If you’re looking for an unconventional, historic place to stay in Nebraska, you can’t do better than the Hotel Wilber in the little town of Wilber. You may recognize the name of the town as the Czech Capital of the USA and the location of Nebraska’s most iconic Czech Festival. It’s also home to this gorgeous late-19th-century hotel where you can still find a welcoming spirit and a comfy bed for the night.
The magnificent Hotel Wilber was built in 1895 as a hotel and gathering space for the local community. It was constructed in the same spot as an earlier wooden building that burned down in 1874.
Hotel Wilber/Facebook The hotel features several spaces for gatherings, including a basement bar known as the Czech Cellar, and 11 guest rooms.
The distinctive brick structure is now one of the most recognizable places in the little town.
Hotel Wilber/Facebook It changed hands several times over the years until 1978 when the Barta family donated the hotel to the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber. The community organization is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the Czech culture and heritage in Wilber, including organizing the iconic Czech Festival every summer.
The Nebraska Czechs of Wilber organized a volunteer restoration effort in the late 1970s to return the hotel to its original glory.
Hotel Wilber/Facebook
Local families sponsored each guest room, choosing the decor and funding the refurbishment. In return, the rooms were named after the families. Each bears a plaque outside the door with the name of the sponsoring family.
Hotel Wilber/Facebook
In 2021, new caretakers were appointed to operate and care for the historic hotel. Their goal is to bring the Hotel Wilber back to life, hosting events and inviting the community to once again enjoy this unique space.
Hotel Wilber/Facebook
Shortly after taking over stewardship of the hotel, the new operators turned the lobby into a cafe that’s open to the public. It serves breakfast and coffee in the morning as well as lunch in the afternoon.
Hotel Wilber/Facebook
Visitors can expect treats like homemade cinnamon rolls in the morning…
Hotel Wilber/Facebook
…and a selection of lunch items. The food is mostly American, though there is a traditional Czech Days dish featuring your choice of meat and those iconic Czech dumplings and sauerkraut.
Hotel Wilber/Facebook
Don’t worry, though - if you want to stay a while, you can still book a room at the bed and breakfast.
Hotel Wilber/Facebook
Staying in one of the rooms is a bit like stepping into a little corner of the Czech Republic (or Czechoslovakia, as the homeland was once known).
Hotel Wilber/Facebook
The decor in each room was chosen by the local family who sponsors it. There’s so much personality in these rooms that staying here is almost like staying with that family!
Hotel Wilber/Facebook
The “hotel” is now considered a bed and breakfast due to the fact that there aren’t separate bathrooms for each room. You won’t mind sharing, though - the experience is quaint and all-around delightful.
Hotel Wilber/Facebook
When you spend a night here, you’re experiencing an important part of Wilber’s - and Nebraska’s - long history. Whether you come during the Czech Festival or pop in for a stay any other time of the year, this is one experience you’re sure to fall in love with.
Hotel Wilber/Facebook
There’s no other hotel in Nebraska quite like this one. The historic building has been a centerpiece of the town since its inception, and it continues to be an important spot for locals and visitors alike. You can learn more about the current goings-on at the hotel and find out how to book your own stay on the official Facebook page.
Hotel Wilber/Facebook
The hotel features several spaces for gatherings, including a basement bar known as the Czech Cellar, and 11 guest rooms.
It changed hands several times over the years until 1978 when the Barta family donated the hotel to the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber. The community organization is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the Czech culture and heritage in Wilber, including organizing the iconic Czech Festival every summer.
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Address: 203 S Wilson St, Wilber, NE 68465, USA
