Ord, Nebraska: Small-Town Charm in the North Loup Valley

Ord is the Valley County seat with a population of about 2,000, tucked into the North Loup River valley where the agricultural flatlands begin to roll into the southern Sandhills. It is a classic Nebraska small town with a clean downtown, friendly residents, and just enough services to make it a comfortable base for a hunting trip. The surrounding terrain offers a mix of river-bottom whitetails, Sandhills mule deer, and upland birds.

The Town

Ord has the feel of a town that has been here a long time and plans to stay. The downtown features brick storefronts, a vintage movie theater, and locally owned businesses that have served the community for generations. The North Loup River runs along the edge of town and gives Ord a scenic quality that many plains towns lack. Valley County's economy is built on agriculture and ranching, and the people reflect that heritage with quiet friendliness.

Where to Eat

Ord has a handful of restaurants that serve hearty, home-cooked food. Local diners open early and serve the kind of breakfasts that will carry you through a full morning in the field. A few pizza places and family restaurants handle dinner duty. The options are limited compared to larger towns, but the food is genuine and the prices are fair.

Where to Stay

A couple of motels in Ord provide clean, affordable rooms for hunters. The accommodations are no-frills but comfortable. During peak deer season, rooms can fill up, so booking ahead is recommended. The Calamus Reservoir area is about 30 minutes northwest, and Burwell is nearby with additional lodging options if Ord is full.

Where to Hunt

The North Loup River corridor running through Valley County creates excellent whitetail habitat. The river's timber bottoms, cottonwood galleries, and adjacent crop fields provide food, cover, and travel routes for deer. Several bridge crossings and public access points allow hunters to reach the river-bottom habitat.

Valley County sits at the southern edge of the Sandhills, which means the terrain north of town transitions into rolling grassland that holds mule deer, sharp-tailed grouse, and prairie chicken. This transition zone, where agricultural fields meet native grassland, is particularly productive for pheasant.

Ord is also a short drive from the Calamus Reservoir area in neighboring Garfield and Loup counties, which adds thousands of acres of huntable public land and outfitter opportunities to the mix.

Why Ord Is Worth Considering

Ord offers genuine small-town Nebraska without pretense. The hunting in Valley County is solid if not spectacular, but the combination of river-bottom whitetails, edge-country pheasant, and proximity to the Sandhills gives you options that keep a multi-day trip interesting. If you are looking for a quiet, low-key base camp away from the crowds, Ord delivers exactly that.