By Lauren Brant

Last December Courtney and Tosha Fuller opened the Twisted Turtle Pub’s doors to the community and the business has flourished.

As they worked through the first few weeks of business, they kept with their vision to offer the public quality service and food. Reflecting on the year, Tosha Fuller said it has been a positive experience and the community support is amazing. Still, the most difficult aspect is keeping the customers happy and giving them a good experience.

Rushville Mayor Chris Heiser said he is glad the Fullers made the decision to open a business in Rushville. He enjoys going there because of the welcoming, friendly environment. “It’s a great addition to Rushville and a much-needed addition,” he said.

During business hours, the Twisted Turtle Pub staff stay busy as the word of mouth brings people from surrounding towns to Rushville. “The fact that people are willing to travel 30 or 40 mi. just to find a pizza place is still surprising,” she said.

The Rushville Chamber also felt like The Twisted Turtle Pub was a good addition to Main St. “It has drawn people to our town from surrounding towns,” wrote Rushville Chamber President Kris House. “Those people who have come and tried out the great fire oven pizza continue to come back and bring newcomers.”

While the Twisted Turtle offers customers pizzas and salads along with a variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages in a comfortable, friendly environment, they also make food that is not on the menu. The messy mac, taco, and corned beef Reuben, and pepperoni, creme cheese, and jalapeño popper pizza are also popular items they can make to order.

With one year of business behind them, the Fullers will continue to keep it simple and make the Twisted Turtle Pub a destination.

Cowboy Trail:  The Cowboy Trail is a rail trail in northern Nebraska. It is a multi-use recreational trail suitable for bicycling, walking and horseback riding. It occupies an abandoned Chicago and North Western Railway corridor.  The trail spans 321 miles from Norfolk to Valentine. With the help of a very active local group, the Cowboy Trail is now nearing completion between Rushville and Gordon.  The final section is scheduled to be finished in late 2018 or early 2019. http://outdoornebraska.gov/cowboytrail/

Modisett Ball Park:  Originally built in 1940, the Modisett Ball Park was known as the best ball field in Western Nebraska.  Modisett Ball Park was the home of a Milwaukee Braves baseball school and tryout camp for 10 years starting in 1954. Modisett Ball Park was completely renovated in 2014 and is once again the best ball field in Western Nebraska.  It hosts teams from Rapid City, SD to Scottsbluff, NE throughout the summer months, including neutral-site games and state tournaments.

The Rushville Sheridan County Historical Museum is located on Highway 20 in Rushville, Nebraska. It is open Monday through Friday from 9-12 and 1-4, and by appointment by calling 308-360-0299 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Admission is free for this exciting and colorful trip through the past of Sheridan County.

The Rushville City Park is a great place to relax and enjoy a summer afternoon.  This spacious, well-maintained area is perfect for a picnic lunch.  It’s located just across the street from the city pool where you can cool off on a warm summer day.

Rushville is located in the heart of “Old Jules Country”.  Sheridan County is the home of renowned author Mari Sandoz, whose most famous work, Old Jules, detailed the life of her father and is considered by many historians to be the definitive story of homesteading in western Nebraska.  Known for his explosive temper, the book details his many exploits as a claim locator, trader and pioneering horticulturist.  Learn more about Mari Sandoz at www.marisandoz.org. 

Two local landmarks have important historical significance. The Beaver Wall escarpment is in the middle of the Spotted Tail Agency and old Camp Sheridan northwest of Rushville.  Spotted Tail was a famous Lakota (Sioux) leader and a contemporary of Crazy Horse. From the top of Beaver Wall, you can see the buttes of Crawford 50 miles to the southwest and the outline of the Black Hills 75 miles to the northwest.  Sheridan Gates is the local name for two large buttes through which adventurous early settlers and military soldiers passed. Their wagon ruts are still visible. The buttes stand west of Beaver Wall.

Smith Lake State Wildlife Mangement Area is located 25 miles south of Rushville.  With its secluded location, this is a great place to fish, hike, relax and even camp at one of the primitive campsites around the lake while enjoying the beauty of the Sandhills.

The historic Plains Theater in Rushville was built in 1914 as the Gourley Opera House, and by 1927 it had been renamed Essaness Theatre. This historic building on Second Street was renamed Plains Theatre in 1938.  It later served as a church for a time after the theatre closed.  Since 2001, the restored theatre has been home to the Sheridan County Players, which presents legitimate theatre and musicals on the Plains' stage.  The Plains Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

Perhaps best known as the home of the Walgren Lake Monster, this northwestern Nebraska attraction on the edge of the Sandhills offers a wide variety of activities in a serene setting. Whether or not you see the Walgren Lake Monster, a mythical Loch Ness Monster-like creature that made national headlines decades ago, with a little luck you might see monsters of another variety – fish. The 50-acre lake is known for its excellent panfish population, shaded campgrounds and stone picnic shelter. The lake is located 2 1/2 miles east of Hay Springs and 2 1/2 miles south of U.S. Highway 20 on gravel roads.

Built in 1997, Sand Ridge Golf Course was designed and built by its members to replace the former sand greens course.  Sand Ridge is just one part of a multifaceted recreation area along the south side of town. The track runs across a series of knolls and dips.  It features seeded rough and many young trees.  The toughest shot on the course is the blind approach over a hill to the 5th green.  The full-service clubhouse overlooks the 7^th green.  Visit the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Sand-Ridge-Golf-Course-342671772501092/