531 Nebraska comes to Custer County
CUSTER COUNTY- Have you ever had the urge to set off on an adventure and travel to places you have never seen before? This is exactly what friends Seth Varner and Austin Schneider of Wahoo did this summer as they set off to see all 531 towns across the state of Nebraska.
“It was really eye-opening to see all the different things to do in different small towns across the state,” Varner said. “If you look hard enough there are things to do in Nebraska.”
Custer County ended up being on the last leg of their journey across the Cornhusker state on July 10.
Along the way, the group has been astounded by all the hospitality and support from all the different towns across the state. Many people have helped them with different things like gas money to a place to stay.
“Across the state, people gave us free food, lodging, and gas money,” Varner said. “Almost the entire trip was funded by generous donations from towns across the state.”
Keeping with the tradition, the Cobblestone Inn and Suites and Brookestone View in Broken Bow helped the young men out on their journey. The Cobblestone Inn and
Suites offered them two complimentary rooms as they showed up late into town July 9 and the Brookestone View gave them gift baskets.
“We reached out to them, because it seemed like a very cool project,” Cobblestone Inn and Suites general manager Katie Blaser said. “Some of the towns they featured I haven’t even heard of and I think it’s great they’re showcasing them on their travel log.”
At Brookestone View they met with some of the nurses at the nursing home who eventually convinced them to dress up in a hot dog, a pickle, and a banana costume. Even though the residents couldn’t meet the young men due to COVID-19, they enjoyed seeing them dressed up in the fun outfits through the windows.
“It’s just neat to see all the towns in Nebraska being showcased,” Brookstone View Administrator Madison Guthrie said. “They were great young guys and very professional and kind.”
In Custer County, some of the most memorable destinations for the group were the Downey Well Company Windmill
Farm in Merna, the Charles Horn Sculpture Garden in Oconto and St. Anselm’s or the Cathedral of the Sandhills, in Anselmo.
Besides the generosity that everyone showed them along their journey, the two were also very surprised with all the connections different people across the state had with their hometown of Wahoo.
“It was crazy all the different connections we had in every town. Almost everywhere someone had a connection to Wahoo,” Varner said.
After traveling all day Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, through Cherry, Sheridan, Dawes, and Author counties to name a few, the group has now made it to every town within the state of Nebraska.
At the end of this week the Wahoo Chamber of Commerce is putting on an event for them to celebrate their achievement.