CUSTER COUNTY – The Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway has been selected as one of almost 70 destinations to be featured in Nebraska Tourism’s 2023 Nebraska Passport program.
To call it a single stop, however, seems totally inaccurate; President Linda Teahon explains that the Byway is highlighting its journey, not its destination.
“We have four individual locations on our 272-mile byway; we’re just absolutely thrilled about it.”
The first passport destination along the SJNSB is the Railroad Towne Antique Mall in Grand Island; from there, Nebraska Passport adventurers will wind their way to the Byway’s central hub in Broken Bow for two stops in town: the Byway’s Red Barn and the Custer County Museum. Teahon says the passport should provide a chance for the county’s historical center to really shine.
“It’s a wonderful thing for the museum, to have other people coming in and looking at the Solomon Butcher photographs, other people aside from those with Custer County roots.”
Teahon says all those across the Byway are buzzing over Broken Bow’s beloved Red Barn, as well.
“This is just going to be wonderful; we had a Byway meeting, and we talked about all the numbers of people that are going to be visiting the barn.”
Teahon says her confidence in an increase in visitors stems from the fourth passport location featured on the Byway: CaLinda’s Pot Shop & Art Gallery. The Ashby business is the lone passport program veteran on the SJNSB.
“CaLinda’s been on the passport program one other time. She said it was so good because people came by and got their passport stamped; it was really beneficial for her business.”
With potentially swelling visitor numbers, the Byway will be making a few alterations to its opening hours, which means a greater need for volunteers. Teahon says the Red Barn will open earlier in the day during the summer, and earlier in the year: May 1 will be the opening day for the center instead of its traditional Memorial Day Weekend, the same day that the Nebraska Passport program commences.
Those interested in volunteering with Byway can contact them here.
