Jamboree Accommodation Options By Nate Nelson and Eric Albrecht Jamboree Co-Chairmen Whether you are going for one night, the weekend, or an entire week, it’s a good idea to start planning early for where you will stay. Many options fill up quickly, but don’t let that deter you from joining in the fun! Call Eric 308-627-2784 or Nate at 308-660-5437 if you have questions. Here are some accommodation options: Forest Service Campgrounds The Forest Service campgrounds provide both primitive and electric campsites. The electric campsites tend to fill up quickly. If you plan to bring your camper and these are full, you have a few options and you may want to consider bringing a generator. The Forest Service campground sites at the Bessey Campground Complex, and those located in Natick and Whitetail, may be reserved through recreation.gov or www.reserveamerica.com. There are a few camp sites that are first-come, first-serve in these camp grounds as well. Thedford Fairgrounds The Thedford Fairgrounds have allowed the NBA members to use their grounds for overflow camping the weekend of the Jamboree. A free will donation box will be set up there and they ask that each party who uses their grounds donates what they think is fair. There are no electrical hookups, so plan accordingly. Halsey and Thedford There are also hotel possibilities in both Halsey and Thedford. Call the respective hotel/motel to reserve. The Roadside Inn in Thedford also has RV hookups. Redwood Inn, Halsey, 308-533-2240 Roadside Inn, Thedford, 800-373-1648 |
Camping at the Bessey Ranger District
Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (NNFG) and the Bessey Ranger District are pleased to welcome the Nebraska Bow Hunters Association for their annual Bow Hunters Jamboree! We wanted to take a moment to share campsite information with you for your planning purposes.
Half the campsites at the Bessey Recreation Complex are reservable up to six months in advance. The other half of the campsites are available on a first come, first-served basis. Reservations are filling.
Bessey Recreation Complex reservations may be made through recreation.gov. Type “Bessey Recreation Complex” in the website’s search bar to find the campground. Selecting individual campsites will provide information on the campsite’s length, type (tent or camper), and amenities for each site. Before reserving a site, please take a moment to review this information and locate your campsite on the map.
Another camping option is Natick Campground. Located only 8 miles from the Bessey Recreation Complex, Natick Campground has a special rustic charm and is farther away from the sounds of the train. The campsites are spacious with plenty
of shade and there are large open areas for kids to run. OHV use is not allowed at the Natick Campground. Natick camping is first come first served with no electric hook-ups. Natick campground has a vault toilet and a non-potable water pump. Part of the road to the campground is gravel, so please use caution when driving.
If you are staying in a campsite that is first come first-served, the registration envelopes are available at the self-serve information kiosk. Please fill the envelope out as completely as possible, place your money in the envelope, remove your campsite tag and deposit the envelope in the self-pay drop. Campsite reservation tags should be hung on the numbered post at the campsite within 30 minutes of your arrival. Campers are not to save first come, first come campsites for late arrivals.
If you have a camping reservation in the Bessey Recreation Complex, there should be a reservation tag hung on the numbered post at the campsite when you arrive. All campsites must be occupied the first night of reservation. Campsites that are unoccupied will be reopened to other campers on a first come, first served basis. Refunds will not be issued.
Please keep all wheels, OHV, RV and car, on the gravel to help maintain pleasant and green campsites. The day use parking
lot is available for extra trailer or car parking. Trailer hitch locks can add peace of mind for those with security concerns. Day use tags should be displayed on the dashboard or rearview mirror. In camp sites that are designated for RVs, only one RV or trailer is
allowed per site.
The Bessey Recreation Complex and Forest is open to the public. There will be users in the campground and in the Forest that are not there for the Bowhunter Jamboree.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to the front desk, (308)533-2257, with any questions you may have. We look forward to hosting and enjoying another year with everyone!