Greetings from Historic Red Cloud: Great Stories Grow Here!
Set amid brick-lined streets, charming homes, historic buildings, and the immense beauty of the prairie, Red Cloud offers a glimpse into a storied American past while maintaining a progressive vision for the future. Great stories start in Red Cloud--add your own chapter today!
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$2.3 million+ raised for Hotel Garber Project; Investors needed to push project across finish line
We're excited to announce some significant developments with the Hotel Garber project! The Red Cloud Hotel, LLC Board of Managers gave the go-ahead for Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture (APMA) to draw up construction documents. Should additional funding come through quickly, principal construction could begin on the project as soon as August and the hotel could be open for business as soon as October 2022. More conservative estimates presently predict the project will be complete in Spring 2023.
The timing is really dependent on how quickly fundraising goes and labor availability. Along those lines, we're also excited to announce that more than $2.3 million has already been raised. An additional $2.2 to $2.7 million will need to be raised, however, which is why we need your help to make this happen as soon as possible! The more we raise the less we have to borrow and the better it will be for all parties involved, especially investors. Investors in the project must be accredited. Contact Jarrod McCartney or Ashley Olson at 402-746-2653 for more information.
While we have exceeded our initial charitable fundraising goal even more quickly than we initially imagined, we are also excited to announce that you can continue making charitable donations to the project through the Willa Cather Foundation's Campaign for the Future. If you donate online, make sure to indicate that you want your contribution to be earmarked for the Hotel Garber project. If donating by check or other means, please contact Ashley Olson at aolson@willacather.org or Jarrod McCartney at jmccartney@redcloudnebraska.com.
We have also begun to design our logos and branding (see the top of this story), thanks to the efforts of RCHS alumna Kendra Erickson Meek! We really don't want to make her change the "Est. 2022" date on the shield and we know we can prevent that from happening with your support! Meek is designing several other branding options and we can barely restrain ourselves from sharing them with you but they are not ready.
We know that this project will transform downtown Red Cloud and help keep it thriving for years to come. This project isn't just about having a great hotel in downtown Red Cloud--it's about creating a catalyst that will foster small business growth and expansion, bring new jobs, bolster Red Cloud's tax revenue, and act as a magnet for people attraction. We can't wait to get started!
READ MORE & LEARN ABOUT NAMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ROOMS, ETC!
LEARN MORE ABOUT GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN RED CLOUD!
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View of the proposed first floor dining/lounge area in The Hotel Garber from Webster Street. A catering kitchen in the basement will allow for the potential of high-end catering events for targeted audiences, but also allow for daily breakfast service and catering for meetings. A meeting room will be created in the space immediately below what is depicted in this image (in the basement). The meeting space will be able to accommodate up to 64 people. Designs are subject to change.
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Red Cloud is Open for Business; YWCA School of Dance, Hospital Thrift Store set to open soon in Moon Block retail bays
Red Cloud businesses are open and all COVID-related restrictions have been removed by the State of Nebraska, though some high traffic and tourism related businesses still ask that you wear a mask and practice social distancing. COVID stymied the growth and exposure of businesses that opened or expanded in 2019-21. While some small businesses thrived during the pandemic as locals shopped locally, tourism related business were severely impacted. Now that things have opened up again we strongly encourage you to come visit and see what places like The Corner Nook and Riverwood Bakery have to offer. Fat Fox's, The Palace Lounge, the Willa Cather Bookstore, On the Brix, Shades West and more can't wait to welcome visitors back in 2021 and beyond!
Finally, we are also excited to announce that two new businesses will be coming to town soon. The YWCA School of Dance will rent one of the Moon Block retail bays in the National Willa Cather while the Webster County Community Hospital will open a thrift store in the other. Look for an ad from the YWCA School of Dance on social media soon and in our April newsletter. Contact Mirya Hallock at mhallock@websterhospital.org for more information about the thrift store.
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The Truth about National Heritage Areas (NHAs)
Many of you may have heard some troubling concerns about the Kansas National Heritage Area Partnership (KNHAP) from friends, family or from out of state individuals on social media. Primarily, these concerns express fear about a possible "land grab" and another wave of governmental interference with private property. They also wander into darker places, like suggesting NHAs will ban agriculture, barbed wire fences, and are possibly even an attempt to turn the United States into a zoo for Chinese tourists. Believe it or not, that's not even the most ridiculous thing we've heard from the opposition. Most sensible people, however, are worried about what this would mean for private property. We understand those concerns.
Let's take a moment and set the record straight. NHAs do not affect private property rights in any way, shape, or form without the consent of the owner. In reality, the NHA program amounts to a coordinated effort between different organizations in south central Nebraska and north central Kansas to market the region and celebrate its heritage tourism assets. The goal would be to attract more people to the region to stay overnight or visit Red Cloud by demonstrating that there are plenty of things for them to see and do in the region. Rather than threatening agriculture, we want to celebrate it--and we certainly aren't interested in bringing down fences. Instead, we think of things like the post-rock fence in Kansas pictured above as an attraction. As Red Cloud Tourism & Commerce Director Jarrod McCartney puts it: "The Arneson side of my family has roots in Webster County going back to the 1870s with homestead claims near Inavale and Riverton. If I thought for one second we were jeopardizing any of that so my employers could squeeze out a few more dollars for marketing, I'd abandon supporting this project in an instant." NHAs are simply a tool to help market the region and lift up the stories and places that already exist. There is no nefarious agenda.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT FOR MORE INFO & ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
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Alumni Weekend Will Go Forward!
The 66th Alumni Banquet and related weekend activities will go forward in Red Cloud in 2021 thanks to COVID cases diminishing. The annual banquet will take place on Saturday, May 29th while the Red Cloud Community Fund's community celebration has been transformed into a "Garden Party at The Kaley House" because of COVID concerns. This event will take place starting at 5pm on Friday, May 28th. Click on the photo or here for more information, including a registration form that you can print out and mail. RSVP as soon as possible!
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Red Cloud Community Fund Members Discuss Town's Progress with Kansas Colleagues
All of the great work happening in Red Cloud is not going unnoticed. Several RCCF members were invited recently to give a talk to members of the Kansas Community Philanthropy Innovators Network. The prevailing message to come out of the conversation was that communities need to tell their stories and lean on passionate, dedicated people to get things started and provide inspiration. Presenters did not shy away from talking about some of the challenges of doing development work in a rural community as well. While not exhaustive, it was fun to share some "Before and After" photos of Red Cloud projects to people who don't see them every day. The effect was truly inspiring. Click on the photo of The Kaley House above to see a Facebook post chronicling some of these changes, stretching from the Opera House project in 2003 to Todd & Lisa Mahin's ongoing transformation of the Newhouse Block (formerly Gary's Barbershop). Click here to view a Google Slides presentation, which includes some economic data and other photos.
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Knock 'Em Over Bowling Alley for Sale
Roger and Paula Hammond are selling the Knock 'Em Over Bowling Alley. Not only does this location have a fantastic setting with retro lanes and endless charm, it also has a commercial kitchen. It's the perfect fit for an entrepreneur willing to try various things to keep a small town business running. The alley attracts people from around the region and smaller communities with such a facility. Contact Don Mehring at Coldwell Banker at 308-380-0444 for more information or to set up a visit.
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