Omaha Exploration

You could say that Jewell Park in Bellevue is Sarpy County’s version of Hummel Park. Like Hummel, rumors suggest that it is haunted; served as a gathering spot for cults; served as a dumping ground for murder victims; and the site of other sinister events.

The heavily wooded park sits adjacent to the Bellevue Cemetery and offers views of the Missouri River. It started as part of Arthur Jewell’s 160-acre farm. In 1908 the farmer-turned-real estate man hired Roy Towl to survey the land, which he platted into 61 three-acre lots “with winding avenues by each, so arranged that each tract is a beautiful building spot.” At the center of the new development was the beautiful Jewell Park with its natural grove. One mile from Bellevue College, the streetcar line even ran through the property. A 1909 advertisement shows the lots further divided between 1¼ and four acres each at a cost of $350 to $1,400.

The lots were advertised as beautiful country homes for those looking to escape the growing city of Omaha. Towl, the future Omaha mayor and parks commissioner, was the first to purchase a lot in the neighborhood. Jewell, meanwhile, moved to Omaha. After its founder attempted to sell the park land, homeowners filed a lawsuit in 1917 alleging breach of contract, as they were promised the land would remain a park. They were successful, and Jewell Park continued to serve the neighborhood and became a popular place for a walking club.

The park had a small arena connected to several trails and became a popular spot for horse shows and even hosted rodeos. It was once said to be one of the nicest parks in the Omaha metro area. The picnic area atop the hill offered views of the river and proved to be a popular spot. The park was also used for Bellevue’s Arrows to Aerospace rodeo, which included events such as bronc riding, steer wrestling, bull riding, and roping. In 1985 it served as the last regular season event for members of the Mid-States Rodeo Association. A nonprofit called Barebacks and Bells even used the park for its youth equestrian program, designed to keep youth out of trouble and groom them for success. The group moved after the city denied its request to build stables at the park.

Over time Jewell Park fell into a sad state, run down and neglected, particularly where the old arena once stood. The road that led to the picnic area had also deteriorated. It attracted a lot of litter, including appliances. As a result the park was essentially closed and dying after lapsing into decay. There was concern that the heavy thatch accumulated on the forest floor could catch fire in a prolonged drought and threaten nearby houses. It had little new growth except for invasive and undesirable species, including 7,000 to 10,000 Trees of Heaven (sometimes referred to as Trees of Hell), whose structurally weak branches are easily broken and which put down 100,000 seeds annually. When cut down, they send out thousands of new underground roots, many of which become trees themselves. Expensive to remove, they must have holes drilled into the stump and poison applied.

In recent attempts to reclaim the park, the old arena was torn down and replaced with a dog park, the city sponsored cleanups led by volunteers, and Trails Have Our Respect (THOR) installed mountain biking trails. Some suggest it is the best place to ride in the entire state due to its challenging climbs and thrilling descents. Despite that, the park remains in rough shape, though long-term improvements may be forthcoming as the city released a plan to improve many of its parks, including Jewell, in the coming years.

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An old streetlight inside Jewell Park. I suspect this sat along the road that led to the picnic area at the top of the park. To the right is a picture from what appears to be a one-time parking lot.

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