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Paxton, Nebraska: Ole's Big Game Steakhouse and Lounge

Ole Herstedt killed animals on five continents, then wedged the stuffed carcasses around the diners in his restaurant.

Address:
113 N. Oak S., Paxton, NE
Directions:
I-80 exit 145, then one mile north. On the right, between 1st and 2nd Sts.
Phone:
308-239-4500
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
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Visitor Tips and News About Ole's Big Game Steakhouse and Lounge

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Ole's Big Game Steakhouse and Lounge

Great place like the old Wisconsin supper clubs. Hash browns with my ribeye? Yes sir! The steaks were great and rivaled the very expensive chophouses in the Chicagoland area, but at a reasonable price and without the pretentious setting.

[Ryan s, 06/13/2023]

Ole's Big Game Steakhouse and Lounge.

Ole's Big Game Steakhouse and Lounge

More stuffed animals than a teddy bear section of a Toys R Us. Wandering into a staple of what a roadside attraction should be, it pays off in a way that only taxidermy and pull tabs can. Hungry? The steaks are way fresher than the epic '50s-'60s stuffed animals let on, and good ol' American is the only thing executed today. If you need a break and some food you best make this stop. Ole's is the best stop we had on a motivated drive through Nebraska.

[Jayrockfish, 11/10/2016]

Polar Bear.

Ole's Big Game Steakhouse and Lounge

Fun atmosphere if you like big game taxidermy! The best part was the fact that the food was very good and it was the cheapest meal of the trip! Our bill for a family of four: $28.71. Eat at Ole's if you are on I-80 near Paxton, NE.

[Donna Taylor, 07/28/2012]

Sign for Ole's Big Game Bar.

Ole's Big Game Bar - Vague Recollections

A curiosity one might expect perhaps in Key West or maybe on a backstreet in Atlantic City, but seems oddly out of place in the "heartland." Best I can remember, I met Ole himself in 1970 and exchanged a few laughs with him, had a meal and a couple of drinks before returning to the Interstate.

The place is straight out of the fifties, when it was still cool to display dead animals and spin impossible yarns. But oddly enough I've found over the years when thinking back on that particular trip that Ole's was one of the high points on a loooong winter drive from the east coast to Jackson Hole.

[Lee Acuff, 06/18/2009]

May 2011: Photo added.

Ole's Big Game Steakhouse and Lounge

Ole's Big Game Steakhouse and Lounge in downtown Paxton, known for six decades as a place where good friends gather, enjoy each other's company, grab a bite to eat and spin a yarn or two. More than 200 big game trophies and countless mementoes of Ole's worldwide safaris.

[Bryant Welles, 07/11/2006]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Front Street MuseumFront Street Museum, Ogallala, NE - 19 mi.
Petrified Wood ArtPetrified Wood Art, Ogallala, NE - 19 mi.
Restored 1922 Service StationRestored 1922 Service Station, Ogallala, NE - 19 mi.
In the region:
20th Century Veterans Memorial, North Platte, NE - 31 mi.

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