Monowi Tavern

(Monowi, NE)

Scooter’s 1754th bar, first visited in 2024.

On the last day of this vacation we took back roads and dropped down into northeastern Nebraska, specifically to visit the town of Monowi. Population: 1 — a wonderful older lady named Elise Eiler who has been the owner and operator of Monowi Tavern since 1971, in a building constructed in 1903. She is also the town’s Mayor by default, and at the time of my research Monowi is the only incorporated municipality in the United States with a population of 1.

They sell all three kinds of beer (Bud, Miller, Busch), as well as a basic selection of spirits and mixers. Elsie cooks all the food herself (you can see her making my lunch in one of the photos below), though when it gets busy she sometimes gets a helping hand from a local regular. As was the case when we arrived — which was right after a group of around 50 had just left after swarming the place.

One thing we noticed early is that there isn’t a restroom in the tavern. We later found it, details in the photos.

Right next door to the tavern is a leaning building whose original purpose I don’t know, the “Nite Owls” sign on it is a reference to a local motorcycle group. On the other side of that is an unassuming building named Rudy’s Library. It’s a memorial to Elsie’s husband Rudy, who left behind a massive collection of books (around 5,000) when he passed in 2004. Rather than get rid of them, she moved them all into this building for visitors to enjoy.

Across the highway is a separate abandoned brick building next to an old grain elevator. It’s labeled as a church on Google Maps, but that’s incorrect, the abandoned wooden church is actually 2 blocks north of the tavern and I missed it due to (1) the wrong building being marked on Google Maps and (2) since we were towing a travel trailer we were nervous to explore the town’s dirt roads and risk getting stuck.

Monowi Tavern, Monowi