Nebraska's Charming City Is A Vibrant Escape With Craft Brews, An Artsy Downtown, And A Famous Steakhouse

Located near the center of the continental United States is Holdrege, Nebraska. The small city, which was officially incorporated in 1884, began as an agrarian community home to mostly Swedish immigrants. Today, the population hovers around 5,500 people, and residents and visitors alike can enjoy the artsy, vibrant downtown, home to a historic theaters, restaurants, and old brick storefronts. In Holdrege, active city streets are surrounded by miles upon miles of farmland, wildlife refuges, and wide-open prairies, which have allowed the city to maintain its otherwise rural feel well into the 21st century.

If you're traveling to Holdrege from out of state, the closest commercial airport is in Kearney, another underrated Nebraska city, about 40 minutes away. If you prefer to travel with ground-level views of the surrounding landscape, however, you can always book through Holdrege's downtown train station, which connects the city to Amtrak's California Zephyr line. In town, there are plenty of places to spend the night, including a Cobblestone Inn & Suites, as well as vacation rentals available through sites like Airbnb.

All in all, Holdrege represents an escape from the hustle and bustle that defines modern-day city life. Still, despite its relatively small size and agrarian charm, there's plenty to keep visitors occupied.

Just north of downtown Holdrege, you'll find the Nebraska Prairie Museum. Here, visitors can learn about what it was like over a century ago, when settlers first put down roots in the state. The museum includes period-accurate buildings like a sod house, a traditional single-room home made from soil and sod; a recreated town square with a dress shop, a newspaper, and even a dentist; and model train displays. This "gem of a museum," according to one review on Google Maps, has accumulated hundreds of five-star ratings over the years.

After learning about old-fashioned prairie life, head to Holdrege's Iron Horse Arts District to explore the brick-lined streets, where buildings still look much as they did decades ago. Although the Holdrege Sun Theater isn't the oldest operating movie theater in the world (that honor belongs to one in Iowa), it still has a past dating back more than 100 years. You can reserve tickets to watch new releases and returning classics in the historic venue.

The theater is just one of the many creative spaces in the arts district, a stretch of downtown that also includes pop-up galleries, murals, and a bronze sculpture garden. The neighborhood hosts an annual Artisan Expo, where vendors sell handmade wares from booths, and food trucks offer up refreshments. The district also sponsors other events, like meet-and-greets with featured artists, a live music series, and "Haunted Holdrege" historic walking tours come the spooky season.

If exploring the countryside and strolling through the Iron Horse Arts District has worked up an appetite, make sure to check out a restaurant on South Road — about 6 miles from downtown — simply called The Speakeasy. This steakhouse, which housed a general store back in the 1800s, according to 1011 Now, has served hearty meals for about half a century. "Everyone one at our table had prime rib — amazing flavor and cooked to perfection!" reads one of the many five-star reviews on Google Maps, with other customers highlighting the Brussels sprouts and pork belly. Although The Speakeasy might not be one of America's most haunted restaurants, it was ranked the most haunted in Nebraska by Food Network. So, if you visit, look out for a troublemaking spirit known as "Faceless Fred." The Speakeasy is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, so plan accordingly.

If you'd prefer to avoid local ghosts, you can always check out Lost Way Brewery in downtown Holdrege. The brewery, which opened back in 2017, has a mix of pilsners, red ales, IPAs, and more, all brewed in-house. The menu also includes rotating seasonal beers and food options, like pizza and soft pretzels. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with one customer singling out the "excellent atmosphere and equally good beers" on Google Maps.

Beyond the steaks at The Speakeasy and the craft brews at Lost Way, there are plenty more stops to satisfy your appetite in Holdrege, from coffee shops to casual Mexican fare. In other words, whether you're interested in galleries or ghosts, there's no shortage of attractions in this artsy little city.