OGALLALA — One of western Nebraska’s most iconic destinations — and a symbol of the state’s Wild West heritage — is now for sale. The legendary Front Street property in Ogallala, home to the Front Street Steakhouse, Crystal Palace Saloon, and the long-running Crystal Palace Revue, has officially hit the market with an asking price of $1.09 million.
Located at 519 East 1st Street, the sprawling property covers roughly 1.6 acres and includes more than 29,000 square feet of space across multiple connected buildings. According to Keith County Assessor records, the site is listed as Parcel ID 000113000, legally described as “All Block 28, Original Town of Ogallala.”
The listing describes a full-service operation complete with a restaurant, saloon, banquet and event spaces, gift shop, private living quarters, and even a museum area. The property features one bedroom and eight bathrooms, along with period décor that keeps the frontier theme alive — a nod to Ogallala’s storied past as the “Gateway to the Old West.”
Front Street has been a cornerstone of the community for more than 60 years. Founded in the early 1960s by Dr. C.W. Rezac, the attraction was designed as a living museum where history and entertainment could meet. His vision came to life with the Crystal Palace Revue, a summer stage show that brought the spirit of the Wild West to life through comedy, can-can dancing, live music, and cowboy storytelling.
The Revue quickly became a Nebraska tradition, attracting tourists from across the country and earning its reputation as one of the state’s longest-running seasonal performances. To this day, visitors can still hear the laughter and music drifting from the upstairs theater during the summer months — a nostalgic reminder of simpler times.
The property also includes the Crystal Palace Saloon, a fully operational bar styled after 19th-century watering holes. Over the decades, it has hosted everything from country bands and karaoke nights to community gatherings and class reunions. Just next door, the Front Street Steakhouse continues to serve hearty meals to locals and travelers alike, while the Front Street Cowboy Museum displays a collection of artifacts, photos, and memorabilia chronicling Ogallala’s frontier era and its days as a bustling cattle town.
Ownership of Front Street has changed hands a few times, most recently purchased by Stacey and Kathleen Bauer in 2016. Under their care, the property continued its legacy as both a business and a piece of living history — keeping the lights on, the steakhouse running, and the Revue alive for new generations.
While the property is being sold as a single parcel, the listing makes clear that it includes the entire Front Street complex and its connected facilities — not the surrounding downtown businesses or the street itself. The site remains zoned for commercial use within Ogallala city limits, and as of late October, no redevelopment or rezoning applications have been filed with city or county officials.
The potential sale of Front Street has stirred conversation throughout Ogallala. For many residents, the wooden storefronts and rustic facades aren’t just part of a business — they’re part of the town’s identity. The property has long served as a gathering place for locals, a photo stop for travelers, and a time capsule of Nebraska’s Wild West roots.
As of now, the saloon doors remain open, the steakhouse continues to serve, and the Crystal Palace lights still shine over East 1st Street. Whether it continues as a historic attraction or takes on a new purpose, Front Street remains one of the most enduring landmarks on Nebraska’s map — a place where the spirit of the Old West never truly rode off into the sunset.