Mahoney isn’t a wilderness park and doesn’t pretend to be — it’s the state’s purpose-built family headquarters, and it’s superb at the job. Dedicated in 1991 and named for the Game and Parks director who rebuilt the park system, it packs a staggering amount into 700 acres: an aquatic center with two 45-foot slides and a wave pool, an indoor activity center with a 42-foot climbing wall, a Go Ape treetop ropes course, horseback trail rides, a marina with paddleboats, mini golf, and a 70-foot observation tower over the Platte Valley.
Winter is the sleeper season: toboggan runs, an ice skating rink, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing, all with the lodge as a warm base. The Kountze Theater hosts live melodramas, and the nature center’s conservatory is good on a rainy day.
It’s the third-most-visited attraction in Nebraska, so summer weekends sell out — book cabins and lodge rooms months ahead. Park entry is separate from activity fees, so budget for both.