In the area known as Ponca Hills sits a park that is unlike any other in Omaha. Established in 1930, the park is most famous for the number of urban legends that surround it. Covered with trees, it has steep cliffs along its eastern edge and deep ravines once you enter. The park was named after the city’s most effective parks superintendent, Joseph Hummel.
Ponca Hills was the home to a number of tribes including the Otoe, Pawnee and the Omaha for which the city is named. We’ll talk about this more in a later post. What’s unusual is that there’s no proof of the Ponca ever having lived in this area so the origin of the name is a mystery.
Before the homesteaders arrived n Nebraska, Spanish fur trader Manuel Lisa established his fort near the park. Fort Lisa traded horses, food, seeds, and land with the tribes and trappers. It was considered a vital western outpost during the War of 1812. The fort closed in 1820 but reopened two years later by French fur trader and merchant Jean Pierre Cabanne. By this time the trading post consisted of stores, shops and houses. While it closed for good in 1840, both individuals are memorialized with plaques at the northeast corner near the park entrance.
After moving from New York in a covered wagon in 1863, Joshua Brown helped build the Union Pacific Railroad. He was among the first settlers in Butler County and ended up building the first flour mill in Saunders County. 20 years later he arrived in Douglas County where he bought a timber farm in Ponca Hills. Joshua knew that the city would eventually want the area for a park so even though he cleared some of the land of trees so that he could farm it, he was careful not to cut down any oak or walnut trees. Following his death in 1923, some of his land was donated to the city to create a park.
Residents first proposed naming the new park Brown Park after the man that lived here. Since the city already had a Brown Park, they instead named it after Joseph Hummel. After Hummel Park opened in 1930, it was the place to be. It was a place to get away from the city due to its seclusion and hilly terrain which made it a popular place to ski. When the weather warmed up, it was a choice spot to picnic particularly on the 4th of July. Sadly, the park closed for two years in 1940 as World War II made it difficult to find workers to keep it up.
I suspect that as the city moved west, fewer people began to utilize the park and it eventually fell into disrepair. Over time, its seclusion and rugged terrain began to work against it and the urban legends started. Some have said that it was a hot spot for satanic rituals. Others claimed that the arching trees at the entrance of the park were the result of lynchings. Some even said that a village of cannibalistic albinos lived in the park and would only come out at night. Within the park is a set of “morphing stairs” in which the number of steps always change. It’s said that you will never count the same number going up as you do going down.
While none of the urban legends are true, the park did attract its share of teenagers looking to drink and party in addition to gangs and garbage. This resulted in some of the structures being covered in graffiti. There have also been a few dead bodies dumped at the park over the years as it was close to the city yet secluded.
After years of neglect, the city in recent years has worked hard to not only overcome the urban legends but to also make the park safer. In order to do so, they implemented an earlier closing time and they spent money to clean, maintain and secure the park. To draw more people to the park, they added new amenities such as playground equipment and slides.
Today the park is popular for its challenging hiking trails, scenic overlooks including the one atop a cliff named Devil’s Slide. With an abundance of picnic tables, grills and a pavilion, it’s also a great place to picnic. For those seeking entertainment, it has an 18-hole disc golf course in addition to horseshoe pits, playground and large enclosed metal slides.
The park is also the home of a very popular day camp that started in 1949. Parents across the city log into their computers as soon as registration opens hoping to claim one of the coveted spots. The Hummel Park Nature Center is also home to the Four Seasons Nature Preschool which instills a lifelong love, respect and understanding of nature.
If you plan to visit, keep in mind the park closes at 9 PM though it may be earlier in the winter. The narrow roads have lots of twists and turns in addition to some fairly large potholes. You’ll definitely want to take it slow. If you plan to look out over Devil’s Slide, it is across the road from the playground. It isn’t marked but you’ll know it when you see it. The path has washed away quite a bit in recent years so be careful.
Content written by Omaha Exploration. If you enjoy my content, you can follow or subscribe on my Facebook page or signup to receive emails on my website. Thank you and until next time, keep exploring!
Bonus Pics
Omaha Exploration 
Leave a comment