As of this evening Stub & Barbara Durbin will be the new owners of the former Elk Manor. The City council accepted an offer from them for it. They plan on turning it into a hunting lodge/ bed & breakfast & Cafe. Yes the Swinging Bridge Cafe will be moved to there. We are so excited to see it become useful again and not sit vacant any longer. So if you see Stub or Barbara give em' your congratulations!!!! They will need it. HAHA
There will be lots of cleanup to do.
;D
What a great idea! Good going Barbara and Stub.
Hurrah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How terrific!
Oh my gosh... THAT is a big undertaking.. I am so excited for them and for our area too.
We need someplace like that.. And to have the cafe there will be a great.
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/congra.gif) Barbara and Stub..
What an awesome idea!!
I have overheard countless people comment about the lack of a place to stay!! Good thinking
That will be great for people coming to the area to visit. I am working on the Howard High Class of 1958 5oth reunion for next Spring and the biggest complaint I get is there is such a limited number of places to stay overnite. I will put something in the next letter I send out about Stub's venture.
Frank Winn
WHAT GREAT NEWS FOR MOLINE AND ELK COUNTY!
WOW !!! That is wonderful support for all of the surrounding communities. Something like that has been needed for a LONG LONG TIME in that part of Elk County.
Awesome !!! GOOD LUCK TO STUB AND BARBARA !!!
:DJust talked to my step sister Cynthia Weddle (,Wichita),last night and they are thrilled to hear about this.
We decided we should get all her kids and our friends, rent the rooms and have a reunion of sorts. This will open
so much for the community.
Any one heard how many rooms will be available?
I will let everyone know how many rooms will be available just as soon as we get it all figured out. But should anyone like to have a free lunch and help us paint let me know. :-)
Oh my gosh. I might have to come help just for the free lunch. Let me know a day.
this is great news. Just as long as the "homey" atmosphere and good food goes to the new cafe. Yes, rooms in this area are badly needed and it would be a shame to let that building just sit and waste down. Have to comment that Moline has a pleasant entrance into it's town and that leaves a good impression on people. Hate driving through "junky" places going into a town because that is the impression I get of the whole town. Just my opinion, tho, which is worth about 2 cents, right? ;D
The last time I was in Moline and had a visit with David Brace, I remember commenting on how good the
town looked. Very clean and well kept. David expressed how proud he was of the rating that Moline had and their
commitment to keeping it looking good. I'd love to see it keep growing and prospering. So many of our ancestors where
so committed to their communities in Elk Co.
I am sure that I am going to get a big black mark next to my name for this post, But ~~ Howard looks sooooo good approaching from the north and soooooooooo bad from the south. It really cou ld be good from both directions - with just some effort from the land owners.
Sorry if there are bloody toes from this post --- but truth is truth!!
So, somebody help me get the story in this week's Flint Hills Express!
We all worked out there all weekend cleaning things up. You wouldn't believe all the stuff they left. Luckily I have connections with some of the workers that used to work there and they gave some good information on things. We filled up one dumpster already with loads of paper and 3 ring binders. We also gave a bunch of stuff to Howard Twighlight Manor. I believe that there will probably be an auction at some point to get rid of the rest of the items that aren't needed or wanted or won't be used. But that is just a possibilty right now.
Barb is in the process of selling her building up town so there won't be another empty one on mainstreet. Hurray!!! Not that we have very many but there are a couple.
I am interested in anyone that has decorated their home, with the rustic cabin look, for ideas. If your willing to share that is.
;D
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE THAT THER IS A STERLING SILVER SWINGING BRIDGE SPOON. MY mOM HAD ONE.
Just thought I would give you an update as everybody has been asking.
The lodge rooms are ready for hunters or anyone just wanting to rough it a bit. They have a shared bath and just one shower for now. Mark has been working hard on the kitchen and addition which will house the walkin fridge and freezer when we find one.
We have had some hunters already and the construction guys that are putting up the new Moline fire station are staying there.
We hope to be moved by mid December. There are 4 South Hall rooms that will have their own bath & shower. These won't be ready for a while as the cafe has priority. But if you don't mind the one shower you can rent them too. They do have their own bathroom. We do have some rooms already rented for Christmas. So if your needing that you should probably call. There is a website that has a pretty good description of things, that I keep updated.
www.molinecrookedcreek.com
Thank you to everybody that has stopped by and offered their support. It has been a lot of work and I no longer have spare time in my vocabulary. LOL.
I will let everyone know on here when the grand opening is so keep your eyes peeled. Hope to see you soon.
OOps I forgot to tell you that we don't call it Elk Manor or the Nursing home we are trying very hard to change the image so we fondly refer to it as "The Lodge" hehehehehe
LT
What a wonderful website Lisa. You did gooood.
I love the way the rooms are fixed up. I am so excited for Everyone that is involved.
( I hope your mother doesn't work herself in the ground on this one)...but knowing Barbara....................................
sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. ::)
I am anxious to come down and take a tour.
Wonderful wonderful wonderful addition to Elk County.
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/thumup.gif)
Kjell just linked the website up to the local links on this website.
I just looked through the web-site. It is really nice! I'm sure your busines will be VERY successful, and greatly appreciated.
I just clicked on the web site.........WONDERFUL ...... It is sure to do well, and will be appreciated from all points of view. Travelers, visitors, hunters and just those that want to get away and won't have to travel a great distance to do so.
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
Loved the site and Lisa, I learned a lot more than just about the lodge. Knew you were always in the Swinging Bridge when Marvin and I came down to eat, now I know why. Your parents own it. :) Never too old to learn something new. ;)
Lisa - best of luck with the lodge - we definitely need more lodging in Elk Co.
I just gave Barbara Durbin a massage yesterday and she told me that they are full up with hunters and just as soon as she can get her kitchen done , she will move the restaurant into the lodge and there the guests will have full access to wonderful food. She is such a hard worker and I am so excited for her and her new venture.
She is staying there all the time while the lodge has guests, and between running back and forth from the lodge to the cafe she owns and operates up town.. the woman is doing a heck of an awesome job!
I can't wait to go down and take the grand tour.
Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to give you an update. We are all moved and open now and have had several people stay not only hunters. If you missed the open house don't worry you can still get a tour if you want one. We even had 2 guys from Portugal this past weekend. And you will never guess what they were hunting? Rabbits - go figure!
I've had many people ask me about the faux leather treatment in the lounge area and down the hall. That my friends is brown feed sacks. It is a wonderful deal if you have a really uneven or rough wall to cover up. Like brick or paneling or whatever.
The Black Bear room is done and there are already reservations for it for alumni. Sorry. But I will show it too you. In case you don't know about it. It is a full room mural of the outdoors complete with mountain cabin and animals. Go into the bathroom and your under water. I've had some inquiries about doing some rooms at peoples houses. I'm not too sure about that yet but it's possible.
The new monster deer head is in place in the foyer. It's worth a trip to see. 213 points ranks 5th nation wide. Huge huge rack. That was done by Greg Wright taxidermy.
Hope to see you all there. Of course there have been several I have seen already.
LisaT
Cool Cool Cool!! Thanks you Lisa for keeping us updated. Mama got all of us gift certificates to eat and I am ready to come up and enjoy the atmosphere and have some of that good cookin'.
It would be awesome if you could post some pictures... for those us that are WAY out of town. :-)
Even for some of us not so far out of town.
Well... !
Consider it done!
When I go up to eat, I will certainly wag my camera along and snap away.
:)