Welcome to Papillion, Nebraska
Located in the heart of Sarpy County, Papillion is expanding by leaps and bounds. For years it has been known as the county seat and as a city with great potential and that potential is more than evident when you drive down Papillion’s streets today.
Long gone are the dirt roads and dominating farmland. In their places are four-lane highways and thousands of new homes that represent the city’s future. The landscape of the area looks nothing like it did when the city was founded in 1870.
As legend would have it, the city was named by a group of fur traders who visited the area and found beautiful wildflowers and swarms of Monarch butterflies. History books tell us that one traveler became overjoyed by the sight and proclaimed, “Papillion! (Pappy-on)” which translates to butterfly in French.
Today, Papillion is thriving not only as a growing residential area but also as a booming commercial business destination.
“We have several first-class amenities including Papio Bay, Eagle Hills and Tara Hills golf courses and our parks system,” said Papillion Mayor James Blinn. “When we create amenities we make sure we are creating the best possible atmosphere and the best possible amenities for our citizens and also for travelers.”
Recent additions to the community include new commercial developments vying for valuable land within the city’s zoning jurisdiction. The Shoppes at Market Pointe and Shadow Lake Towne Center have both made Papillion their home.
Market Pointe opened in October 2006 and is home to Wal-Mart Super Center, Kohl’s Department Store, Lowe’s Home Improvement Store, Panera Bread, GameStop and Wells Fargo Bank.
Shadow Lake Towne Center, an upscale pedestrian-oriented lifestyle center, opened in May 2007. Some of the stores currently in the shopping center are Old Navy, JCPenney, Famous Footwear, Bath & Body Works, Bed Bath & Beyond, Complete Nutrition, Kay Jewelers and Sally Beauty Supply. Restaurants include Texas Roadhouse, Tropical Smoothie Café and WheatFields. Shadow Lake is continually growing and expanding.
Mayor Blinn said studies have shown that both Market Pointe and Shadow Lake will drive shoppers from downtown and West Omaha to Sarpy County.
In addition to shopping, Papillion offers many outdoor recreational opportunities.
The Walnut Creek Amphitheater had its grand opening on June 18, 2007. A long running community project, the amphitheater finally opened near 108th Street and Schramm Road and is home to numerous local musical and theatrical performances.
Walnut Creek Recreation Area stretches across acres of land featuring 40,000 newly planted trees to enhance the tall-grass landscape surrounding the lake, which is accessible from Hwy 370 and 96th Street. The park allows outdoorsmen the pleasure of fishing, hiking, bicycling, nature study, picnicking and RV camping. The park is open year-round, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, contact Randy Lee at Walnut Creek Recreation Area, 592-8877, or e-mail Randy at walnutcr@walnutcrk.org.
“Many of the new residents have previously visited our city,” Blinn said. “We try to grow as a first class city and always put a focus on quality of life. And that is a big draw for the city.”