At the edge of Colo, where two of America’s earliest transcontinental highways meet, the Reed-Niland Corner is more than a stop for gas, food or a night’s rest. It’s a place where the story of American road travel still lives in real time, along with the small-town hospitality that fueled it.
That story has entered a new chapter.
After months of uncertainty about the site’s future, a grassroots preservation effort has resulted in new ownership under Reed-Niland Corner, Inc., a nonprofit formed by historians, highway enthusiasts and local residents.
The group officially took over the property on April 1, ensuring that the historic Niland’s Café, motel, gas station museum and apartments will remain intact for generations to come.
The milestone comes just as the corner prepares for a June 14 celebration marking several anniversaries: more than 100 years of Niland’s Café, Colo’s 150th year, the 170th anniversary of the settlement of New Albany, and the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday. Colo is also a pass-through town for the 53rd edition of RAGBRAI on Wednesday, July 22.
For many, the celebration is also a chance to honor the spirit of the man behind Reed-Niland Corner.
Colo’s Reed-Niland Corner is a crossroads that shaped a community
The Reed-Niland Corner sits at the intersection of the Lincoln Highway, which was the first coast‑to‑coast motor route completed in 1913, and the Jefferson Highway, a north‑south route established in 1915.
In 1923, Colo farmer Charlie Reed noticed travelers stopping near the southeast corner of his property.
Reed’s motivation wasn’t entrepreneurial ambition so much as neighborly instinct, Jeanie Hau, coordinator for the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway, told the Ames Tribune.
“I think someone probably knocked on his door saying, ‘We need gas,’” Hau said. “He thought, ‘Well, this is happening a lot. I’m going to set up a gas station.’”
Reed soon added sandwiches, then camping space, then tourist cabins. What began as a simple gesture became one of Iowa’s earliest “one‑stop” complexes — a place where motorists could fuel up, eat, rest and continue their journey.
Reed’s nephew, C. Reed Niland, and later other members of the Niland family, helped run the growing operation. The café moved to its present location in 1930, expanding over time into the diner locals know today. Three generations of the Reed and Niland families served travelers for more than 70 years.
Even now, visitors sense the history.
“When you go there, you just feel it,” Hau said. “It’s extraordinary that it’s still there.”
Reed-Niland’s historic corner has a new steward
The City of Colo owned the property for decades, restoring the buildings in the early 2000s. But by 2025, the city could no longer afford to maintain the aging structures. When word spread that the corner might be sold, residents mobilized.
Packed public meetings made the community’s feelings clear.
“It’s been really important to the community,” Hau said. “We had some very emotional meetings.”
With support from Prairie Rivers of Iowa and members of both the Lincoln and Jefferson Highway Associations, a nonprofit was formed. The board includes experts in preservation, finance, insurance, maintenance and history, along with representatives from both highway groups.
The nonprofit also secured a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to support the work of preparing a National Register of Historic Places application.
Niland’s Café continues tradition of friendly hospitality, delicious food
Inside Niland’s Café, the past and present meet over plates of hot beef sandwiches and slices of homemade pie.
Kelsey Reed (no relation to Charlie Reed) manages both the café and the Colo Motel. She took over in 2022, bringing with her experience from her first restaurant, Kelsey’s Kitchen in Baxter. She quickly made her mark in Colo: expanded hours, a liquor license, hand‑cut ribeye steaks, homemade tenderloins and a rotating selection of pies.
Travelers can expect “a traditional homemade dining experience,” Hau said, including hot beef sandwiches prepared by longtime local chef John Fritz.
A celebration more than 100 years in the making
On Sunday, June 14, the Reed-Niland Corner will host a daylong celebration from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., marking both its own history and the beginning of the nonprofit’s stewardship.
The event includes a Kids’ show with Silly Sally, a pie‑eating contest, a performance by 12‑time state fiddle champion David Bellegante and the Lincoln Highway band.
A highlight will be the arrival of “Portraits of Hope,” a national America 250 art project traveling to all 50 states. Colo is currently the only stop in Iowa.
People of all ages will paint designs on acrylic panels, with children and veterans especially encouraged to participate. Later the panels will be assembled into illuminated lanterns displayed on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.
“It feels like a full‑circle moment for the Lincoln Highway,” Hau said.
Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rfaaborg@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Colo landmark lives on after residents step in to save Reed‑Niland
Reporting by Ronna Faaborg, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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By Ronna Faaborg, Ames Tribune | USA TODAY Network
