Johnson Lake SRA - Elwood 

Johnson Lake is a very nice area that has recovered very well from a few years ago when the water level was so low I was reading a lot about how devastating it was for the local economy.  As you can see, it's full now and everything is back to normal.  We've actually stopped here several times over the last few years.  Not to use any of the resources here, only for me.  

I have a special place in my memory of Johnson Lake.  When I was very young and we were going west on vacation, mom used to fry chicken before we left home and we'd stop and have a picnic lunch here.  I always loved traveling and when we came here, I knew I would be seeing the mountains soon.  Mountains have always had a special place in my emotions.

 Ole's Big Game Steakhouse & Lounge - Paxton 

We have been here a number of times over the years.  We've always enjoyed  the ambiance of the restaurant, inside and out.  It is certainly unique in Nebraska.  We had breakfast here this year, which was new for us.  In the past, we were here for lunch or dinner.

Ole's has a great history, great decor and great food.  Dating back to 1933, Ole's started out as a bar owned and operated by a man named Rosser O. (Ole) Herstedt and that's where the name came from.  The actual bar in Ole's is handcrafted out of Walnut and  according to folklore, he won it after winning a baseball game.  

Ole also became a big game hunter.  For 35 years he hunted on every continent and brought his trophy mounts back to display in the bar.  You can get a little idea of how many animals are here from this photo and this is just one of three rooms.

In 1969 Ole shot a Polar Bear in Russia's Chukchi Sea while hunting on a 70 acre ice flow.  A full mount of the Polar Bear was brought back and put on display.  He continued to run the bar until he was in his late 80's.  Now Ole's is owned by the Holzfaster family who kept the character and history of the place.  

We've stopped here many times over the years and have never been disappointed.  Take the time to stop, see all the decorations and have some good food.

Swanson Reservoir SRA - Trenton 

 

This Reservoir is the largest of the four Southwest Reservoirs. It has a 4974 acre lake and 3957 acres of land to enjoy all your recreational activities. There are places for tents and RV's. Cindy does not want to camp so no luck staying in a tent (which we don't have anyway). We didn't see much of the area because its so big. 

We drove over the dam to get to the other side of the lake to see it from that side. According to the map there are quite a few trails for hiking and of course, fishing, boating, water sports, cookouts at the many picnic areas.  There were a large number of vehicles out on the sand including several campers.

Special Scoops Ice Cream Parlor - Hastings 

Opened in 2019, this is a feel good place that provides a great service for the special needs community to help them build confidence and a purpose in life.  They serve ice cream, shakes, malts and pastries.  Cindy was recently diagnosed as lactose intolerant so she asked if they had lactose free ice cream. To her surprise, they did have some in a different cooler so she got chocolate dairy free ice cream and I got my regular strawberry ice cream. After being served we sat down and a had nice conversation with one of the workers.

When we walked in, we were welcomed with big smiles and friendly hellos. They had a huge area to sit and enjoy the ice cream treats and they also have another area called the Mercantile room. 

Lots of goods for sale; tee shirts, sweatshirts, oven mitts, kitchen towels, homemade coasters and many more items for sale.

 

Mullen Art Center - Mullen 

Mullen is a town we've actually spent some time in many years ago.  A good friend was a pastor there about 25 years ago.  It's always encouraging to see small towns continuing to try new businesses.  The Art Center was a surprise but then we've been continually surprised at what we find all over the state while traveling around for the Passport.

The Mullen Arts Center was founded in 2014 with the aim of providing arts and culture to the Mullen community in the form of visual arts, music and theater. They are a member of the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs as well as the Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway.

When we walked in the Arts Center, we were greeted with a friendly hello and beautiful art done by local artists.  We learned in addition to the gallery they hold workshops, special events and exhibitions.  Of course, we had to look at all the beautiful items.  So many choices and we especially liked pictures of the Sandhills.  

Cindy ended up buying a bottle of local honey and a coaster with a picture of Sandhills Cranes done by David Forsyth.  She plans on displaying it at home on our newly installed display shelves.

Anthem Coffee - Thedford 

Anthem Coffee is located in the beautiful Sandhills, located just outside Thedford. The business opened in October 2022 by owner Alicia Clark.  When we walked in, we were greeted with smiles and a friendly hello and of course, the wonderful smell of coffee. Alicia waited on us and gave Cindy advice on what food to eat since she is lactose intolerant.  Cindy ordered the food that the owner suggested and an iced Americano.  I had an excellent panini with lavender lemonade.  We arrived a little after 1:30 PM and were surprised at how busy they were.  That is until we started talking to Alicia and her staff.

They are so personable and interested in their customers well-being.  Several people came in while we were there and they were always greeted as friends.  They have a fairly standard coffee shop menu but everything they serve has a personal touch and is well-prepared.  I'm very certain this business will be around for many years.  Since it's on NE-2 I'm equally certain we'll be back since we travel that highway at least twice a year for either vacation or Passport. 

Seating is available inside and outside.  I waited for a gap in customers to take a photo of just how cozy the place is.  I can imagine folks coming to spend some quiet time here.

There are also a few things for sale including several flavors of coffee.  Cindy bought a sack of Americano and I refilled my lavender lemonade.  We left after a very pleasant visit with Anthem Coffee staff and guests.