WELCOME TO GRAND ISLAND!

With a population of just under 50,000 people, Grand Island, Nebraska is a growing, innovative city on the plains of Nebraska. Home to the Nebraska State Fair in late August, the Stuhr Museum, Fonner Park horse racing, two new craft breweries, a mushroom cultivating business, several sports facilities, and a vibrant, reenergized Railside downtown, Grand Island, Nebraska has something for everyone!

Grand Island, Nebraska has a robust Chamber of Commerce which, while instrumental in encouraging and partnering with new businesses in the area, is active in creating a pleasant and interesting experience for out of town guests. The Grand Island Convention and Visitors Bureau is also an excellent source for information about the area.

Grand Island is very glad you are here!

Grand Island has so much to offer to the traveler and visitor. Looking for a nice motel, a place to camp or park your rv or pitch a tent? Grand Island has several city parks for taking an enjoyable morning stroll, to throw in a fishing line or to stop and feed the geese.

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If shopping is your passion, there are shopping malls located around the city and in downtown Grand Island's Railside area there are boutique shops and several antique shops located within walking distance of each other. Of course you will be getting hungry and there is so much to chose from including several Mexican restaurants, food trucks, great steak houses, Japanese cuisine, an Indian restaurant and an Irish whiskey bar which serves meals. Grand Island is home to two of the growing number of craft breweries outlets around the State.

Only in Grand Island!

There are several experiences that can only be had in Grand Island, Nebraska. Of course, the Nebraska State Fair is located here at the well-known Fonner Park complex. The Fonner Park Complex is used year around for agriculture events including horse racing, horse shows, an AKC dog show is held here as well as music concerts of every genre. There is now a casino located at Fonner Park. The Stuhr Museum is here, the home for Railroad town, with authentic businesses, homes and churches scattered over the museum grounds. Hands-on events are held all year long. This year, September 28 to October 1, 2017, the AKSARBEN stock show moved from its long time home of Omaha, to Grand Island, Nebraska.

The dog park is located at L.E. Ray Lake, on the south side of Grand Island. Lots of room for your pups to run and even take a swim in the fully fenced location.

Grand Island also has restaurants that make from scratch pies, a fruit restaurant that creates meal items from fruits, a natural food store, a gourmet meat store, and a flying circus above an auto body shop.

Some History of La Grande Isle

Grand Island, Nebraska is located in South Central Nebraska, just a few miles north of the Platte River. The Platte is a braided river full of islands of all sizes. Fur trappers in the early years of the territory, named the area "La Grande Isle". Today, those enjoying the Platte River include bird watchers from around the world who come to experience the annual Sandhill Cranes migration.

With several population booms and declines, the original 35 German immigrants from Davenport, Iowa in 1857, have grown to almost 50,000 in population making it Nebraska's fourth largest city. Grand Island, Nebraska is a railroad hub, with more than 160 trains passing through Grand Island, Nebraska on any given day. Both the Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern railroads were instrumental in creating what is now Grand Island, Nebraska. Today, the community is a nice blend of college age students, young families with school age children and vibrant retirees, all enjoying the Good Life offered in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Please ask the businesses you visit about their HIGHWAY specials.

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