Merna, NE

Tucked into central Nebraska's Custer County, Merna is a quiet, close-knit community of around 350 people. The town got its start along the railroad in the late 1880s and was named after the daughter of an early settler. Just west of town lies one of the area's favorite local curiosities, the Merna Crater. For years, folks debated whether the deep hollow in the rolling Loess Hills was left behind by a meteorite, though geologists eventually credited natural wind and water erosion. Today, Merna blends peaceful small-town living with wide-open prairie views and a unique slice of local lore.