Amish Community Established South of Kilgore in Cherry County


James E. Ducey. June 22, 2023. Grant County News 138(47): 1.

An Amish community is being established in the Niobrara River Valley south of Kilgore, in Cherry County.

As of the beginning of June, there were two families present, with the first group arrival weeks ago from Kentucky.

The community is expected to have something like 15 families or possibly up to 200 people, once everyone is resident, based upon personal communications.

More housing than currently present will need to be built. There will apparently be their own church and school.

The primary property is many miles west of Valentine and south from Kilgore down to Anderson Bridge Road. Since the Amish do not drive motor vehicles, transit to town to get necessities will be via an alternate source. At this time, a ride from a neighbor has been seen to be suitable.

There is no information currently available to indicate what busness activities will occur to provide requisite monetary support for the families.
The purchase of the community area was finalized on April 1, 2022, from Hager River Ranch Company.

The largest purchase was 4,924 agland acres bought for $9,684,130 by Cherry County Land Group, LLC of Holton, Michigan, according to a county real estate transfer statement.

A second transaction was for 40 acres bought for $95,770 by River Valley Cattle LLC, with the same postal address as the other real estate sale. This acreage is adjacent to the larger property.

There was also a “deed stamp” fee levied for each sale.

Much of the larger tract is pine woodlands in the riverine canyons. There are four circle pivots, primarily on the uplands north of the valley.

Anderson Bridge WMA is within the general confines of the Amish land. There is also an adjacent Board of Educational lands and Funds section.

A particular item addressed by Cherry county officials is Anderson Bridge. There were concerns raised regarding the structures weight capacity. An engineer hired by the county determined that the bridge can be reinforced to allow the transit of heavier weight vehicles. An early consideration was to build an alternate bridge, but seemingly this is no longer an option being considered.

Associates of the new  community did inquire about applicable county planning and zoning regulations, though no action has occurred that might require a conditional use permit, according to county officials.

This is a developing reality so further information is pending for what will be a dramatic change to a place amidst a relatively remote area of the Niobrara valley.


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