Windmill State Recreation Area is one of two highly developed areas operated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in the state's unique chain of lakes" along Interstate 80. Situated at the Gibbon Interchange, between Kearney and Grand Island, it was once a stopping spot for early-day travelers. It still serves travelers today with modem camping facilities, a 14-acre man-made lake, and a fascinating assortment of antique windmills.
It draws its name from the locale, Windmill Crossing, where the Pawnee Indians forded the Platte River during their annual buffalo hunts. The old-time windmills that add so much to the character of the area were acquired in the early 1970's. They have all been restored to working order.