A place I love; Platteview Nebraska

 Platteview Nebraska

You will not find Platteview Nebraska on a map, and if you ask people where it is very few will have even the slightest clue.  I know where Platteview is only because of an invitation that was extended to me and my family from my uncle Scott.  He invited my girlfriend our daughter and I out to camp with him the weekend before the fourth of July this past summer.  I accepted whole heartedly because my uncle is a hell of a lot of fun and he has an airboat—you know one of those flat bottom jon boats with a fan the size of a small car on the back.  I had also heard many good stories about the parties that took place here and it had become somewhat of a legend that I longed to see.

          Platteview lies between Ashland and Omaha on the mighty Platte river, it is an exclusive place.  Not exclusive like a five star country club but exclusive for those lucky souls who have attained a bit of property in this gated community on the Platte.  No mansions or Mercedes like most gated communities but rather an eclectic collection of half built trailer homes, small bungalows, travel trailers, tents, lifted trucks, golf carts and the awe inspiring fan boats.  The people that come here come here for one reason to escape the city life and have the type of fun you can’t have at most Nebraska campgrounds.  Drinking beer is a prerequisite and fun is enforced on all those who

pass through the gates.

              

       “NO SPEEDING, five miles an hour.”   That’s is the first thing one sees when entering the gates, but no need to worry because hardly a car can be seen populating the road, rather there are golf carts everywhere full of imbibing adults and bikes with young children blissfully enjoying the hot summer days near the river.  There is an endless amount of fun to be had here, swimming, eating, drinking, and on this glorious weekend fireworks.  No good July fourth party in Nebraska is declared until the cracks and booms of fireworks drown out the worries that live only minutes away in the state’s population centers.  We all listen to the whizzing firecrackers as the occasional fan boat speeds by roaring like thunder in the spring.  This is what my family does best—be together and be happy.  As the night flies by and one by one folks head to their respective plots to sleep I think,  I’m lucky to be here with all those who I love.