The Fascinating Town In Nebraska That Is Straight Out Of A Fairy Tale
Isn’t it always a treat to find an enchanting little town that is both perfectly Nebraskan and kind of storybook-like? The little town of Fairbury stands out because of its rich history, lovely architecture, fun activities, and sweet surprises.
The first part of the town you might notice is the historic downtown district. Some of the buildings here are so whimsical that they seem to have hopped out from the pages of a fairy tale.
Although some of these beautiful historic buildings are showing their age, it sort of seems as though they're just waiting until a spell is cast that restores them to their former state.
Inside the dome is a bell locals affectionally call "Little Ben," which chimes on the hour.
We really get into fairytale territory in Fairbury's parks. This stone building definitely looks like something a fairytale character would come across on a trip through the woods!
The mausoleum was carved by hand by a local man. He meant it to be his final resting place after he died, but the tomb has never been used. Instead, McDowell is buried in the Fairbury Cemetery. If you can make the hike through the Rose Creek Wildlife Management Area, you can visit this fascinating place yourself.
The Frontier Fun Park in the Fairbury City Park is one more of Fairbury's delightfully quirky features.
This is the oldest wooden play structure of its kind in the state, and it was actually built from designs submitted by local children. It's meant to imitate an old wild west town, which we think it does nicely.
There is so much history on this spot that it's even worn into the ground - you can still see and feel Oregon Trail wagon wheel ruts here.
In a scene straight out of a prairie legend, a young James Butler Hickock was involved in a gunfight here in 1861 which resulted in the death of a local rancher.
That young gunslinger, of course, would go on to become the infamous "Wild Bill" Hickock. Rock Creek Station was the site of his first known killing. A dubious honor, to be sure, but one that cements Fairbury as a frontier legend.
We’ve got a lot of love for this sweet town. See our previous articles about Fairbury, McDowell’s Tomb, and Frontier Fun Park for even more pictures and information about this place that could definitely be the setting of some fascinating prairietales.
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As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
