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From Washington Inn to Alpine Inn

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Published November 11, 2023 | Updated April 14, 2026

Located in a remote area north of town is Alpine Inn, a restaurant that has become known as “The Home of the Wildlife.” The story of the building starts in 1930 when the road that led to Fort Calhoun was known as Washington Highway.

Prohibition was the law of the land when it opened, and rumors suggest that Gerald (Jack) Wesner operated a speakeasy out of the building. Sitting at the very edge of the city limits and surrounded by trees, it may have been the perfect spot for those wishing to partake. By 1933, Jack would move his business downtown and open the Sensation Inn at 412 S. 10th Street. The Washington Inn continued to operate under the same name when James Barron took it over until 1961.

1973 photo of the Alpine Inn courtesy of its Facebook page.

Carl and Viola Roberts owned the Sweetwood Bar at 2576 Harney Street when they bought the Washington Inn in 1961. They renovated, expanded, and renamed the remote bar and grill at 10405 Calhoun Road as the Alpine Inn. Their new venture earned a reputation for its fried chicken and potato wedges. Carl sold the business to their friends and customers who occasionally helped out in the restaurant after his wife passed away in 1972.

The entrance to Alpine Inn. Photo courtesy of Nikki Gilkerson.

The new owners were Glenn and Flav Robey, who had no experience running a restaurant. When they bought the restaurant, Glenn raced stock cars while operating an auto repair business. Already famous for its fried chicken, it garnered even more attention once customers began opening the windows to toss out the chicken bones for the wildlife to feed on. This practice continued, and eventually the restaurant began placing the leftovers in feeders out back. Large windows were installed, allowing customers to watch the feasting wildlife, which include not only raccoons but stray cats, an occasional fox, and an opossum among others. The raccoons would get close to the windows and were definitely the star of the show. The tables nearest the windows were the choice spot to watch the wildlife.

The large picture window allow visitors to view the wildlife at Alpine Inn. Photo courtesy of Alice T on Yelp.

The restaurant is rustic with its dark wood interior, wagon wheel lights, and fireplace. On the mantel above the fireplace are the owner’s racing trophies from his years as a driver. On the walls there are antiques, paintings, and other items on display. If watching raccoons feast is not your thing, you can partake in a game of pool, even though it is missing one ball. Or you can listen to some tunes on the jukebox.

An interior shot of the Alpine Inn with its wagon wheel lights on display. Photo courtesy of Andy W on Yelp.

The chicken is still made using a family recipe in the original fryers. Freshly fried, it is served piping hot in a plastic basket. Named among the best places to eat in Nebraska in addition to having its chicken ranked among the best in the country, the restaurant remains just as popular as ever and is currently run by a third generation of the family. It continues to draw people from all walks of life, including celebrities like John Denver and Keith Black, to Hell’s Angels, lawyers, accountants, and even nuns.

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More pictures

The fried chicken at Alpine Inn is considered among the best in town.
Raccoons waiting for the leftovers at Alpine Inn.
Looking at the bar inside Alpine Inn. Photo courtesy of Lauren H on Yelp.
Google Earth view of Alpine Inn surrounded by trees in its remote setting in Ponca Hills.

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2 responses to “From Washington Inn to Alpine Inn”

  1. The Top 10 Posts of 2025 – Omaha Exploration

    […] From Washington Inn to Alpine Inn […]

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  2. S Bresley Avatar
    S Bresley

    My father became friends with the Robert’s in the 1950s when they ran the Sweetwood Bar. He was a master carpenter and when the Robert’s (Chink and Nob) purchased the Alpine Inn, he completed all the remodeling. As child, I watched the transformation of the building. Many of his original renovations still exist including the rope around the poles. The kitchen was on the opposite side of the building. The upstairs was a complete apartment finished in all blue and white decor. It even had a sunken bathtub. When Mrs. Robert’s died, he had just began drawing plans for remodeling the building to the south. My father also remodeled the Saddle Creek bar which also had the same rope wrapped poles.

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