The Coolest Abandoned Places in Nebraska
From Keya Paha County to Knoxville and in-between, Nebraska has several abandoned towns and locales worth exploring.
Written by Kathryn Mae Kurlychek
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
From the tragic ghost town of Brocksburg to a 120-year-old railway tunnel in the abandoned camp of Belmont, Nebraska has historic sites across the state sure to thrill any adventurer.
The state of
Nebraska
is steeped in pioneer history, some of which can still be explored as abandoned places and towns throughout the state. If you’re an avid mid-Western adventurer, you won’t want to miss out on these eight cool abandoned places in the Cornhusker State—but how to do so carefully?That’s where
Jerry
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Abandoned towns in Nebraska
Brocksburg
Location: Keya Paha County
Abandoned since: 1957
Is it legal to go in? Yes
If you drive far enough along Highway 137, you’ll eventually come across the abandoned community of Brocksburg. Established in 1899, all that remains of this tiny deserted town is a jumble of dilapidated buildings and an old concrete tornado bunker, all sheltered behind the trees and long prairie grass just off the roadside.
Not much else can be found near Brocksburg—the neighboring towns of Monowi and Gross are all but abandoned themselves. But if you’re up for driving out into the middle of nowhere, Brocksburg offers a certain eerie charm to visitors, as much of its remaining structures are entangled with nature.
Venus
Location: Knox County
Abandoned since: 1979
Is it legal to go in? Yes
In its prime, the tiny, unincorporated town of Venus boasted a dance hall, a local school, a post office, and more—it even had a baseball field. Now, little remains of the once-thriving township; many of its structures have toppled to ruin. However, a couple of buildings—namely the Wesleyan Church and the school building—remain standing, and their presence is like a specter of the town’s former beauty.
Named after the goddess of love and beauty herself, Venus is situated in northeastern Nebraska, about nine miles outside of the Knoxville township—and there are still many farming and residential communities nearby.
Dobytown
Location: Kearney County
Abandoned since: 1871
Is it legal to go in? Yes
Not five minutes from Fort Kearney State Park you can find a hidden abandoned gem nestled in the Nebraskan countryside—the former pioneer outfitting post of Dobytown. Today, little more than a historical marker remains to mark the township's location, but in its heyday, Dobytown was a commercial hub.
As a chief outfitting post just west of the Missouri River, Dobytown attracted all types of commerce—including the ever-popular pioneer sport of gambling. The town began to see its decline in the mid-1800s and was completely abandoned by 1871. Although little remains today, it’s worth a visit as a historic abandoned site of Nebraskan history.
St. Deroin
Location: Nemaha County
Abandoned since: 1920
Is it legal to go in? Yes
Unlike some of its fellow abandoned towns, St. Deroin, Nebraska is incredibly well-preserved. As part of the Indian Cave State Park system, you can park right at the town entrance itself or at a neighboring trailhead from which you can hike directly into the abandoned town—like stumbling out of the forest and into the past.
A number of its buildings remain intact, and the general store and schoolhouse have been restored to preserve the town’s history. While these buildings are eerie reminders of life over a century ago, perhaps the creepiest part of St. Deroin is its cemetery, positioned high on a hill overlooking the town.
MORE: Nebraska road closures
Abandoned bridges and tunnels in Nebraska
East Omaha Bridge
Abandoned since: 1980
Is it legal to go in? Seek permission
Spanning the Nebraska-
Iowa
border is the abandoned East Omaha Bridge. Also known as the Illinois Central Missouri River Bridge, this long-rusted structure is recognizable by its eerily bent silhouette: one half of the bridge (the Iowan side) is turned parallel to the shore, while the other side (the Nebraskan side) still stretches straight, half-way across the Missouri River. Once, the two sides connected—but since its closure in 1980, the Iowa side has been permanently wrenched open to allow river freight and barge traffic to pass. It used to be a highly-trafficked railway bridge, but the abandoned overpass has since been marked by time: chief among its creepy relics are a massive dead tree trunk wedged beneath its support beams (likely from a past flood) and a rusted “no firearms” sign littered with bullet holes.
While you might be thinking these features make for a good, creepy photoshoot, the bridge resides on airport property, making it illegal to explore without permission.
Belmont Tunnel
Location: Western Dawes County
Abandoned since: 1982
Is it legal to go in? Yes
The abandoned town of Belmont is home to more than its crumbling structures—it’s also the site of Nebraska’s only railway tunnel. Although the tunnel hasn’t been used since the early ‘80s, it appears in excellent repair—for being over 120 years old, that is.
If you can brave the rocky slope down to the tunnel itself, it’s a nice, flat walk through 700 feet of tunnel, with high-arched entrances that provide light on either end. The tunnel has become a local attraction in recent years (and wears graffiti to prove it).
Interesting abandoned places in Nebraska
Israel Beetison House
Location: Southeast of Ashland, Nebraska
Abandoned since: Unknown
Is it legal to go in? No
The old, abandoned mansion colloquially known as the Israel Beetison House once belonged to the family from which its name is derived—now, however, it stands in ruins. Despite its boarded-up windows and weathered whiteboards, the Israel Beetison House is recognizable for its Italianate architecture and excellent masonry (which is perhaps the reason it’s been standing so long).
Although the mansion resides on private property, it’s viewable from Highway 66, off the I-80 Ashland exit. Unfortunately, the property has suffered years of vandalism, and in April of 2022, it succumbed to fire.
Boyd County Jail
Location: Butte, Nebraska
Abandoned since: 1983
Is it legal to go in? Yes
Originally built in the mid-1910s, the Boyd County Jail served as a modest holding for local offenders for nearly 70 years before its abandonment in the early ‘80s. And modest it was: the jail housed only two cells, each of which could fit up to four prisoners.
While it may seem encouraging that Boyd County had little enough crime that it only needed a jail big enough for eight people at any given time, the inside is far from cozy. Rusted cell bars and warped metal cots invoke sinister imagery of old-time criminals.
Today, the Boyd County Jail is open for public tours—if you’re planning a visit, you’ll want to schedule with the Boyd County Clerk’s Office.
Tips for exploring Nebraska’s abandoned places
Exploring abandoned places can be thrilling—or chilling if you’re not prepared. Before embarking on any risky adventures, be sure to take the following safety measures:
- Check the ownership and regulation of the area before you go—and ask permission if necessary. It’s important to do your research before visiting an abandoned place, to avoid incurring a trespassing charge. Plus, it never hurts to know the local area before you travel.
- Dress comfortably (and wear close-toed shoes!). Safe and comfy clothing for any excursion are a given: you never know what you’ll find out there!
- Never take souvenirs. The temptation to commemorate your visit with a scrap of wood, a brick, or an artifact you discovered might be strong, but do your best to resist it! Disturbing the landscape can make these beautiful historic places inhospitable to future visitors.
- Bring a buddy or let a friend know your location. Most of the places listed here are fairly safe to visit, but you never know what could happen when you venture off the beaten path.
- Consider bringing protective gear, such as a face mask, gloves, or other equipment if you’re visiting areas with possible contamination from outdated building materials.
Most importantly, enter abandoned locales with safety and respect in mind. Running unnecessary risks could result in harm to yourself and others.
How to find affordable car insurance in Nebraska
For most of Nebraska’s abandoned sites, you’ll need to travel by car to see them—so it’s best to
shop for car insurance
before setting out. You want to know that you’re covered—whether you get a flat tire, need a tow, or find yourself in an accident.
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Is it illegal to visit abandoned places?
It depends. Most of the abandoned places on this list are open to public exploration—but some of them are privately owned, and can’t be accessed without express permission from the owner. To avoid trespassing, make sure to do your research on the abandoned place you’re visiting, including any regulations on visiting and exploring the area.
Why are there abandoned houses in Nebraska?
There are several reasons a house may wind up abandoned.People may be forced to move or abandon their properties following a natural disaster (especially in Tornado Alley) or have them repossessed by the government. Whatever the case, abandoned houses aren’t necessarily uncommon—although the mystery behind each one certainly is.
