41st Annual OCTA Convention in Gering (NE) - Sign Up Today!
The Oregon-California Trails Association and the Nebraska Chapter of OCTA present “We Do Old In A New Way” from Monday evening July 24 through Saturday, July 29. The Gering Civic Center at 1050 M Street in Gering is Convention HQ, with additional events occurring at the Legacy of the Plains Museum, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and the Midwest Theater.
*The convention kicks off on Monday evening at 6 PM with an event at Scotts Bluff National Monument.
The theme of this year's convention, We Do Old In A New Way, is a nod to the fact that since OCTA's last Gering convention, three new museum facilities were built at Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and the Legacy of the Plains Museum. So even if you have visited the area before, new things await you!
The convention will focus on the Oregon, California, Mormon Pioneer, and Pony Express National Historic Trails across Nebraska's panhandle and eastern Wyoming (including the corridor's usage by American Indians for thousands of years prior to usage by emigrants). The convention will explore each of these different eras via tours throughout the region, a premiere list of authoritative speakers, and events at other local sites.
Ask for the special Oregon-California Trails Association nightly room rate of $89 at the EconoLodge in Scottsbluff and $109 at the Monument Inn & Suites, which is located right next door to the Civic Center. OCTA also has a room block at the Cobblestone Hotel directly across the street from the Civic Center, also listed at $109/night. To reserve your room, call:
EconoLodge - (308) 275-4555
Monument Inn & Suites - (308) 436-1950
Cobblestone Hotel - (308) 633-7660
The cutoff on the rooms being held for this event is May 31 for the Cobblestone and June 22, 2023 for the Monument Inn and EconoLodge, so be certain to make your reservation by that date to ensure these rates.
If you prefer to stay in an RV park, contact:
Robidoux RV Park
585 Five Rocks Road
Gering, NE 69341
(308) 436-2046
If you go on the tours, bring hats and windbreakers. Though we fully expect sunny skies and 85-degree temperatures, the weather in western Nebraska can change drastically in July with the arrival of pop-up thunderstorms, especially in the late afternoon. Remember, it is an arid high-altitude region (the top of Scotts Bluff is 4,659 feet), so hydrate and let yourself acclimate if you're a flatlander! Most likely, it will be sunny and pleasant, so protect yourself from UV while out on tours. It is more intense at increased elevations.
If you're interested in being a book vendor or participating in Author's Night, please contact Bill Hill at hillhousew@aol.com.
Register today!
