Kearney is one of many Nebraska towns developed during the westward railroad expansion after the Civil War. Known as the Sandhill Crane Capital of the World, between late February and early April, over 500,000 sandhill cranes stop on the Platte River along their migration path.
Getting Around
By Air
Younes Conference Center North is located just minutes from Kearney Regional Airport. Several hotels, including the Crown Plaza that is conveniently connected to the Conference Center, offer free shuttle service to and from the airport. Transportation rental is also available at the airport at Thrifty Car Rental.
Daily flights are offered by United Express from the Kearney Regional Airport to Denver International Airport and Chicago O’Hare. Direct access from Kearney to Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island-Hastings and York, is offered through Navigator Airport Express providing 6 shuttle trips per week.
By Car
Kearney offers several rideshare serves, including Lyft, Uber/UberX, and taxis.
- Catch a Ride Taxi and Transportation, 308-293-9264
- Kearney Cab, 308-234-6725
Things to Do
Family Fun
Big Apple Fun Center (go karts, game room, bowling, and more) and the Kearney Area Cildren's Museuam aren't far away. Plus, you'll find a sports bar with billiards.The Crowne Plaza also features an indoor water park and hotel guests receive 5 entry wrist bands into the waterpark. Explore downtown Kearney on a historic walking tour. Go shopping at The Bricks or Hilltop Mall and enjoy a meal. We recommend Nebraska beef and local microbrews.
Outdoor Adventures
Want to gather in the great outdoors? Kearney has a variety of golf courses or try kayaking down the Kearney Water Trail, a 2-mile float perfect for all skill levels. Or check out Yanney Park Gardens. The 80' Gottschalk Tower is the centerpiece to Yanney Heritage Park and overlooks the lake, amphitheater, splash pads, and fishing pier. Several items are available to rent at the Yanney Park Marina including swan paddle boats, stand up paddle boards, kayaks, and more. Get lost in the Garden at Yanney Park, a sprialed, winding labyrinth featuring art sculptures, including a 15-foot Gilded Yellow and Plum Tower installation created by Seattle-based artist Dale Chihuly!
Old Soul
When it comes to off-site venues and activities, Kearney has many unique offerings, including the Archway. This family-friendly exhibit tells the story of Nebraska, the Platte River Valley, and the adventurers who helped build America. Exhibits showcase historical events like the 49ers on their way to Californian gold, the Oregon Trail, and even a buffalo stampede. Fort Kearny State Historical Park is home to a historical fort built in 1848 to protect travelers going west on the Oregon Trail. The fort also served as a station for Pony Express riders and was home to crews helping build the Union Pacific Railroad.
Stroll the sprawling green campus of the University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK), with over 7,000 students. Stop at the Frank House, an architecturally unique brick mansion built in 1889. Walk through the museum inside, to see original furniture and stunning Tiffany stained-glass windows.
View the state through its artists’ eyes at UNK’s Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA). Explore 175 years of Nebraskan artists, from classic painters such as Robert Henri and Alice Cleaver to modern artists including Jun Kaneko and Jane Golding Marie. Also see art portraying early Native Americans and the Midwest’s wildlife.
Can I see the great Sandhill Crane Migration?
Unfortunately, no. However, you can explore the Platte River and other natural areas in the region.
- Nebraska's Platte River serves as a vital pit stop for 80% of the world's sandhill cranes, who feast on corn kernels left over from the previous fall's harvest. The cranes consume nearly 1,600 tons of corn. This helps prevent volunteer corn from sprouting in the next year's crop.
- Each crane spends about 29 days along the river, depositing up to a pound of fat, which fuels their migration and nesting endeavors.
- While many sandhill cranes winter in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico, the greater sandhill crane nests in the Great Lakes and the Interlake region of Manitoba. The Canadian subspecies breeds across central Canada, and the lesser sandhill crane is found in the high arctic, nesting across northern Canada and Alaska. Around 80,000 cross the Bering Strait to nest in eastern Siberia, embarking on a 5,000-mile journey!
