The amazing views and educational opportunities are endless when you travel north out of Wood River on Highway 11 to Burwell and then west on Highway 91 to Dunning. Travelers get to watch the land transform many times from urban to rural, from pivot irrigation to dry land, and get to experiencedriving into the Sandhills all while traveling primarily along the North Loup River. The views seen are thanks mostly to Mother Nature and the educational information to the Loup Rivers Scenic Byway (LRSB) located at 330 S Hwy 11, Burwell, NE 68823. The LRSB is proud of the areas that it covers and invites everyone to stop and join in the fun and educational events that are offered.
The first 2017 event entitled Food
and Fun will be held Sunday, January 15, 2017 from 11:00 a.m.-1:30
p.m. at Calamity Janes Steakhouse & Lounge, 116 S 15th
St, Ord, NE 68862. Visitors will get to choose from a Hot Beef
Sandwich or Chicken and Noodle Soup with a Ham Sandwich for lunch
with a free will donation. At 12:30 P.M. entertainment from
some of the Fun Bunch will begin. All donations will go to the Loup
Rivers Scenic Byway Interpretive Center, Plain Valley District 13
one-room schoolhouse.
Also happening Sunday, May 21, 2017
will be the 2nd Annual Old-Fashioned Country School
Picnic. This event will be held from 12:00-3:00 p.m. at the Loup
Rivers Scenic Byway Interpretive Center, Plain Valley District 13
one-room schoolhouse, 330 S Hwy 11, Burwell, NE 68823 and will be a
potluck event. Many teachers and students families are planning on
attending and we extend that invitation to any visitors who would
like to tour and experience what a one-room schoolhouse was like or
would like to share their experience and memories. Just remember it
is a potluck event so please bring a dish to share.
And dont forget the annual
Nebraskas Junk Jaunt that will happen the end of September.
Visitors might just find treasure they never new existed.
Travelers are also invited to stop and
tour the LRSB and pick up information any time as it is designed to
provide tourists with information on our areas heritage, places of
interest, fuel, dining and lodging information, along with many
educational brochures, pamphlets, and packets. The newest
publication added to the LRSB library is the Great Bird Watching
Along the Loup Rivers Scenic Byway brochure. This brochure is also
available at many area lodging locations and Nebraska tourist
destinations. Over 2015 and 2016 the LRSB has worked on a
Pollination = Preservation (P = P) Education Project where interested
parties were invited to participate in planting pollinator friendly
gardens. In 2017 please look for the Butterfly Byway brochure
which will contain a map of all the LRSB community members
participated in the P = P Project and have a North American Butterfly
Association certified butterfly garden.
Also in 2017 there will be 30 Native
Grass plots added at the LRSB for visitors and schools to use for
education. The newly formed Buds & Blooms Garden Club also
holds monthly garden meetings at the LRSB to learn about
plant/pollinator relationships, plant history, human health and
plants, and what other organizations are doing to be environmentally
friendly. Interested parties are invited to attend the Garden Club
meetings!
When visiting the LRSB patrons will
also get the opportunity to learn about the recycling options the
area has to offer. The Garfield County Recycling Trailer is located
right north of the LRSB right beside the Keep Loup Basin Beautiful
Recycling Trailer which travels to area events and festivals. These
trailers offer tourists from South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and
Colorado an opportunity to stop, stretch their legs, help keep our
area clean, and also visit the LRSB where they can pick up brochures.
Visitors will also notice a large semi trailer where clean, dry,
broken down cardboard is invited to be placed for recycling. We are
ecstatic at the use that the trailers receive and praise each person
for doing their part at keeping the LRSB area free of debris.
If you or someone you know is
interested in any of the opportunities, programs or activities being
offered, and would like to request more information, or you have a
project idea or would like to volunteer, please email Amy
Hughes, Entomologist, Loup Rivers Scenic Byway and Project
Coordinator, Keep Loup Basin Beautiful; Loup Basin RC&D Council
at info@LoupRiversScenicByway.org
or call 308-346-3393.
