42 Nebraskaland • April 2026
That's what happens when you find
yourself in the shadow of Kingsley
Dam, rising 150 feet above the west
side of the lake.
Not only does Lake Ogallala literally
lie in the shadow of the dam, and Lake
McConaughy behind it, it sits there
figuratively as well. And that suits its
regulars, who often refer to it simply as
"the little lake," just fine.
The depression left behind when
sand and clay were pumped from the
North Platte River Valley to build
Kingsley Dam between 1935 and
1941 is Lake Ogallala. But while they
were born at the same time, the two
couldn't be more different.
There are no Jet skis flying around
the little lake, where the speed limit is
5 mph. No wake boats with loud music
blaring from their speakers either. You
will find kayaks and fishing boats
plying its waters, which are sheltered
from the westerly winds by the dam.
The campgrounds are quiet, too,
be it the modern campground on the
east side or the basic RV and tent sites
strung along the north and west sides.
The most noise you are likely to hear is
from playgrounds in the east and west
campgrounds when the youngsters
are burning off some energy, or from
a spirited conversation around the
evening campfire.
ABOVE: Children enjoy the playground in the west campground.
BELOW: The east campground is reflected in the lake.
Abigail Martens of Sidney rides a stand-up paddleboard past a boat.
