| The real Harvey House |
I was inspired to hop in the car for a day trip to Leavenworth, where I found the house empty and in need of expensive renovations. For many years, Leavenworth city officials have promised that the home will one day be opened as the Fred Harvey National Museum; one Leavenworth Web site refers to the museum as a "coming attraction."
A Leavenworth resident told me, however, that there has been squabbling over what to do with the Harvey mansion, and how to pay for it, for years.
Will it ever be opened as a museum?
"Don't hold your breath," he said.
Another historic culinary attraction in Leavenworth that remains very much in business is the 76-year-old Nu Way Drive-In at 510 Shawnee Street downtown. The Nu Way was once a very big deal and Kansas City had several locations of the popular drive-in that served loose-meat sandwiches.
The inside is utterly charmless, with walls panelled like a 1960s rec room. But they're hung with lots of interesting vintage photographs of Leavenworth in its heyday -- including the Nu Way as it looked before becoming a combination diner and beauty parlor. Several young servers work there; they not only wait on tables, but make the sandwiches too. A fry cook in the back handles all the home fries, onion rings, breaded mushrooms and fried green beans. For patrons who don't want a Nu Way burger, there are fried pork tenderloins, fish-and-chips and corn dogs.
| Nu Way or the highway, baby |
But the Leavenworth Nu Way does serve made-from-scratch soups daily, blends up a terrific milkshake (in strawberry, chocolate, vanilla and peanut butter) and serves cheesecake for dessert.
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Fine work, Mr. Ferruzza ! I have lived in the Kansas City area for 20 years and was unfamiliar with these attractions in Leavenworth. I plan to schedule a day trip to check them out, THANKS to you!
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