COLUMBUS — With COVID-19 restrictions loosened and vaccines getting into the arms of more people, Nebraska Tourism has rolled out the 70 stops on its popular passport program.
From Q's Dairy Sweet in Crawford to the Blackbird Hill Studio in Macy, visitors can add a stamp to their passport for each stop they visit, and stamps can be redeemed for prizes.
Stamps can be collected beginning May 1.
Glur’s Tavern, a longtime Columbus landmark, is back on the passport program after previous listings in 2010 and 2012, said Todd Trofholz, who owns the tavern with his wife.
“They were very enjoyable; you meet a lot of people from all over,†Trofholz said.
In Lincoln, the 2021 passport includes the Lincoln Children's Museum, Saro Cider, Screamers Family Restaurant, Smoking Gun Jerky and the Burkholder Project.
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On the National Register of Historic Places, Glur’s was established in 1876 as the Bucher Saloon. The Columbus establishment serves import and craft beers, as well as appetizers, sandwiches and burgers.
The exterior of the business was recently repainted and a new door and sign were added.
Columbus Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Katy McNeil noted the Passport program will be a good opportunity for Glur’s to show off its updates.
“They just finished the outside of the building, so they’ll get to kind of showcase the new facelift and the new signage and, hopefully, get a lot of use out of the beer garden they have in there in the back this summer,†McNeil said.
Last year’s Nebraska Passport program generated an uptick of visitors for the two stops in Platte County — the Platte County Historical Society Museum in Columbus and The Farmer’s Wife Boutique & Coffee Co. in Lindsay.
The museum saw 1,000 visitors last summer, almost all of which were participating in the passport program, said Cheri Schrader, executive director of the Platte County Historical Society.
“That’s about twice the number of visitors we have most summers,†Schrader said.
Last year’s statewide program, which ran from June 1 to Oct. 31, saw 43,680 booklets requested; 1,188 participants who visited all listed stops and 222,318 total stamps collected, according to Nebraska Passport’s website.
The list rotates each year.
“Anytime we can bring more people through our area … they might see something else to stop and see as well. Or maybe to stop and shop as well,†McNeil said. “So maybe they’re on 11th Street downtown and they stop in there for a drink or for lunch and they decide to do some shopping or check out the downtown. Or check out the water park and stay for the night. It’s an opportunity for showcasing our community.â€
McNeil said the Nebraska Passport program was popular last year, though people were limited in what they could do because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID has presented challenges to business owners, but Trofholz said that things are picking up at Glur’s.
“Over the last month to six weeks, things have picked up,†Trofholz said. “There’s a little more activity.â€
Glur’s opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
MOST VISITED PASSPORT STOPS IN 2018: