Courier October Courier | Page 38

GREAT PLAINS The must-see sites of Kearney One of the Sooner state’s newest attractions is straight out of Blake Shelton’s 2001 hit song “Ol’ Red.” The country singer opened the restaurant and bar of the same name (spelled Ole Red, though) last month in his hometown of Tishomingo, and he plans to open a second location in Nashville in 2018. The venue on Main Street is trimmed in red and white and features an image of a hound dog. Inside is a 4,700-square-foot restaurant and live music area and a 1,400-square-foot retail space. “Experiencing the second celebrity-based business opening in a year, communi- ties in Oklahoma are enjoying the increased traffic to their cities and towns,” says Todd Stallbaumer, consumer and trade marketing director with Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department. “Pawhuska, home of Ree Drummond’s Mercantile, is see- ing thousands of new visitors every week, and Ole Red is gearing up for massive crowds to enjoy Blake Shelton’s latest endeavor.” The menu at Ole Red restaurant includes items that are a little different, like hot chicken and waffles and Lucky Charms cookies. For more information, contact Todd Stallbaumer at [email protected] or visit travelok.com. Country star opens attraction in Tishomingo Groups visiting the small Midwest city of Kearney, Nebraska, should follow the advice of the Kearney CVB and check out these must-see destinations: Classic car museum Kearney’s clas- sic car collection includes more than 200 vintage cars ranging in age from the early 20th century to modern day. The attrac- tion is open year-round and offers special group rates. COMPASS The Archway Spanning an impressive 310 feet over Interstate 80, the Archway is both a monument and a museum, and visitors can travel back 170 years to learn the stories of the early pioneers in America’s westward movement. Kearney Water Trail Beginners and 1860s STYLE LIVING HISTORY expert kayakers can enjoy the Kearney Water Trail, which stretches 2.3 miles down the Kearney Canal. Traveling along the trail is free, and visitors can rent canoes or kay- aks from Kearney Paddle Sports. Sandhill Crane Migration From Book your group tour by calling 913.971.5111 1200 E. Kansas City Rd. Olathe, KS 66061 mahaffie.org 36 October 2017 February through mid-April, visitors can see 600,000 sandhill cranes forage the croplands during the day, and at night, watch them come together to roost in the shallows of the Platte River. Audubon’s Nebraska Crane Festival will take place March 22–25, 2018, and include environ- mental speakers and birding expeditions. For more information, contact Roger Jasnoch at [email protected] or go to visitkearney.org.