40 Nebraskaland • May 2021
ou don't have to stray far from town-life to enjoy one
of the Panhandle's premiere getaways with shady
campsites and sandy beaches.
The 200-acre Bridgeport State Recreation Area is located
along the North Platte River at the northwestern edge of the
community for which it is named. It has 78 acres of clear
water in five sandpit lakes with more than 70 first-come, first-
served basic campsites. The lakes are among the Nebraska
Game and Parks' designated family-friendly locations and
have long attracted boaters, campers, anglers, swimmers and
picnickers.
The lakes were created by the Lyman-Richie Corp., which
provided sand and gravel to the surrounding region in the
early 1900s. The company was most busy in World War II,
providing asphalt for the airfield in Alliance. The waterbodies
were acquired by Game and Parks in 1952.
Most of the park's campsites are under big cottonwoods
along the shoreline. Forty-five of them are on Center Lake,
the largest of the five. In addition to the many drive-up
campsites, six walk-in sites for tent camping are available at
the park's northwest lake.
Center Lake, which surrounds an island, allows motorized
boats and personal watercraft as long as they travel
counterclockwise.
Gary Shoemaker oversees the Bridgeport park in his role
as superintendent of the Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area
near Gering. He has ushered numerous improvements to the
park in recent years.
Among the developments are an expanded swimming
area at Center Lake, the addition of a campground host, and
improved signage and boundaries for campsites.
Similar to most parks and public lands,
Bridgeport attracted a lot of attention from people
who were biding time and social distancing in the
summer of 2020. He said the park nearly tripled its
usual traffic last year.
"It looked like a Fourth of July crowd when we
The Beaches of
Bridgeport
Five sandpits in the North Platte valley
have created countless memories.
Story and photos by Justin Haag
Park visitors enjoy boating, tubing and personal watercrafts at
Bridgeport State Recreation Area.
Y
Bridgeport State
Recreation Area
