Welcome to my blog. On this page you will find articles I personally write about the photography industry and my work. You will also see blogs showing the photos from many of my photo sessions.
If the thought of having a lighthouse backdrop at your wedding is appealing, consider Lake Minatare State Recreation Area in Scotts Bluff County.
The lighthouse at the lake is a landmark. It was built in the 1930s, has a spiral staircase and is 55 feet tall. Just so you know, though, it doesn’t actually light up.
Still, the lighthouse makes for a nice feature for a wedding, said Lake Minatare superintendent Dan Thornton. The setting is one of the more popular state parks for weddings.
While the lake doesn’t host a whole lot of weddings, the number has picked up. For quite a few years there were only two or three weddings there. Now it’s up to seven or eight, Thornton said. He attributes the growth to the increased interest of having weddings outside, and feels state parks are great places to host weddings. Weddings at Lake Minatare are free.
The weddings held at the lake generally are small occasions of 30 to 40 people, Thornton says.
The lake has 2,100 surface acres and is the largest body of water in the Panhandle. Main activities there are fishing, camping and boating. It is part of the North Platte Wildlife Refuge and is a haven for waterfowl and fauna.
People wanting to get married at Lake Minatare often are familiar with the lighthouse landmark. Some came to the area as kids. Some still live in the area or have family living in the area.
The landmark has some historical significance, Thornton says. It was built of native stone by the Veterans Conservation Corps Camp BR-1. It was built to serve as a shelter house and observation tower.
It is now open to the public and, as it’s located on a peninsula, it offers a spectacular view of the lake and the beautiful river valley. Think of the wedding photos that you could get!