‘Mystery House’ Set to Come Down as University Expands

This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant

One of the corners in Bellevue most in need of a makeover is finally getting one as the ‘Mystery House’ is scheduled for demolition soon. Bellevue University now owns the property near the southeast intersection of Fort Crook Road South and Harvell Drive. They unveiled plans to build a new 72,000 square foot field house last October (see Bellevue Times story here) and as part of the overall development, the University will be tearing down the ‘Mystery House’ on the corner with plans to landscape the hillside and include a walking trail.

What exactly is the mysterious brick building that has sat on the corner for over 80 years? More than once you may have found yourself waiting for a light at the intersection of Fort Crook Road S and Harvell Drive, wondering about it. If you ask ten different people around Bellevue, you might get ten different answers. Some guesses over the years have included a government building – with many mentioning the FBI or CIA, an electrical station, a house, a church or religious office, a dentist’s office, and a few people even shared a theory that underground tunnels connected this property to Offutt Air Force Base.

The building at 601 Fort Crook Road S was actually originally built as one of several similar-looking buildings that formed the Candy Cane Motel. Former Bellevue resident Tom Reilly can verify this because he stayed at the Candy Cane Motel in 1969 when his family first moved to Bellevue. “The Candy Cane Motel was 4 or 5 individual red brick buildings. I believe they were individual house units on that small hillside. They had a large neon sign shaped like a big candy cane which also had a vacancy sign with a neon ‘No’ that would be turned on. There were several small hotels up and down Hwy 73/75 which grew out of the need for transient people coming to and leaving Offutt. Others included the Slumber Crest Motel, The Sandman Motel, and the Offutt Inn,” said Reilly.

City Planning Director Tammi Palm shared, “Bellevue University bought property on February 18, 2022. Sarpy County lists that building as an office and specifically names it as ‘Svoboda Office’. It was originally constructed in 1950 as a commercial office building.”

Bellevue University has lent the properties to the Bellevue Police Department SWAT Team several times over the past year. While the SWAT Team initially wanted to use the remaining Candy Cane Motel building, the conditions inside wouldn’t allow them to train properly. Instead they used the neighboring house up on the hill.

The City of Bellevue reported that MUD is in the process of shutting off the gas to the property as well as the two houses up on the hill. Once the gas is shut off, the demolition of all three buildings will occur. The demolition is expected to take place within the next two weeks.

University beautification of the hillside and corner will be ongoing over the next year as construction of the new field house begins.