The Hutton House

Hutton House, © Ronald Klataske

The Hutton House is a sophisticated two-story ranch house, situated in a small oasis of magnificent Cottonwoods and surrounded by open prairie and grassland. Its recent renovations make it feel like a grand new home in the frame of the forty-five year old house built by former ranch owners Harold and Lucille Hutton. The house [...]

The Lazy Easy

Lazy Easy Ranch House, © Ronald Klataske

The Lazy Easy Ranch House combines comfortable simplicity with a perfect setting for exploring the diverse habitats of the sanctuary, the nearby Niobrara River and the surrounding Sandhills. The house features four fully furnished bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, and a large living and dining room, all of which exude warmth, relaxation and simple charm. Guests [...]

Our Conservation

Sanctuary Fisheries Survey, © Ronald Klataske

The Niobrara Sanctuary is devoted to the conservation of wildlife and the habitats they rely on, including sustainable ranch management and nature-based tourism opportunities that contribute to the viability of this commitment and enjoyment of these resources. Our conservation and management strategy includes the restoration of native prairie and grassland communities. We have planted former [...]

About

A sanctuary for wildlife and people: Committed to Conservation. Unique Accommodations. Incredible Opportunities.

The Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary is truly a sanctuary for wildlife and people alike.  The ecologically diverse 5,000-acre sanctuary is devoted to prairie, woodland, wetland and aquatic wildlife and the habitats they rely on for existence. Like former landowners Harold and Lucille Hutton, we share the vision that wildlife, conservation and sustainable ranch management should be interconnected, and we also believe that nature-based tourism opportunities can play a vital role in efforts toward this vision. Because of this, the Sanctuary provides two different accommodation options as well as opportunities for a range of outdoor activities on and around the Sanctuary that help support our efforts. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the IRS, and the contributions from our guests go directly to support the Sanctuary and our conservation efforts. Read More

Experiences

  • Niobrara Sanctuary Wildlife 10, © Ronald Klataske

    Wildlife

    The Niobrara Sanctuary offers extraordinary opportunities to see, hear and experience a diversity of Great Plains wildlife—in addition to the wonderful array of birds. Among the “mega fauna”, magnificent White-tailed Deer, for example, are a common sight across the Sanctuary and Mule Deer are also occasionally spotted. Some of the less frequently encountered species include [...]

  • Niobrara Sanctuary Horseback Riding 17, © Ronald Klataske

    Horseback Riding

    The sanctuary offers wide open pastures with large scale vistas of the hills climbing toward the sky across the river, trails descending toward steep densely wooded canyons to lush wet meadow besides the river or climbing up the other side to tall bluffs with spectacular views overlooking the Niobrara river valley. With a wet spring [...]

  • Niobrara Sanctuary Plants 4, © Ronald Klataske

    Wildflowers

    The prairies and meadows of the Sanctuary provide a colorful mosaic of wildflowers and a rich diversity of plants. For those interested in plant identification, botany or wildflower photography, the 5,000-acre Sanctuary holds opportunities to see rare and unique species, the chance to experience the vastness of prairie landscapes, and the unique opportunity to be [...]

  • Sharp-tailed Grouse, © Ronald Klataske

    Birdlife

    With diverse species and unique habitats, the Niobrara Sanctuary provides incredible opportunities for birders and others interested in birdlife. Native grasslands are one of the most threatened biomes in North America and the fragmentation of prairie landscapes and loss of habitat have had deleterious effects on grassland birds. Yet, native grasslands and wide-open prairies are [...]