamber, TCD, & the City of Scottsbluff)
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OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Carhenge is located just north of Alliance, Nebraska, along Highway 87. Jim Reinder’s memorial to his father, who once lived on the farm where Carhenge stands, is a replica of Stonehenge, England’s ancient mystical alignment of stones that chart the sun and moon phases.
Thirty-eight autos from the 1950’s and 1960’s have been arranged with the same proportions as Stonehenge, with the circle measuring approximately 96 feet in diameter. Some autos are held upright in pits five feet deep, trunk-end down and rise 15 to 18 feet above ground. Those cars that form the arches are welded in place. All are covered with gray spray paint.
The memorial was conceived in 1982 following the death of Reinder’s father. In June 1987 the family began work on the project, which was dedicated on the Summer Solstice in 1987.
The site is now owned and maintained by “Friends of Carhenge,” who have added a paved parking lot, picnic tables, and an educational display board. Additional sculptures have also been erected at the site, known as the “Car Art Reserve.” Reinder’s “Ford Seasons,” which is comprised of Ford autos only and was inspired by Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, suggests the Nebraska landscape’s seasonal changes as wheat is planted, grows, is harvested, and then the field lies barren during a windy winter.
More than 80,000 people visit the site annually, and it has been featured on NBC’s “Today” show and CBS’ “Good Morning America,” as well as in several other publications. For more information, call (308) 762-4954 or visit their web site at www.carhenge.com.
From the June 30, 2005 Star-Herald: It took 84 giant balloons and about 8,000 cubic feet of helium from four states to get cluster balloonist John Ninomiya into the air Sunday morning, marking his first flight in the state of Nebraska. Ninomiya traveled from his home in San Diego to help Carhenge supporters celebrate the annual summer solstice. The event had been scheduled for June 19, but was postponed until Saturday and then again until Sunday, all due to the wind. Christy Scherbarth, along with her husband, Arlen, 9 year-old son, Michah, and 11 year-old daughter, Anna, got up at 4 a.m. to make the trip from Gordon to Alliance on Saturday only to find out the sunrise event had been postponed. As disappointing as it was, it didn't keep them from coming back on Sunday. "It was worth getting up and coming back," Scherbarth said after the launch. "I've thoroughly enjoyed it. It's something that's unusual and you're not going to get to see it again, especially in this part of the country. You can't help yourself." Scherbarth added that she wanted her children to have the chance to see the launch by Ninomiya, one of only six cluster balloonists in the world. "I wanted to give the kids a good experience," she said. "How often are they going to get to do this with their mom and dad? It's something we'll always remember that we did together as a family." Ninomiya said he was happy with his launch after having to postpone it twice. He flew for about 30 minutes before landing at County Road 55 and Johnson Road. "I was very thankful to get to fly at all," he said. "Everywhere you go, people tell you that if you don't like the weather, just wait 10 minutes and it will change. Nebraska is the first place this seems to be true." Ninomiya is on a mission to fly in all 50 states, and the Carhenge launch marked his 13th state. He said he chose Carhenge as a site for the flight after finding the attraction on the Internet. "I thought it would be a fun place to do one of these flights," he said. Friends of Carhenge President Liz Lee said she was relieved that the event was able to take place. "It was a lot of worry," she said. "It was a lot of fun too, though." Lee and Ninomiya had been in close communication for the last several months, and Lee said she is glad things turned out so well. "I'm very, very thrilled for John," she said. "He worked very hard to make this happen." Though Ninomiya usually uses multi-colored balloons, he used yellow and white for the Carhenge event, in honor of the summer solstice theme.
Chadron State Park is Nebraska’s oldest state park and was founded on April 25, 1921. It is located about 8 miles south of Chadron, Nebraska, just off U.S. Highway 385 and is surrounded by the Pine Ridge Division of the Nebraska National Forest.
With 974 acres of natural beauty, the altitude approaches 5,000 feet in places. Humidity is generally low, and cool nights are a plus for many visitors.
Hikers will appreciate the miles of nature trails that meander through the park and offer a chance to view the splendor of the towering ponderosa pines.
Guest cabins available from mid-April through mid-November. Camping, fishing, paddle boating, hiking, horseback riding, jeep rides, biking, swimming, and spring turkey hunting are just some of the offerings.
For more information, call (308) 432-6167 or 1-800-826-PARK to leave your name & address for a 48 page, color brochure.
Located at the site of an original trading post, 3 miles east of Chadron, on U.S. Highway 20. The museum is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the North American fur trade.
Indian Garden
Three galleries trace the fur trade from early colonial days to the present century.
Bear Grease (pomade
Exhibits include trade goods, munitions, cutlery, axes, firearms, textiles, costumes, paints, & beads.
Chevron Bead New Mexican Serape
Open from Memorial Day through the month of September and by appointment during the winter.
Oglala Sioux with Nickle Silver Cross
For more information, please call (308) 432-3843 or email museum@furtrade.org.
Named after Lt. Levi H. Robinson, Fort Robinson is one of the great historic places of the American west.
The post began in 1874 as a temporary cantonment during the turmoil of the frontier “Indian Wars” and was one of the most troublesome spots on the Plains. For more than 70 years it was the most important military outpost in the region.
The famous Sioux warrior, Crazy Horse, surrendered and was mortally wounded at Fort Robinson in 1877. In 1879, it was the scene of a major battle as a result of the Cheyenne Outbreak, led by another famous Sioux, Dull Knife.
During the 20th Century, the fort became the world’s largest military remount depot.
During World War II, it was the site of a K-9 corps training center, as well as a German prisoner-of-war camp.
The famous “Buffalo Soldiers,” an African/American garrison, were stationed here as well.
Today Fort Robinson is the largest of Nebraska’s State Parks, with 22,000 acres of buttes, forested hills, and grassy pastures.
Museums document the years of the fort’s activities, as well as the area’s paleontology and geology and features a huge, econstructed mammoth skeleton.
For more information, call (308) 665-2900 or visit the web site: http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/parks/guides/parksearch/showpark.asp?Area_No=77
Currently the Platte Valley Remote Airplane Club, a Trap Club, and the Platte Valley Dirt Riders Motorcycle Club use part of the property.
The rest is available for other compatible use.
For more information, call (308) 623-1616.
The Front Range region of Colorado, including Estes Park and the Rocky Mountains are all within a half day’s drive from Scottsbluff/Gering.
Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, and the Badlands in South Dakota are all within a half day’s drive from our community.
For more information, visit www.blackhillsbadlands.com.
Snowy Range and Fort Laramie are within a half day’s drive from our communities.
Ft. Laramie, Wyoming
For information, visit www.nps.gov/fola.
Copyright © 2002-2003 Twin Cities Development Association, Inc. |
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