Post date: Dec 04, 2009 12:36:52 AM

Cafe at Elwood Reservoir gets new owner and name

by HARRY G. PERKINS, World-Herald News Service

Published: Monday, November 30, 2009 9:26 AM CST

ELWOOD - New owner Brian Rae, a Kearney businessman, has renamed the former The Reverie at Elwood Reservoir as Elwood Resort and Campground.

The caf, bar and former bait shop were built at the east end of Elwood Reservoir 20 years ago. Rae purchased the property in August.

"I've always wanted to own a fishing and hunting resort. This is a dream that's come true," Rae said.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity to be a host to fishermen and hunters. Elwood is one of the best-kept secrets for fishing in Nebraska, and the amount of game for hunters is unbelievable. There are deer, pheasants and quail, and turkeys wander into our parking lot."

He is extensively remodeling the kitchen and bar, has rebuilt exterior walls, replaced roofs, re-wired part of the main building, installed new equipment for the caf and is finishing off the main building with imitation pine logs for a rustic appearance.

The property has a two-story motel with seven rooms and several mobile homes available for rent. Rae plans to add to his rental stock with two or three more mobile homes.

Rae plans on moving a modular home onto the property for his family. His wife, Jinny, has been a nurse at Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. in Lexington for three years. They have two sons.

"I'm going to have a limited amount of fishing tackle, but I'll have night crawlers and leeches and a live well for minnows," Rae said.

"I want people who come here to have a good experience. If someone comes in off the water at night and needs a hamburger, I'll get up and fix it for them."