BURCHARD — The Big Blue Ranch and Lodge near Burchard in Pawnee County is a destination for hunters, fishermen and families wanting to unplug.
When Tom Bodie returned from World War II, he was in poor health after being a prisoner of war. Doctors told him he should work in agriculture because it was low-stress. He married Betty, and with his degree in business and her degree in nursing, they purchased the 2,000-acre ranch.
Scott Bodie and his wife, Billie Kay, were the next generation to own the cattle ranch.
“We built the lodge to diversify our income,†Billie Kay said.
The lodge was designed so visitors can see the ranch's 24-acre lake, which is shaped like a boomerang, from every window in the building.
“Our first guests were on Father’s Day weekend in 2007," Billie Kay said. “It was a dad and his two sons. They were from Omaha and were amazed. They had never seen the Milky Way before."
The Big Blue Ranch and Lodge has had several visitors who enjoy nighttime photography, as there is no ambient light. There were also guests who specifically came to view the solar eclipse in 2017.
“People who come to the lodge to hunt deer, turkey and predators,†Billie Kay said. “They can fish at the lake, which is stocked with a variety of different species. We have john boats, canoes and kayaks for the guests also.
“Some people like to sit on the big, covered porches,†she said. “There is no internet or television, so people can truly disconnect.â€
“It’s absolutely quiet,†Scott Bodie said.
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In April, guests enjoy bird watching. The rare Greater Prairie Chicken are often able to be viewed and photographed.
The Big Blue Ranch was named one of “Eight Great Ecotourism Opportunities in Nebraska†by the University of Nebraska.
“With only 4% of the region’s tall-grass prairie still in existence, the ranch is an ecological gem with groves of trees, large ponds and original as well as restored grasslands. Thanks to generations of sustainability-minded Bodies, the ranch is home to a large amount of ecological diversity,†the university said.
In addition to the lodge, the ranch is operated as a custom grazing operation. Scott Bodie said he takes a lot of pride in keeping his pastures clean.
Josh and Carly Black became managers of the Big Blue Lodge because the Bodies wanted to travel more.
“The best part of my job is getting to work outdoors. We get to meet a lot of great people,†Josh Black said. “The ranch is a good place to disconnect.â€
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