The American West is alive and well in Sidney and Cheyenne County. Frontier types like Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill Hickok, Butch Cassidy and Doc Middleton blazed trails here long ago. Calamity Jane even lived here for a spell. There is a lot to see in Cheyenne County’s 1,200 square miles. There is even more to do.

The 6,800 residents of Sidney share their community with sporting goods giant Cabela’s. The store near I-80 has a restaurant, wildlife displays and tons of hunting, fishing and other outdoor gear and clothing. Tens of thousands of visitors hunting for great deals drop in each year. (308) 254-5505.

About that same number of workers clocked in at the Sioux Ordnance Depot 10 miles northwest of Sidney during its peak. Ammunition was stored in more than 800 bunkers here from World War II until the start of the Vietnam War. Tour the area by automobile. (866) 545-4030.

Cheyenne County’s role in our military history began even earlier. Sidney Barracks was built in 1867 to provide security for railroad workers. In 1870 it was renamed Fort Sidney. The post’s stone powder-magazine, commander’s home and officers’ barracks remain as a museum. The Fort Sidney Complex is open the day after Memorial Day through Labor Day and for special events like its Christmas Lamplight Tours. 1108 Sixth Ave. (866) 545-4030.

Fort Sidney soldiers who died were interred at Boot Hill Cemetery. As the town became lawless, victims of unusual circumstances were often buried at night. The remains were later removed. Boot Hill Cemetery is now a tourist destination, complete with mock tombstones. Causes of death seen here include: “shot by Indians, “accidentally shot himself,” “typhoid fever,” “thrown from cart” and “saber intestine puncture.” Road 113 and Elm Street. (308) 254-5395.

The location of the Pony Express station once located near Sidney is unknown. The National Pony Express Memorial includes a bronze statue of horse and rider, and flags of states the express rode through.1 Cabela Dr.

The Sidney-Deadwood Trail formed after gold was discovered in the Black Hills in 1874. This route to the gold fields brought questionable characters. Today the community’s Gold Rush Days makes local history each June. Live music, cannon firings, butter-making and gold panning are some of the fun activities. (866) 545-4030.

The ceremonial tapping of the keg kicks off Sidney’s three-day Oktoberfest celebration the first full weekend in October. Then the live music, dancing, comedy shows and parade can begin. There’s a craft show and plenty of bratwurst, sauerkraut and beer. Running of the Wieners dog race and Rod & Roll car show add more thrills to a fun weekend.

A round of golf at Hillside Golf Course means breathtaking views of Lodgepole Valley. (308) 254-2311.

The Sidney Aquatic Center has competition and leisure pools, five deck geysers, dumping bucket, tree house slide and 90-foot-long lazy river. (308) 254-0956.

Learn more about Sidney by contacting the Cheyenne County Visitors Center at sidneycheyennecountytourism.com or (308) 254-4030.

 

Discover Activities in Sidney

  • National Pony Express Memorial

    The exact location of the Pony Express station once located near Sidney is unknown. The National Pony Express Memorial near Cabela’s includes a bronze statue of horse and ...

  • Cabela’s

    The 7,000 residents of Sidney share their community with the corporate headquarters of sporting goods giant Cabela’s. The store is located along Interstate 80 and includes a restaurant, freshwater aquarium ...

  • Dude’s Steakhouse and Branding Iron Bar

    Dude’s Steakhouse and Branding Iron Bar has been a Western Nebraska landmark since Deward and Florence Jelinek founded the place in 1952. An Aaron Pyle mural depicting Fort Sidney, ...

  • Buffalo Point Steakhouse & Grill

    Despite the fact that the Buffalo Point Steakhouse & Grill in Sidney has a buffalo burger on the menu and a full-body taxidermy mount of a bison in the ...

  • Fort Sidney Complex

    Sidney Barracks was built in 1867 to provide security for railroad workers. In 1870 the post was renamed Fort Sidney. The post closed in 1899, but Fort Sidney’s stone powder-magazine building, ...

  • Silver Dollar Bar & Grill

    The Silver Dollar Bar & Grill is a real Nebraska original on Illinois Street in Sidney. This landmark offers classic bar food. Ask a Sidney resident where the best ...

  • Sidney-Deadwood Trail

    The Sidney-Deadwood Trail formed shortly after gold was discovered in South Dakota’s Black Hills in 1874. This shortest route to the gold fields brought with it a long list ...

  • Sioux Ordnance Depot

    Nearly 2,000 people worked at the Sioux Ordnance Depot 10 miles northwest of Sidney during its peak of operation. Military ammunition was stored in more than 800 bunkers here from World War ...

  • Downtown Business District

    Sidney’s downtown business district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The five-block area is hemmed in by King and Hickory streets and by Ninth and 11...

View More

Photos from Sidney

Videos from Sidney