This Charming Restaurant In The Heart Of Ranch Country Is A Nebraska Dream
By Delana Lefevers|Published May 18, 2017
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Delana Lefevers
Author
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
Although people usually associate Nebraska with corn, beef production is also a huge part of the state’s economy. In fact, cows outnumber people three to one here. You can find most of our ranches in the sparsely populated Sandhills region, which is also where you’ll find the itty-bitty town of Arthur.
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This tiny town in "God's Cow Country" has a population of under 120 people. If you're hungry when you're passing through, you're in luck - the one and only restaurant in town happens to be terrific.
The Bunkhouse Bar & Grill looks just about exactly how you would expect a ranch country restaurant to look. The low building features a wooden faux front that gives it a rustic, old-timey look.
The restaurant's sign is charmingly crafted from logs, and neon beer signs illuminate the big front windows. Wooden benches out front invite patrons to sit and visit for a while.
The food, while not fancy, is hearty and satisfying, just like you'd find at a family dinner. The burgers are juicy, the beers are cold, and if there are other patrons in the place you'll always have someone to talk with. The walls and ceiling are covered with all kinds of curious memorabilia that might have you a bit distracted from the menu.
The restaurant posts their monthly menu on Facebook so you can have an idea of what to expect when you stop in for lunch. But no matter what the special of the day is, you'll be completely charmed by this gem in the middle of cattle country.
While you're in town, you've got to make time to visit Arthur's two well-known claims to fame. The first, the Pilgrim Holiness Church, is the oldest known straw-bale church in North America. Beneath those stuccoed walls are bales of hay, just like the ones that were used instead of more traditional materials when the church was built in 1928.
The other notable site is the First Arthur County Courthouse and Jail. Built in 1914, the courthouse is the smallest one in the country. Today, however, the tiny building houses a museum. Both the church and the courthouse/jail are on the National Register of Historic Places, and definitely worth a stop before or after your meal at the Bunkhouse.
The Bunkhouse is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 am – 2 pm; Wednesday through Saturday 11 am – 9 pm. Keep up on special events and this month’s menu on the restaurant’s Facebook page. The address is 306 Fir St, though you really won’t need it. If you can find Arthur, you can find the Bunkhouse.
For another restaurant that’s out of the way but absolutely worth the drive, check out this article.
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