Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Kimball Bakery, a local institution for 90 years, is home to the Merrycakes brand.
Kimball Bakery/Merrycakes was chosen as one of 70 stops on the coveted Nebraska Passport Stops for 2020. It can only help local tourism efforts as tourists visit the bakery on their way to destinations around the state.
Due to the coronavirus, the dates have been changed and they may change again, but as for now the start date, which usually is May 1, has been delayed until May 23. The end date for the Nebraska Passport has been extended to Oct. 31.
The Kimball Bakery was started in 1930 by Arnie Christensen in its current location and the business has continued in that location for the past 90 years.
The requirements for Nebraska Passport stops are: "Offer an exceptional, unique visitor experience, be open regular, reasonable, consistent hours ... display excellent customer service ... Be a good tourism ambassador for your region."
The Nebraska Passport Program "is to help travelers discover Nebraska's hidden gems. The Nebraska Passport is special because it offers a wide variety of travel adventures, including museums, parks, restaurants, wineries, retail stories and more."
A participant receives a stamp, either in a booklet or a digital stamp at each Passport stop. Participants turn in their stamps and will receive prizes.
Nebraska Passports has been a popular program, but 2019 broke all records. More than 50,000 travelers participated in the program, representing 37 states and hundreds of Nebraska communities.
Kimball Bakery owners Mary Sue Gates and Amie Rutledge like the sound of that. They provided this statement in their application for the Nebraska Passport program:
"We believe the Passport program would be a huge benefit to our business, but more importantly to our town and area. We are so excited to see the recent changes indicating growth of our small town. We believe that western Nebraska is one of the state's best kept secrets and that we have much to offer visitors. We are excited to welcome visitors in with a friendly atmosphere, comfort food and guidance to our surrounding area's best historical sites and attractions."