This 152-acre area was acquired by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in 1960 as a recreational and camping addition to nearby Fort Kearny State Historical Park. Just 3 miles south of 1-80, the recreation area is located 3/4 mile east and 1 mile north of Fort Kearny SHP. It is a year-round recreation area that provides camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, hiking and winter sports for residents and travelers alike. Each spring, the world's largest concentration of sandhill cranes congregates in the central Platte River Valley from about Grand Island to Lewellen with its strategic location, Fort Kearny SRA has become a popular headquarters for those who want to view this spectacular phenomena.