Day Trip to Saunders County

Between Omaha and Lincoln, Saunders County is an easy day trip with outdoor activities and small towns worth exploring.

Fish, paddle and hike

There are several places to fish, paddle or hike in Saunders County.

• Lake Wanahoo — 662 acres one mile north of Wahoo. Camping, boat ramps and seven fishing jetties stocked with bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, pike and walleye.

• Czechland Lake Recreation Area — 82-acre lake one mile north of Prague. Fishing, hiking, no-wake boating and camping on 260 acres.
• Memphis Lake State Recreation Area — 48-acre lake about 20 miles west of Omaha. Fishing, hiking and non-powered boating; a 5 mph limit keeps it quiet for canoes and kayaks. 

Walk through history

Saunders County Historical Society and Museum in Wahoo covers the region’s history. Fun fact: the film studio 20th Century Fox, which distributed the original Star Wars films, was co-founded by Wahoo native Darryl F. Zanuck. The town also claims Nobel Prize-winning geneticist George Beadle, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Howard Hanson and Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Sam “Wahoo Sam” Crawford.

USS Wahoo (SS-238) is a WWII submarine memorial two blocks north of the history museum, on the east side of the county courthouse.

 

Explore small towns

Ashland’s historic downtown runs along Silver Street, with boutique shops, art galleries and local eateries in storefronts dating to the town’s early years. Salt Creek Mercantile is a family-owned store selling home goods and apparel. Glacial Till Cider House & Tasting Room pours wines and hard ciders from a refurbished brick building on Silver Street, with a rooftop patio overlooking downtown. The Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce hosts art walks each spring, summer and fall, along with a Fourth of July celebration at Memorial Stadium and a holiday light parade in November.

Wahoo also has Wahoo Distillery, offering tours for $10, and Wahoo Meat Locker, home of the Wahoo wiener. In Memphis, Neb., Don’s Bar is untouched by time. Prague, Neb., settled by Czech immigrants, shows that heritage in its architecture and festivals. It holds the world record for the biggest kolache ever made. Yutan, Mead and Morse Bluff each have small parks where you can stretch your legs. Plan your trip to Saunders County.