Calamus Reservoir(Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area)

Dining options near Calamus Reservoir blend local flavor and convenience. Calamus Outfitters offers lodge-style meals with a focus on hearty, homestyle cooking, perfect post-adventure refueling. In Burwell, Pizza Palace serves crispy pies and comfort food in a casual setting, while Northside bar and grill provides live music, karaoke, and pub classics in a wheelchair-accessible space. Bootleg Brewers (west of Calamus) and Longhorn Lanes & Sports Club round out the mix with craft brews and family-friendly bowling.

Accommodations near Calamus cater to outdoor enthusiasts and road-trippers. Calamus Outfitters provides cozy lodge rooms with free Wi-Fi near prime birdwatching areas. Rodeo Inn stands out for its watercraft rentals and proximity to reservoir activities. Sandhills Suites in Burwell offers modern rooms with easy access to local dining, while Calamus Motel & RV combines rustic cabins with on-site grilling. For extended stays, Cobblestone Inn & Suites - Ord (40 minutes away) provides free breakfast and corporate amenities.

Calamus Reservoir boasts 216 grills, two fish-cleaning stations, and playgrounds with slides and swings. Public restrooms are available throughout the recreation area, alongside boat ramps and picnic shelters. The park offers RV-friendly camping with 180-day advance reservations, while Burwell supplies groceries and fuel 15 minutes from the water.

Concession areas near the reservoir provide seasonal snacks and bait, though visitors often bring supplies. Rentals include kayaks and pontoon boats during summer months. Accessibility features include wheelchair-friendly parking and restrooms at key locations.

Fishing dominates Calamus’s appeal, with walleye and wipers biting strongest in spring. White bass and catfish thrive in summer, while Gracie Creek Pond offers stocked trout. Swimming is permitted (no lifeguards), and boating access via multiple ramps supports water skiing and kayaking.

Land-based activities include hiking through sandhill prairies, birding for prairie chickens, and attending autumn pumpkin-carving events. Winter brings ice fishing opportunities, though summer’s rodeo season in Burwell remains the area’s cultural highlight.

Wheelchair-accessible parking, restrooms, and picnic areas are available at main recreation zones. Some fishing docks accommodate mobility devices, though uneven terrain persists in natural areas. Burwell’s Northside restaurant and Sandhills Suites hotel offer ADA-compliant seating and facilities.

While boat ramps lack specialized boarding equipment, staff at Calamus Outfitters assist with adaptive fishing gear upon request. Seasonal naturalist programs include accessible birding tours upon advance notice.

Free parking abounds near boat ramps, picnic areas, and trailheads, with wheelchair-accessible spaces at major facilities. Overflow lots handle peak summer crowds, though RVs should use designated campground spots. Reserved parking isn’t offered, but ample space typically exists outside rodeo season (July).

Visitors note well-maintained gravel lots and clear signage. Street parking is available in Burwell for those combining reservoir visits with town exploration. No overnight parking fees apply outside reserved camping areas.

Calamus Reservoir spans 5,200 acres but averages just 15 feet deep, creating ideal warm-water fish habitat. The area’s annual rodeo has run since 1921, earning Burwell the nickname ‘Nebraska’s Rodeo Capital’.

Local legend claims some reservoir walleye exceed 10 pounds due to perfect feeding conditions. The recreation area’s concession stands operate using original 1980s recipes for burgers and fries, per local lore.

Nearby Burwell hosts Nebraska’s oldest rodeo (July) and the quirky Golden Spike Tower 90 minutes east. The Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway winds past the reservoir, offering stark prairie vistas.

Gracie Creek Pond’s trout fishing provides family-friendly angling minutes from main campgrounds. For history buffs, the Valley County Museum in Ord (40 minutes south) showcases pioneer life. Birders flock to neighbouring wetlands to spot sandhill cranes and prairie grouse.