Eugene T. Mahoney State Park is a public recreation area located on the Platte River, just off Interstate 80, approximately east of Ashland, Nebraska. Among other features, the state park offers lodging and conferencing facilities, aquatic center, marina, trails, and theater. It was named after Eugene T. Mahoney, a former state senator and long-time director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, who is credited with reversing the fortunes of the moribund state park system during his directorship. As of 2014, the park was the state's third most visited tourist attraction.HistoryPark development began with the state's purchase of the site in 1985. The park was dedicated on May 19, 1991. In honor of its namesake's Irish heritage, the Mahoney family crest was chosen as the symbol of the park and a loop of cabins was named after County Cork in the Republic of Ireland, the Mahoney family's ancestral home.Activities and amenitiesPark features and activities include picnicking areas and hiking trails, horseback trail rides, fishing, a marina with paddleboat rental, miniature golf and a driving range. Athletic facilities include an aquatic center, 18-hole disc golf course, tennis and basketball courts, softball fields and sand volleyball. A 70ft observation tower overlooks the Platte River Valley. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, sledding and toboggan runs, ice fishing, and an ice skating rink. An activity center, indoor playground and activity simulators are open year-round. The Kountze Theater is a cultural highlight of the park.
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