What’s Old is New: ArborLinks unveils newly redesigned and renovated clubhouse after a season of growth and reinvestment

The 40 miles from Omaha’s airport to the secluded countryside that immerses Nebraska City’s ArborLinks is a quiet stretch of highway that ends at a destination off the beaten path. The championship-caliber Arnold Palmer Signature golf course begins at the end of a dirt road, tucked behind rolling hills blanketed in lush greenery—the product of the region’s surprising humidity. Its soft heat doesn’t tend to linger thanks to a persistent breeze that keeps even hot summer days comfortable. Over the last hill emerges a careful arrangement of 10 rustic cottages adjacent to an old grain bin gently wrapped in galvanized steel. A relic of the land’s history, it welcomes golfers and their guests and clients back from a challenging 18 holes. This is precisely the place to go off-grid.

Completely redesigned and renovated over the winter of 2019, ArborLinks’ full-service clubhouse is the stuff modern farmhouse dreams are made of. From the outside, it’s clean and understated with a classic gabled roofline. Simple and unpretentious, the facility greets members and guests through covered porches that transition into spacious entryways—a proper farmhouse welcome.

Inside, it’s an open yet intimate atmosphere brought to life by natural light and a quiet rustic aesthetic. High ceilings and sizable windows welcome natural light in an open, communal space. Downstairs, a more intimate space includes a well-appointed wine cellar (made of wood reclaimed from an old railcar), a full-service bar and lounge area, and a private dining space. Tucked into its perimeter are quiet retreats—formal meeting spaces, intimate dining areas, and private offices—where business professionals can focus, collaborate, and innovate.

A careful mix of old and new, ArborLinks features salvaged, upcycled, and reclaimed materials in expected and unexpected designs that carefully combine colors and textures. Brick fireplaces are juxtaposed with stained wood beams and columns; the crisp white finish of painted wainscoting and bead board is a stark-yet-subtle contrast to rusted metal fixtures. Furniture and seating areas are comfortable and communal, with antiques and salvaged pieces that pay homage to the land and the rich history behind it.

Following early pioneer settlement in 1846, what is today Nebraska City served as a conduit to the west after the early establishment of a ferry house (the city’s first official residence). After the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, the land saw a series of settlements before being officially incorporated in 1856. Its proximity to the Missouri River made it a vital force in bringing commerce, people, and goods to the west. Today, Nebraska City is honored as the oldest city in the state and a crucial piece of history.

Indeed, Nebraska City is where it all started—the place where roots became foundation, not just for the Midwest, but for Dormie Network and for golf’s new era.