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| Location: | 24 Lincoln Hwy, Colo, Iowa |
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| Built: | 1923 |
The Reed/Niland Corner is a historic "One-Stop" gas station complex located in Colo, Iowa. The complex is located on the junction of the Lincoln Highway and the Jefferson Highway. The corner consists of a historic gas station, Niland's Cafe, and the Colo Motel.
History
Beginning life as a mere gas station in 1923 on the southeast corner of the property of local farmer Charlie Reed, the area quickly began attracting travels along both the Lincoln and Jefferson highways which it sits at the intersection of. Reed named his gas station the Lincoln-Jefferson Station (L&J for short), and soon after added cabins onto the property to accommodate travelers. A lunch stand turned cafe was built on the complex in 1926 with the help of Reed's nephew C. Reed Niland. In 1930 the locations of the gas station and cafe where shifted to where they currently are located. During the 1920s and early 1930s, the cafe and gas station at Reed/Niland corner was one of only a handful of stops open 24 hours a day along the Lincoln Highway. The cabins at the corner were replaced in 1947 by a motel. Charlie Reed died in 1967 with the gas station closing down not to long afterwards. The cafe and motel continued to be operated by the Niland family until 1995 when it was handed over to the City of Colo. Today Niland's Cafe and the Colo Motel continue to serve the travelers of the Lincoln and Jefferson highways, while the gas station has been converted into a museum by the Colo Historical Association.
See also
References
- ^ Hau, Jeanie (2023-07-14). "Celebrating 100 Years of the Reed/Niland Corner on the Lincoln Highway in Iowa". Retrieved 2025-01-29.
- Cece (2013-06-21). "The Reed/Niland Corner: One of Best Places to Experience Highway History | An American Songline". Retrieved 2025-01-29.
- "Reed/Niland Corner | Colo, Iowa | Travel Iowa". www.traveliowa.com. Retrieved 2025-01-29.