We’ve looked at a few well-known communities in the area for our Community of the Month series — such as Papillion and Dundee — and gave you a guide for enjoying Council Bluffs to the fullest. But we can’t forget our smaller residential communities and all of the unique offerings and opportunities that they hold.
That’s why we want to narrow our focus to the residential area surrounding Zorinsky Lake, just west of Omaha.
The Zorinsky Lake area is our community of the month for March!
We want to focus on three aspects of this area that we admire most — its recreational opportunities, local restaurants and residential benefits. We’ll call them “The Three Rs of the Zorinsky Lake Area”.
Explore Zorinsky Lake Park
Zorinsky Lake Park is one of the area’s most popular recreational areas, with its 255-acre fishing lake surrounded by 770 acres of public access land. A portion of this area is dedicated to wildlife management and the rest holds playgrounds, picnic areas, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, hiking and biking trails and a fishing dock.
Take a paddleboard tour and make a day of it exploring all the Zorinsky Lake has to offer! Or, if you prefer, the park also has an aquatic center with slides, water sprays and a zero-depth entry outdoor pool. This is a state-of-the-art facility perfect for enjoying water activities in a different way than what you’ll get at the lake itself.
Zorinsky Lake Park is also home to the Bauermeister Prairie, which is one of the few native tall grass prairies remaining in eastern Nebraska. It houses 120 species of plants, birds and wildlife. With its dedication to wildlife management, it’s clear that Lake Zorinsky is passionate about natural preservation.
The lake itself is a large water mass stocked with lots of fish you can catch from their fishing dock or in a boat. Whether you’re fishing, paddling a canoe, or simply enjoying the lake scenery from the shore, you will have a peaceful experience due to the lake’s no-wake boating policy.
Grab a Bite to Eat
After burning some calories swimming at the Zorinsky pool, paddling across the lake, or going on a bike ride around its perimeter, you’ll need to replenish your body with a wonderful meal. Thankfully, there are several restaurants nearby to visit on your way out of town.
Wave Bistro is a family-owned restaurant offering Asian- and European-influenced dishes. Check out their lunch and dinner menus, with diverse offerings from seafood to pad thai.
Charlie’s on the Lake is not on Lake Zorinsky, as you might assume. Instead, it is overlooking a smaller body of water just down the road. This seafood restaurant received The Best of Omaha awards for Best Seafood and Best Martini in 2012, and their quality has not changed ever since!
Wind down with a drink from Upstream Brewing Company, located just a few minutes from Lake Zorinsky. In fact, you can also grab a full meal to accompany your brew of choice or glass of wine.
Make Yourself at Home
After such a serene and relaxing day visiting this area, you might be interested in the residential statistics of this area. The amenities of this community have attracted a wide range of people, resulting in a diverse economic makeup.
Home prices surrounding Lake Zorinsky range from $200,000 to over 1 million dollars, so it’s likely you’ll find a home to fit your price range. The styles vary as well, but you’ll find a lot of well-built, traditional, brick homes.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF: NP Dodge Real Estate, All Trails, Midwest Living, Driftwood Paddleboard Adventures, Wave Bistro, Upstream Brewing Company, Charlie’s on the Lake
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