At Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area, the water covers nearly 300 acres, while the land area is about 40 acres. The 20 sandpit lakes define the area. Dead Timber State Recreation Area offers a different setting: camping, fishing, and boating in non-motorized boats are possible across its 200-acre site.
Lakes, Trails, and Nature Experiences
At Dead Timber State Recreation Area, trails lead to observation blinds and benches for watching wildlife. The area offers both activities on the water and trails with designated observation points. In winter, Fremont’s Clemmons Park offers opportunities for sledding; conditions may vary.
The Franklin-Cotterell Greens Arboretum offers botanical discoveries, with thousands of tree, shrub, and plant species. Newly paved paths invite visitors to stroll. Another botanical landmark is the grounds of the Louis E. May Museum, designated a Nebraska Arboretum Site.
Local Architecture and History
The Louis E. May Museum combines different architectural styles: it was originally built in 1874 in the Italianate Revival style and later took on a Georgian or Classical Revival design. The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open Wednesday through Saturday; tours begin at 10:00 a.m., and the last tour starts at 3:30 p.m. Check the hours before your trip.
Fremont’s Barnard Park Historic District is home to 187 upper- and middle-class houses built between 1870 and 1929. The Historic District in downtown Hooper offers a different townscape: developed in the 1890s, it preserves its original street lighting. Both places offer a distinct perspective on the architectural history of their respective communities.
Smaller collections also add to the picture of the region. The Musbach Museum in Scribner displays German agricultural machinery, medical equipment, kitchen china, and glassware. Harold & Leona's Antique Toy Museum in North Bend is open by appointment and features historical toys, dolls, machines, and glassware from the past 50 years.
Events and Local Discoveries
John C. Fremont Days began in 1987 and includes events throughout the city of Fremont. North Bend’s annual Old Settlers Days takes place over a weekend in June. The program includes historical events, a road race, a fair, and a parade. The Dodge County Fair is held annually in August in Scribner; it includes a fair, a food court, children’s games, and a demolition derby. If you’d like to plan your trip around a festival, check the dates before making plans.
Food and harvests can also be part of your visit. The Eat in Dodge serves dishes inspired by the owner’s and their mother’s homemade recipes. At Fontanelle Orchard’s Apple Barn, visitors can pick fresh, tree-ripened fruit; harvest conditions vary by season. On the Platte River, Bryson's Airboat Tours offers airboat rides.
Fremont and Dodge County are a relatively short drive from the metropolitan areas of Omaha and Lincoln. When choosing accommodation, it can help to first decide what you want to focus on: bodies of water and trails, historic townscapes, or seasonal events. This lets you consider travel dates and interests together without limiting your visit to a single itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Fremont, Cedar County, Holt County, Otoe County, Lancaster, Gage County, Cass County, Lincoln County.
For the broader travel overview: Nebraska.
