September 11th & 12th, 2010

LLIANCE — Dobby’s Frontier Town, located at 320 E. 25th St. in Alliance, is a re-creation of Kenneth “Dobby” Lee’s boyhood town. His love of antiques and collecting encouraged him to give others a chance to see and feel what life in rural Nebraska was like at the turn of the 20th century. He started the town by “fitting out” an authentic general store, like the one his family owned when he was a boy in the 1930s. Soon, Dobby was rescuing historic buildings and recreating and furnishing authentic turn-of the-century homes and businesses. Since Dobby’s death last year, a new non-profit organization named Dobby’s Frontier Towners has taken on the task of refurbishing and preserving Dobby’s dream.

His town is now home to the log cabin built by the Nebraska’s first black homesteader, and one of the first filling stations in the area. Collections include a turn-of-the-century mortuary, a saloon and an example of a classic Nebraska-style straw bale building, and much more. Antiques and tools are now set for visitors to pick up and examine, giving Dobby’s Frontier Town a hands-on feel and making the unusual attraction a fun and recreational experience.

A Fall Festival is held the second weekend of September with live music, entertainment, demonstrations, food and lots of fun the event is open to the public from 10 a.m. to dusk.  

The town features a general store and meat market, 1880s post office bootlegger’s shack with lookout cupola, blacksmith forge, Chinese laundry, cobbler’s shop, saloon, bordello, Rex’s Hamburger Stand, Wells Fargo Bank, doctors and dentist’s office, jail and print shop. Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Information: (308) 762-4321.