Discover Nebraska’s Mahoney State Park
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Mahoney State Park, located between Omaha and Lincoln, offers 700 acres to explore. The Mahoney State Park cabins offer an ideal getaway.
I love to get outside in the summertime! There’s nothing like completely unplugging, getting away from all the online noise, and enjoying the great outdoors. One of the best places to appreciate nature where I live in Omaha, Nebraska, is Mahoney State Park. Located halfway between Omaha and Lincoln, Mahoney offers over 700 acres to explore. There are a variety of activities in the park, and quite a bit to discover in the surrounding area. You’ll find Platte River State Park, The Strategic Air and Space Museum, Wildlife Safari Park, and Iron Horse Golf Club nearby.
Mahoney is open year-round so you can visit during any season. I think summertime is the best, but I have friends who get a cabin every year on Valentine’s Day for a romantic getaway. There is plenty to do year-round for all ages, and the Mahoney State Park cabin options are amazing! This place isn’t your dreary state park of yesterday. The cabins are modern, updated, and clean.
There is something for everyone at Mahoney State Park. Photo by SJ Morgensen
A day trip to this awesome state park will cost you $6, or you can buy an annual pass for less than $40. You’ll gain access to a wide variety of fun things to do like the fabulous outdoor pool with slides, the indoor rock-climbing area, and a ton of hiking and biking trails. Don’t miss the treetop ropes course, observation tower, horseback riding, fishing ponds, and more.
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Mahoney State Park Cabins
There are 57 cabins at Mahoney State Park—49 two-bedroom units, three four-bedroom units, and five with a whopping six bedrooms—you can bring the entire extended family. Each cabin is equipped with modern amenities including air conditioning, heat, fireplace, cable TV, and of course a full kitchen with a refrigerator and stove. All come with linens, tableware, and cookware.
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Whether you stay for a weekend or a week, you’ll relish the modern amenities in the Mahoney State Park Cabins. There’s a wide range of options available here; so if you are doing a quick weekend getaway with the kids or a longer family reunion-type visit, Mahoney has cabins that will fit your needs.
World Herald cabin 15 at Mahoney State Park. Photo by SJ Morgensen
There are a few different cabin locations. The Governor’s Row cabins are the big boys, featuring units with six bedrooms. The other areas of the park offer cabins in a wide variety of sizes from two bedrooms to six bedrooms. Mahoney State Park has barrier-free cabins. These are built for those with mobility difficulties and they give you the freedom to move about as you wish. As you can imagine, prices vary depending on the size of the cabin you select. They range from $160 to $200 per night with the larger four- to six-bedroom cabins priced higher.
As an alternative to the Mahoney cabins, hotel-type rooms are available in the Kiewit Lodge. Here you’ll find 40 guest rooms with the amenities you would expect: a mini-fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, and internet service. Most rooms have decks that overlook the park or the beautiful Platte River.
Cabin Locations
- County Cork – Cabins 1-14 and 41
- World Herald Row – Cabins 15-20
- Prairie Wolf – Cabins 21-32
- Running Deer – Cabins 33-40
- Magre’s Village – Cabins 42-54
- Governor’s Row – Cabins 55-57 (six bedrooms each)
Things to Do While Renting a Mahoney Cabin
I love horses, so I appreciate that Mahoney State Park offers trail rides from May to October. There are even pony rides for the little kiddos.
Horseback riding in Mahoney State Park. Photo by SJ Morgensen
If you like to fish, grab your pole and throw in your line. The Baright Lake is stocked and open for fishing. What better way to spend an afternoon. The lake area has a great snack bar and cafe seating area, where you can chill out with a great view of the lake. Rent paddle boats here, and experience another fun way to traverse the lake. Check out CenturyLink Lake; it is much larger than Mahoney.
Rent paddle boats or fish at Baright Lake in Mahoney State Park. Photo by SJ Morgensen
Hiking at the State Park
I like to hike. With more than six miles of trails and plenty of paved walkways to explore, I had a fabulous time. I began at the shaded area near the observation tower, and before long I was enjoying the solitude of the trails. While making my way toward the waterfall I saw some fellow hikers; I knew I was on the right track. My fear of getting lost in the wilderness is something I’m trying to conquer!
View of the Platte River from the Walter Scott Jr. Observation Tower at the Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. Photo courtesy Babymestizo via Wikimedia
Outdoor Adventures
How about golfing while you’re at the Mahoney cabins? In addition to a driving range, the park is also home to an 18-hole mini golf course. If you didn’t bring your clubs, no worries; they rent clubs at the John R. Lauritzen Golf Driving Range. For a different type of golf experience, try out the disc golf range.
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There’s a huge variety of fun to be had outside on the various fields and courts at Mahoney. The kids can play at one of the various playgrounds, and adults can indulge in a game of tennis, softball, bocce ball, or horseshoes. The marina has a variety of equipment that you can borrow or rent making it easy to have a great time at the park!
Enjoy the outdoors while you stay in your cabin at Mahoney State Park. Photo by SJ Morgensen
Bicycles are for rent throughout the park, and cycling is a great way to explore this recreational paradise. If you want to stay inside, there is a rock-climbing wall as well as arts and crafts at the activity center.
Additional Park Activities
My favorite way to enjoy the park is at the pool; we’ve been here many times and it’s always a blast! The wave pool is fun and super powerful. Keep a close eye on your kids because those waves really rock. It’s perfect for bigger kids; they’ll happily hang in the wave pool all afternoon. The waterslides here are fun. They aren’t too fast but are fast enough to make you want to go again and again. Kids of all ages will love the slides. There is a regular swimming pool with a zero-depth entry area. Seek out the pool snack bar when hunger strikes. The ice cream tastes incredible on a hot day!
One of the newest and most popular additions to the park is the Go Ape Ropes Course. We really enjoy these challenging courses, which are great for families. These big courses are super popular and sell out fast, so make your reservations in advance.
At night I recommend a cookout at your cabin, some night-sky viewing, and seeing a show at the Kountze Memorial Theater. There are live performances in summer and winter and the melodramas are popular.
Mahoney State Park. Photo by SJ Morgensen
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When You Visit Mahoney State Park
No matter how you decide to spend your time at Mahoney State Park, you have a wide range of activities from which to choose. And you’ll have a comfy place to sleep each night in one of the awesome Mahoney cabins. Check out Wander With Wonder for more great fun in the Midwest and some of our other favorite outdoor adventures.
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