Last weekend we made a trip to Chadron, Nebraska for my wife, Candice’s, college graduation. I am a history guy, so I love all things historic, including hotels. Candice, however, is suspect of any hotel with the word olde or historic attached to it. Historic to her, when it comes to hotel accommodations, means outdated and most of all, dirty. So, needless to say, she was a little suspect when we pulled up to the Olde Main Street Inn in downtown Chadron, Nebraska.

The hotel was built in 1890, and I was instantly a fan when I found out that the hotel bar also served as the hotel lobby. We were greeted eagerly by the hotel’s proprietor, Jeanne, a spirited redhead, with an unlimited supply of knowledge about the hotel’s history. I was excited to hear that Dick Cavett was a frequent guest, and while I didn’t ask for it, I was hoping that we would be assigned his old room.

Jeanne showed us to our rooms, and on the way gave us a tour of the General Nelson Miles suite. General Miles it turns out made the hotel his headquarters in 1891, when he came to investigate the Wounded Knee Massacre. I was ready to move in to this old hotel, Candice was I’m sure thinking, why did I marry this guy?

Our room had the feel of an old cabin with the 70s wood paneling that covered the walls, and I couldn’t help but wonder who had stayed in this particular room over the 100 plus years it had been there.  Dick Cavett, perhaps?  It was clean and comfy, and even came with a small flat screen HDTV, an ironic accoutrement, I thought, for an historic hotel.

I loved it! And after picking up a bottle of All Purpose Cleaner with Bleach (just in case) from the nearby Wal-mart, Candice seemed to like it too.

I hope to get back there again, soon! I’m working on a book about Crazy Horse and he died just twenty minutes from Chadron, at Fort Robinson, so I plan to return to do some more research.  And when I do, I will again stay at the Olde Main Street Inn to enjoy coffee and cinnamon rolls at the bar each morning with my new friend, Jeanne. Perhaps I’ll get lucky and Dick Cavett will be there to join us!