Buffalo County Recreation Area-Ravenna Lake, (Buffalo County, Courtesy)
RAVENNA — Buffalo County Recreation Area-Ravenna Lake will be one of the causes included in the Kearney Area Community Foundation’s 2025 Give Where You Live event.
“Buffalo County Recreation Area-Ravenna Lake was originally developed as a base for Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal,” per the Give Where You Live page.
After the nine-year program ended in 1942, the base became a State Recreation Area.
“In the early 2000s the land was gifted from the State of Nebraska to Buffalo County, and since then, the County has established the Buffalo County Recreation Area-Ravenna Lake,” per the Give Where You Live page.
The campground features 41 RV campsites, including primitive sites and those with electrical and water hookups. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill, providing ample fishing opportunities.
A bathhouse with shower facilities was added in 2022.
Steve Gaasch, Facilities Director for Buffalo County, said that Ravenna Lake has seen a growing number of campers since 2019. By the end of September 2025, there had been a 40 percent increase in the number of campers compared to last year.
In 2024, the lake saw 2,000 campers which brought in $50,000 for the county.
The county also plans to add pickleball courts to Ravenna Lake in the future. Gaasch said the county is looking to add two pickleball courts at the lake site.
“Buffalo County Recreation Area-Ravenna Lake will apply your generous donations to projects currently in the works. These projects include kayak rentals, a sand volleyball court and convertible pickleball/basketball courts,” per the Give Where You Live page.
“Donations will help us purchase life jackets, paddles and kayaks for our kayak rentals, as well as various supplies for the sand volleyball and pickleball/basketball courts,” per the webpage.
The fundraising goal for the 2025 event is $20,000.
The 2025 Give Where You Live event will take place on Thursday, Dec. 4. and is hosted by the Kearney Area Community Foundation.
“Since Give Where You Live’s inception in 2013, more than $13.5 million has been raised for local nonprofits. Every contribution, big or small, adds flavor to the whole—proving that when we all give where we live, we all rise together,” according to the KACF.
Buffalo County Recreation Area-Ravenna Lake’s Mission Statement
Buffalo County Recreation Area-Ravenna Lake aims to provide a beautiful, clean and relaxing environment for campers-both local and from around the country-as well as area residents wanting to enjoy life in the great outdoors.
Aside from camping, the recreation area offers fishing, hiking, ziplines, several picnic areas with grills, an 18-hole disc golf course, a memorial reflection garden, horseshoes, and coming soon to the campground: kayak rentals, a sand volleyball court and convertible pickleball/basketball courts.
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