Visitors spent $124 million in Lincoln County in 2025, a 6.7% increase over the previous year, according to tourism figures shared by Visit North Platte Executive Director Lisa Burke.
Visit North Platte recently awarded funding to several events and projects expected to bring visitors to the area. Among the recipients was Midwest Championship Fighting, which received $3,000 for its St. Paddy’s Day Beatdown scheduled for March 2027.
North Platte High School also received $14,000 to help host the Nebraska High School State Video Competition in April. The competition is expected to bring approximately 1,000 students to North Platte.
Other grant recipients included Miss Rodeo Nebraska and the city of North Platte. The city plans to use its funding to create brochures highlighting the Cody Park Railroad Museum and local parks.
Burke said tourism numbers for 2026 are also showing continued growth, currently tracking approximately 9% ahead of last year.
She pointed to lodging tax collections in August as another indicator of tourism activity in the area. Lincoln County collected $185,000 in lodging tax revenue that month, compared with $170,000 in Buffalo County and $155,000 in Hall County.
Burke said Visit North Platte works with local organizations and event organizers to support established events while also helping bring new activities and visitors to the community. Grant funding is one way the organization helps those efforts move forward.
The tourism figures highlight the economic impact visitors have on Lincoln County through lodging, dining, shopping and other local activities.
More information about upcoming events, visitor attractions and travel opportunities in the area is available at VisitNorthPlatte.com.