Columbus, Nebraska

Family Fun

Columbus’ unique recreational facilities include something for each member of your family. Where else but in a major metropolitan area can you swim in a water park or an indoor pool or a lake with miles of beach?

Or if excitement is what you crave, enjoy the thrills of the stock car races, feel the rush of wind behind the wheel of a power boat or the rush of adrenaline trailing it on a pair of water skis! All this and more is available in the Columbus area.

Platte County Museum – 2916 16th Street

Operated by the Platte County Historical Society, this building, built in 1912, was one of the four original Ward schools. Travel through time in the History Gallery containing discoveries of fossils, artifacts, and photographs of early Platte County. Step into rooms of Victorian clothing, furnishings, and heirlooms. Continue by way of an authentic turn-of-the-century country schoolroom and barbershop. New to the museum is a room filled with World War II memorabilia, complimenting the Andrew Jackson Higgins National Memorial. Additional features include the 1857 Gottschalk Log Cabin, a turn-of-the-century country school and barber shop, a 1913 Indian Motorcycle and a 1914 Chevrolet Baby Grand Touring Car, among other items. The Museum is open mid-May through Labor day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the first Sunday afternoon through the winter months or by appointment. Admission is charged.

Bowling

Boulevard Lanes – 1819 Howard Blvd
402.564.8022
Featuring 12 lanes for league and open bowling as well as a complete pro shop, you’re sure to strike fun for the whole family. The facilities include the Sahara Lounge, Sax’s Pizza, beer garden with sand volleyball, a large game room and KENO.

Westbrook Lanes – 3156 51 Ave
402.563.3000
Lanes and lanes of fun with 16 lanes and computerized scorecards. Whether you come for fun (open bowling) or leagues you are bound to bowl like a pro. Visit the complete pro shop or the Lamplighter Lounge & Grill, beer garden with sand volleyball, large game room, or try your luck at KENO.

Golf Courses

Take a few swings at one of the 5 golf courses that take advantage of the areas natural ‘hazards’. So come play on the gently rolling hills, bent grass greens and rye fairways of the open prairie. Find information on each course, here.

City Parks

Columbus and its surrounding communities host over 14 welcoming parks where you can partake in a game of chess, spread out a picnic, or watch one of the games going on at the lighted tennis, lighted baseball, and softball complexes. You can even fish on two small lakes, slide into the state-of-the-art water park, or attend a football or track-and-field competition at the 2,500-seat stadium. To find out more about the amenities of these parks, click here.

Hiking, Biking & Walking Trails

Recreational trails for cycling, walking and jogging are located throughout Columbus. Snaking through tree-lined parks, the main scenic trail meanders along two lakes offering recreational opportunities for riders, runners, rollerbladers, walkers, and wheelchairs. By crossing the footbridge at the end of the paved trail, you enter the Bob Lake Trail for a ride along a gravel trail for five more miles. Walking and biking also happen along a 2-mile trail through Pawnee Park and 1.5 mile trail around the Wilderness Park soccer complex. For more information on each trail, click here.

Racing

Ready Set. . .Go! Racing enthusiasts enjoy a six-week season for live parimutuel thoroughbred hose racing and year-long simulcasting at the Platte County Agricultural Park. The facilities include a 4,000 seat grandstand, a clubroom with a capacity of 600, a large exhibit hall and an indoor arena where a variety of community, sports and recreation events are held. Or enjoy the thrills of the deafening roar and crashes of stock cars throughout the spring and summer. Find out more about the many races happening in Platte County, here.

Skating

Columbus Inline Hockey & Skate Center – 3868 63rd Ave.
402.562.5663
Whether you go for the jumps and spins or to gracefully glide across the ice you’ll find a wide offering of winter activities at the Columbus Inline Skate Center. Family skating, teen nights, special events and inline hockey are offered for all ages. There is even a pro-shop for all of your hockey needs. Getting on the ice not your thing, catch one of the hockey league games or tournaments and cheer on the skaters or enjoy food, beverage, and arcade games.

Swimming

Columbus Aquatic Center – 1783 10th Ave.
402.563.3222
This Olympic-sized pool is one of the finest indoor pools in Nebraska and has 8 swim lanes, a separate shallow area for the youngsters, a low diving board and slide for small children. Call for public swimming hours.

Columbus Family YMCA – 2200 28th Ave.
402.564.9477
Everyone want to do something slightly different? Find 3 full-size gyms, a 25-yard indoor pool, 2 indoor tennis courts, indoor track, 4 racquetball/handball courts, 10 treadmills, Cardio Center, Wellness Center, 3,400 sq. ft. Aerobics Center, meeting rooms, an indoor golf driving range, saunas and whirlpool all at the YMCA.

Pawnee Plunge Water Park – 560 33rd Ave. (Hwy. 30 and 81 South)
402.563.3222
Splash ‘n Play the Pawnee Plunge Way! Come experience water fun that is sure to delight the young and the young at heart at the Pawnee Plunge Water Park. Located in one of the largest city parks in Nebraska, the park includes four waterslides for the adventurous, a lazy river, and zero-depth entry pool with many interactive water features loved by children. If you leave here and didn’t get wet, you didn’t experience all we have to offer at Pawnee Plunge. Where there is something fun for everyone.