Valentine is a ranching town with waterfalls and golf courses
Valentine is the county seat of Cherry County, which is the largest land area county in Nebraska with more cattle than residents. It is also the hometown of former U.S. Vice-Presidential candidate Tim Walz. Most people, however, identify Valentine as a place with the great outdoors in the Sandhills region along Niobrara River. "Valentine is like my bubble. It is so laidback and easygoing, I’m never moving anywhere again," says Dodi Osburn, a Valentine resident and Realtor at Nebraska Realty. "We have the Niobrara River, great golf courses and the tallest waterfall in the state of Nevada. Our slogan is ‘small town, big adventure.’"
Nature at a wildlife refuge and Nebraska’s tallest waterfall
The Prairie Club is an athletic resort with three golf courses, hailed as some of the best in the area. The Horse, Dunes and Pines golf courses navigate canyons with panoramic views of the Sandhills. Valentine City Park has a disc golf course and nature trails. Smith Falls State Park boasts Nebraska's tallest waterfall, campgrounds, and kayaking on the nationally recognized Niobrara River. Locals can hike through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, a forest habitat for bison, elk and prairie dogs. "The Sandhills is a different kind of beauty," Osburn says. "It is so pretty. Anywhere out here, you’ll see beautiful sandhills that look like Scotland."
Tree-lined streets and ranch-style homes in the Sandhills
Valentine is located among the grassy dunes of the Sandhills region. Its houses are on flat lawns alongside tree-lined streets. Architectural styles include New Traditional and ranch-style homes. Prices range from $120,000 to $500,000. Pricing data is limited because there was only one recorded home sale in 2024. It's important to note that many homes outside Valentine may be priced higher due to their attached land and cattle farms.
Cherry County may experience extreme weather conditions. Summer temperatures reach triple digits in July, and average January temperatures are below freezing. Valentine receives more snowfall than the national average, and tornadoes can happen occasionally.
Downtown boutiques reflect Valentine’s Western charm
Downtown Valentine is a collection of brick boutiques surrounding Main Street. One of its most unique establishments is Young's Western Wear, which has apparel like cowboy boots, saddles and hats. Valentine's restaurants include downtown establishments like the Coachlight Café, which serves patty melts and pies. The Bunkhouse Restaurant & Lounge is a popular local steakhouse. Scotty's Ranchland Foods is a locally owned grocery store, and Henderson's IGA is a nearby supermarket. "You go to the grocery store, and everyone’s talking to everyone. It’s like a networking event," says Osburn. "There is a huge community. People wave and talk to you. It has a rare small-town feel."
Schools have hands-on learning and an agriculture club
Valentine Elementary School earns a B-plus grade from Niche and offers the Beyond School Bells program, which allows students to participate in hands-on STEM activities after school. Valentine Middle School has an A-minus and is part of TeamMates, a student-mentorship program with annual field trips. Valentine High School receives a B and has a Future Farmers of America club for students taking agricultural classes.
Heading to North Platte on US-83
Open Plains Transit provides bus transportation throughout Valentine and other communities in Cherry County. The community's nearest emergency room is Cherry County Hospital, east of downtown along State Route 12. Valentine is about 130 miles north of North Platte on U.S. Highway 83. The North Platte-Lee Bird Regional Airport is also around 130 miles away, offering passenger flights to Denver.
