happy jack chalk mine

Happy Jack's was a great place to visit. I did not know that chalk came from a mine. The history of the mine was told during our personal tour. Watch out for the very tiny bats hanging from the ceiling.

Happy Jacks is off the beaten track, but we enjoyed the drive and scenery along the way. The Mine itself is a low key attraction. Our guide knew a lot about the mine, told us all about the history, showed us the entrance hole, all about the men who worked the mine and could answer our questions with ease. When I asked about buying a piece of chalk (rock hound here) she replied that we could just pick up a piece and take it with us. What fun! If you are looking for a splashy place this is not it, but if you want to feel connected to the past and to enjoy a one of a kind adventure then head on out! We loved it.

We were touring the Loup Valley and saw this listed in the Nebraska travel guide and figured why not stop. The staff was nice and the tour was interesting. It is hard to describe, and while I suspect it isn't for everyone, we enjoyed it a lot. We climbed the hill after the tour and surveyed the valley before heading off.

The Happy Jack Chalk Mine is the only mine in Nebraska that anyone can visit. It is very interesting to see. It is a very short drive north of Grand Island off I-80. After a visit of the mine, you can take a hike to the top of the mine for even more fantastic views of the area. It is worth the time to stop and check it out.