Niland's Caf at the Reed-Niland Corner in Colo recently reopened and once again is serving up classic road food for locals and travelers. The restaurant reopened in July after being closed about a year and a half. Sandra Huemann-Kelly, a former teacher from Vinton, operates the restaurant and the six-unit Colo Motel. Huemann-Kelly, an active member of the Lincoln Highway Association, saw the historic landmark sitting empty at an Iowa Lincoln Highway Association meeting last year.
"It was a shame that after all the community fundraising and volunteer hours to see it closed," she said.
The word is getting out that the restaurant and motel are once again open. The classic neon signs visible from Highway 65 glow every night.
"We are now listed with the Central Iowa Tourism group so you can search for it online. A Facebook page for both the restaurant and the motel have been established.," Huemann-Kelly said.
The Monday through Friday daily specials which include meatloaf, taco salad, and lasagna among the rotations are popular. Other menu choices include signature items such as the German Dip, Niland Burger, Reubens and a selection of fresh salads. Ham and bean soup, found on historic Niland's Caf menus, is available as well still served with a cornbread muffin. Homebaked goods including pie and classic ice cream treats are featured.
The restaurant and motel are located at the intersection of the Lincoln and Jefferson Highways. The Lincoln Highway is fairly well-known and the new Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway signs that went up across the state this summer reinforced that. The Jefferson Highway is really just coming into its own. The national Jefferson Highway Association was formed last March and they will have their inaugural national conference next year in Ames.
Visitors to the complex come from a wide area as the guest register indicates. Some are traveling the Lincoln Highway and mention certain guidebooks the most common are "Lincoln Highway Companion: A Guide to America's First Coast-to-Coast Road" by Brian Butko and "The Lincoln Highway: Coast to Coast from Times Square to the Golden Gate" by Michael Wallis. Both authors highlight the important role of the Reed-Niland corner as a "One Stop: Gas, Food & Lodging." The restaurant was restored along with the historic Reed Gas Station in 2003. The motel restoration followed in 2008.
The caf is open Tuesday to Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 6:30 a.m. To 2 p.m. Breakfast is served from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. with a Sunday breakfast buffet from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or order off the lunch menu after 11 a.m.). Rooms at the Colo Motel are booked through the restaurant. The restored station is open for special events including Colo's Holiday Market (Thursdays 5-7 p.m. now through Christmas). For more information, contact Niland's Caf and Colo Motel at 641-377-3663.
