Things to do in Hochatown with kids and big groups

Oct 4th, 2026 · Broken Bow area guide

Top photo: Ivana Cajina on Unsplash

Hochatown is the little town at the heart of the Broken Bow cabin area, and it has grown fast. Within a few minutes of each other you'll find a petting zoo, go-karts, mini golf, a maze, escape rooms, wineries, breweries and a lot of places to eat. For a big group that means one thing: there's an easy answer for every age and every kind of weather. Here's how we'd sort it.

For little kids

• Hochatown Rescue Center and Petting Zoo. Kids can pet and feed goats, donkeys, rabbits and other animals, and the staff often bring out reptiles and birds. It's a wildlife rescue center too, so admission helps care for the animals.
• Beavers Bend Depot. A small train ride through the woods, plus pony rides. It's at Beavers Bend State Park, a few minutes away. See our Beavers Bend guide for more.
• Gem mining. Beavers Bend Mining Company lets kids sift for gems and fossils, which works rain or shine.
• Mini golf. Several courses around Hochatown. If you're staying at Moonshine Flats, you already have a nine-hole course in the backyard that glows after dark.

For big kids and teens

• Go-karts. Bigfoot Speedway is a local favorite, and Hochatown Amusements has karts and mini golf too. Hochatown Amusements closes during the winter months, so check before you go.
• The Maze of Hochatown. A big outdoor maze that's fun for school-age kids. Younger kids may find it long.
• Zip lines. Rugaru Adventures runs a zip line tour through the forest with views over Broken Bow Lake. There are weight limits, so check the current requirements before booking for kids.
• Escape rooms, laser tag and axe throwing. Hochatown Escape Games has all three, and they're great for splitting a big group into competing teams.

For the adults

Hochatown has become a real destination for wineries, breweries and distilleries, and many are relaxed enough to bring kids along.

• Wineries: Girls Gone Wine, Fish Tales Winery and Knotted Rope Winery are all popular stops.
• Breweries: Beavers Bend Brewery and Mountain Fork Brewery both have space to spread out, and Mountain Fork is known for being family-friendly with outdoor games.
• Distillery: Hochatown Distilling Co. for something stronger.

Plan a designated driver, or book a local shuttle if your group wants to visit several in one afternoon.

We had a group of 12 adults and 6 kids age 3 and under! We had so much room to accommodate all of us comfortably!

Taryn S., stayed at The Nomi Lodge

Rainy day ideas

Rain happens, especially in spring. Good indoor backups:

• Gutter Chaos for bowling, billiards and an arcade
• Hochatown Escape Games for escape rooms
• Gem mining under cover at Beavers Bend Mining Company
• Hester's Theatre of Magic for a live magic show
• The Forest Heritage Center Museum at Beavers Bend

Or just stay in. At The Nomi Lodge, the game loft has a pool table, shuffleboard, foosball, poker and a retro arcade with 50 games. A rainy afternoon there is usually a highlight, not a loss.

Eating out with a big group

Hochatown's popular restaurants get busy, and long waits are common on weekends and in summer. With a group of 15 or more:

• Call ahead to ask whether they take reservations or call-ahead seating for large tables.
• Go early. Eating at 5 PM instead of 7 PM can cut the wait dramatically.
• Split up for casual meals and save the big group dinner for one night.
• Cook in. Both of our cabins have full kitchens and grills, and The Nomi Lodge seats 22 at once between its two dining tables and bar.

A sample Hochatown day for a mixed group

• Morning: little kids to the petting zoo, older kids to go-karts.
• Lunch: meet up at a brewery with outdoor space.
• Afternoon: adults visit a winery or two while another adult takes the kids to gem mining or the maze.
• Evening: cook at the cabin, then the hot tub and fire pit.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hochatown good for kids?

Yes. Hochatown has a petting zoo, go-karts, mini golf, a maze, gem mining and escape rooms, plus the train and pony rides at nearby Beavers Bend State Park.

What is there to do in Broken Bow when it rains?

Bowling and arcade games at Gutter Chaos, escape rooms, gem mining, a magic show at Hester's Theatre of Magic, or the Forest Heritage Center Museum. A cabin with a game room helps too.

Are attractions in Hochatown open in winter?

Many are, but some outdoor attractions, like Hochatown Amusements, close during the winter months. Check each one's current hours before you go.

Is Hochatown the same as Broken Bow?

Hochatown is just north of the town of Broken Bow, next to Beavers Bend State Park and Broken Bow Lake. Most cabins and attractions are in Hochatown, but visitors usually call the whole area Broken Bow.

Plan your trip

See our guides to Broken Bow Lake and the Mountain Fork River and the best time to visit, or the full Broken Bow area guide. Book either of our cabins directly with us to skip the booking-site service fees.

Written by Megan and VladWe own and manage Remington Retreats's five homes ourselves, and we've been visiting these areas with our two girls for years.