Historic fish hatchery site features renovated interactive stream and treehouse classroom

GRETNA, Neb. (KOLN) - Schramm Park State Recreation Area marks the birthplace of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and now offers visitors renovated and new attractions.

The park is where the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission began in the late 1800s. In 1879, the legislature created the Nebraska Fish Commission. A few years later, the commission purchased a hatchery on the property.

“The reason they chose this location is because of a natural spring that starts up in a canyon in the forest here at Schramm,” said Jen Ruyle, an outdoor education specialist. “It provided a lot of really clean, clear and cold water for raising fish.”

The 1914 Hatch House stands on the site and is visible from the main road. The building is the third iteration of hatch houses used to raise fish on the property. The site operated as a fish hatchery for about 100 years until the 1970s. The building now serves as a hatchery museum.

The park received funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and donors to renovate its canyon ponds. In the past year, the park opened an interactive stream. The ponds were remodeled into a stream where children can wade and feel the cold spring water. The stream feeds into a trout pond. The natural spring flows year-round and the trout can be seen throughout the year. Visitors can bring quarters to purchase fish food.

A treehouse building opened in May 2025. The Nebraska Environmental Trust and donors to the Venture Parks Initiative funded the project.

“When you walk up the stairs, it’s really dark and cool and quiet. It feels like you’re inside of a tree,” Ruyle said. “And when you come off that stair landing or out of the elevator at the top, you have these tremendous views.”

The treehouse functions as a nature center or classroom and is used for field trips. It is open to the public on weekends and Mondays throughout the year.

Visitors can see woodpeckers, tree canopy and squirrels from inside the structure.

Information about booking field trips, homeschool groups or senior group visits is available at OutdoorNebraska.gov by searching Schramm.

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