The Unique Hotel In Wilber Is The Only One Of Its Kind In Nebraska
By Delana Lefevers|Published January 31, 2022
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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.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
If you’re looking for an unconventional, historic place to stay in Nebraska, you can’t do better than the Hotel Wilber in the little town of Wilber. You may recognize the name of the town as the Czech Capital of the USA and the location of Nebraska’s most iconic Czech Festival. It’s also home to this gorgeous late-19th-century hotel where you can still find a welcoming spirit and a comfy bed for the night.
The magnificent Hotel Wilber was built in 1895 as a hotel and gathering space for the local community. It was constructed in the same spot as an earlier wooden building that burned down in 1874.
It changed hands several times over the years until 1978 when the Barta family donated the hotel to the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber. The community organization is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the Czech culture and heritage in Wilber, including organizing the iconic Czech Festival every summer.
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The Nebraska Czechs of Wilber organized a volunteer restoration effort in the late 1970s to return the hotel to its original glory.
Local families sponsored each guest room, choosing the decor and funding the refurbishment. In return, the rooms were named after the families. Each bears a plaque outside the door with the name of the sponsoring family.
In 2021, new caretakers were appointed to operate and care for the historic hotel. Their goal is to bring the Hotel Wilber back to life, hosting events and inviting the community to once again enjoy this unique space.
Shortly after taking over stewardship of the hotel, the new operators turned the lobby into a cafe that's open to the public. It serves breakfast and coffee in the morning as well as lunch in the afternoon.
...and a selection of lunch items. The food is mostly American, though there is a traditional Czech Days dish featuring your choice of meat and those iconic Czech dumplings and sauerkraut.
The decor in each room was chosen by the local family who sponsors it. There's so much personality in these rooms that staying here is almost like staying with that family!
The "hotel" is now considered a bed and breakfast due to the fact that there aren't separate bathrooms for each room. You won't mind sharing, though - the experience is quaint and all-around delightful.
When you spend a night here, you're experiencing an important part of Wilber's - and Nebraska's - long history. Whether you come during the Czech Festival or pop in for a stay any other time of the year, this is one experience you're sure to fall in love with.
There’s no other hotel in Nebraska quite like this one. The historic building has been a centerpiece of the town since its inception, and it continues to be an important spot for locals and visitors alike. You can learn more about the current goings-on at the hotel and find out how to book your own stay on the official Facebook page.
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