Americana

Sheila of Growing Small Town Nebraska: Why Listen & Why Go

I’ve been singing the praises of Nebraska since 2019. Sheila Jenkinson, host of “Growing Small Town Nebraska,” has been singing those praises her entire life. She is, after all, a proud native of the Cornhusker State. I cannot recall how I found her podcast earlier this year. In doing research for HeidiTown Consulting, I think I was searching on the Internet for anyone talking or writing about small towns, and

Luna Theatre, Clayton, New Mexico, HeidiTown

There is one feature of many downtowns that always gets my attention and that is the old movie theatre (or theater). You know what I’m talking about. It is sometimes that boarded-up vintage building with a dirty, marque that reads: “For Sale.” Sadly. this is something I’ve witnessed during my travels. However, I’m seeing more and more theatres that are open, and some showing first-run movies. Several springs ago, on

New & Old at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Vail Valley

I grew up in a home filled with live music. My dad is a guitarist, my mom plays piano and everyone sings. As an adult, when I get the opportunity to see live music I jump at it. I especially love singer/songwriter musicians. So, when Vilar Performing Art Center (VPAC) inquired about marketing with HeidiTown, I eagerly accepted. After experiencing the venue this weekend, I am glad that I did.

A Visit to Kearney Nebraska Steak, Sandhill Cranes & Vinyl. HeidiTown (5)

We sailed into Kearney after spending two nights in Grand Island, which is a little under an hour east. We had been booked by Visit Kearney into the Best Western Plus. In both Grand Island and Kearney, I encountered the nicest hotel receptionists. While these types of employees are supposed to be friendly, this isn’t always the case, but these hotel desk clerks were memorably amiable. Before checking into our

A Grand Island, Nebraska Getaway Beer, History & Coney Dogs (4) HeidiTown

Ryan knew he had familial ties to Nebraska, he just didn’t realize how deep. When we returned from a recent trip to Grand Island and Kearney, we discovered that Ryan’s great-grandparents had come from Germany to farm outside of Omaha. Eventually, Ryan’s grandma married his grandfather who was also from Nebraska and they moved to Oregon, eventually settling in Colorado. It’s not a rare story. During our trip, we ran

Terry Bison Ranch Where the Deer & the Camels Play 6. HeidiTown.com

Last summer, when Visit Cheyenne put Terry Bison Ranch Resort on my agenda, I wasn’t sure what to think or what to expect. I’d driven by the ranch a dozen times while on my way to Wyoming via I25, but I knew nothing much about it and thought it was a tourist trap. It turns out, Terry Bison Ranch is a tourist trap but it’s also a hoot and unlike any other

Featured Festival Glenn Miller Swing Fest. Photo by Jon A Yamamoto

I think swing music is happy music, and that’s why I love the Glenn Miller Swing Festival in Fort Morgan, Colorado. This is a happy event that celebrates one of this town’s favorite sons, Glenn Miller. World famous big band musician, Glenn Miller, went to high school in Fort Morgan. The story goes, in addition to football, as a high schooler, Miller loved music and skipped his own graduation ceremony

Trinidad, Colorado, it's not what you think

This is not a post about the island in the Caribbean. This is a post about Trinidad, Colorado. You may have heard about it. Over the years, Trinidad became well-known as the sex change capital of the United States. Interestingly, the clinic that put the town on the map for sex change surgery, moved to California a number of years ago, but preconceptions die hard, especially when a town’s sex

tractors on Keith Bath Farms in the small town of Fort Morgan, Colorado. HeidiTown.com

This article was inspired by a comment someone left when I was promoting my post about Kevin Torres’ “Storytellers: Small Towns” special on 9News. A reader wrote… “Small towns are where you can still find America.” This comment got me thinking. What does that mean exactly? And do I agree? The more I thought about it, the more it struck a chord and I think the chord was especially loud