The Story Behind This Unique Mausoleum in Nebraska Is Heartbreaking
Imagine walking around in the woods one day and suddenly stumbling across a hand-carved cave that was meant to be someone’s final resting place. In Rose Creek Wildlife Management Area just outside of Fairbury (Jefferson County) you can have just such an experience.
Rose Creek Wildlife Management Area is located 2 miles south, 2.5 miles west, and 1.25 miles south of Fairbury. It's a truly breathtaking place to hike, go horseback riding, or camp (primitive camping only). It's also a popular hunting area.
But there's something fascinating hiding in these woods. You can see it coming up from a distance: a sandstone cliff - which is very common in this area of Nebraska - with a hole in the front.
In the early 20th century McDowell, a wealthy bachelor and the son of one of Fairbury's founding fathers, decided to create a grand final resting place for himself.
He spent nearly a decade with a hammer and chisel carving out this cavernous two-room mausoleum. Think about that - this was once a solid block of sandstone that one man carved out completely by hand.
There is a depression in the back wall, maybe meant to hold a shrine or religious figurines. On either side of the back room are platforms that are just the perfect size for a human body.
Sadly, McDowell's masterpiece was never used for its intended purpose. When he died on September 27, 1937 in a car vs. train accident, the law prevented his entombment in the mausoleum. His body instead rests in the Fairbury Cemetery.
Due to the soft nature of the sandstone, countless people have felt the need to scratch their own names and messages into the stone over the years. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (along with everyone who hates to see local treasures vandalized) asks that visitors do not try to leave their mark in a similar manner.
Getting to the mausoleum is a feat in itself. The hike in is steep, slippery, and at times treacherous. If you go in the winter or after a rain, you’ll encounter slick conditions. The trail is right next to Rose Creek and is utterly beautiful. The video below shows a hike in and out, giving an idea of what it is like to traverse the trail.
The video below gives some more general history on the mausoleum.
Have you ever encountered this oddity while out hiking in Rose Creek WMA?
