RRVT News
First “RRVT Fall Festival” gave us “a good launch pad”
COOPER, Iowa, Oct. 16, 2006 – The Raccoon River Valley Trail’s first-ever Fall Festival, held in sunny but chilly weather on Saturday, Oct. 14, was a success by nearly any measure, “a good launch pad for us and our future events,” said Mark Powell, the festival chairperson for the sponsoring RRVT Association.
“All in all it was a good day, except that I wasn’t able to get on my bike,” said Powell, of Perry, who was helping staff a trail association information booth in the 56-mile trail’s midway town of Linden.
Another association board member Mike Wallace, the Dallas County Conservation director, said “close to 60 people” took free rides on an open-air tram that was pulled behind a van. They were enjoying 12-mile round trips on the trail between Redfield and Linden, which is one of the prettiest stretches along the RRVT. “We had people of all ages and from all locations on the tram,” Wallace said, “young, elderly and even someone from England. Several people recalled how they used to work on the trains that went through the area, and others recalled how they used to play in the area when they were growing up.”
In Yale, nearly 50 people stopped to see both the 116-year-old wood-frame hotel now undergoing renovation by the Brewster family of West Des Moines, and the 70-year-old round gym that is owned by the City of Yale and is being renovated by volunteers.
There were gourmet coffees and rolls available in tiny Herndon, and in Cooper a good crowd had lunch and shopped for crafts and collectibles at the “Coopermarket.”
Following are reports from several RRVT Association board members and others who were helping staff activities along the way.
JULIE BAILEY, in Adel: “Saturday in Adel was pretty quiet, with only six or seven people stopped by. But the conversations were good and people seemed to be having a good time. I think if Waukee had something going, it would have helped us. But all in all, it was a good start, and we look forward to next year when we have more time to plan and publicize.”
MIKE WALLACE, in Redfield and Linden: “The trail tram was a success. We had close to 60 people ride the tram. All had a great time. Many stories were told. All thought it was great. The Depot in Redfield had several bicyclists stop through, although I’m not exactly sure of the headcount. This event is something that we can build on in the future.”
Panora had a farmer’s market along the trail, a few classic cars on display trailside, food and snacks at PJ’s Drive-In and free cookies at the Heritage Park shelterhouse.
CHUCK OFFENBURGER, in Yale: “I was on the front porch of the old hotel, telling stories about how the Brewster family of West Des Moines purchased and is renovating it, and answering questions. I had a steady stream of visitors from 9 in the morning until about 2:15 p.m. when it started slowing down. My estimate was 40 to 50. Probably a dozen of them were on bicycles. Most others were driving up. We had photos of the hotel’s history and renovation progress, as well as of the Brewsters themselves. They include daughter Sarah Brewster, who is the actual owner, and her parents Ron and Joyce Brewster, who are doing much of the renovation work. They could not be on hand Saturday, and that’s why I was pinch-hitting for them. They’d left several historical items they found when they cleaned out the hotel after buying it last summer, including a financial ledger from 1913, funky old clothes, someone’s traveling satchel and more. At the old round gym, which the City of Yale is renovating, they had 47 people sign their registry. I didn’t get over there because of being busy at the hotel, but everybody was buzzing about how cool the gym is and what potential it has for theater, concerts, dances, sports, conferences and more.”
BUTCH NIEBUHR, in Herndon: “We probably had 12 to 15 people stop by, 12 of them on bikes and a few that drove in and visited. Steve Parnell from Blue Rock Guitars in Perry was there and had six guitars on display and was entertaining the riders. We handed out information on the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association, the Hiawatha Trail in Perry, various other attractions in Perry and Project Destiny in Dallas county. The Highland Elk Coffeehouse in Perry supplied three varieties of their gourmet coffee and we had rolls from Hy-Vee. Response was good and we had a great time in Herndon, even a dog named ‘Bear’ from Herndon came to get some attention and play some ‘Fetch.’ “
CARLA OFFENBURGER in Cooper: “We had a good day in Cooper on Saturday, with everything was happening in the Cooper Community Building, so we were warmer than many of you. We had a sign at the trail intersection in town, and at the Iowa Highway 4 intersection just west of town, leading folks to our ‘Coopermarket,’ which was a sale of crafts, artwork, jewelry, baked goods and more. And we had a lunch that was fantastic, with sub sandwiches, salad, chips, bars, pie and drinks. I’m guessing that of the 80 folks we served at lunch, about eight to 12 rode in on bicycles. I gave them all RRVT stickers and handed out RRVT Association membership forms. One couple was especially excited to hear about the association, and to learn that they could join now in the last quarter of the year and get their 2007 trail passes with their membership. Toward 3 p.m., we had our last bicyclist, who lingered over his lunch telling us he was avoiding getting back on his bike and into the wind. And when I was driving home after cleaning up the community building, about 4:30 p.m., a group of bicyclists were sitting at the new shelterhouse adjacent to the Cooper Weigh Station, where the public restroom is. I hope everyone had similar successes. Overall, we can all feel good about the day.”
CHARLIE NIXON, the editor and publisher of the Coon Rapids Enterprise who is also a singer and guitar player, performed at the south end of the old railroad trestle bridge over the North Raccoon River, between Cooper and Jefferson: “Unfortunately, there were only two bicyclists who rode by during my nearly two-hour performance, and neither stopped. However, there were several squirrels in nearby tree branches that seemed to be watching and wagging their bushy tails. Yep, I might have chose the wrong place, but it was a really beautiful day and the view of the river was indeed spectacular. Next year, I’ll follow the crowd.”
TRISHA EASTON, in Jefferson: “It was quite the morning at the Depot at the trailhead in Jefferson on Saturday. Not many were bicycling in the early a.m., but there were LOTS of walkers participating in the Volkswalk (that another group sponsored and that started at the Depot). Most of the walkers had never been to Greene County or Jefferson, and were interested in all sorts of information on the area. A few had biked the full length of the RRVT in the past, and others for little bits of it. I was able to share quite a bit of information with numerous people about the trail, the communities along the trail, some of the current and future plans, Greene County in general, and lots of trail maps. The fall festival at Deals Orchard west of Jefferson seemed to be the place many of the walkers planned to spend the afternoon. Some had read articles in their local papers about the Yale hotel project and were enthusiastic. Those that did come in for the RRVT Fall Festival had heard of it through several Internet sites, or word of mouth.”
KEVIN WILBECK, up and down the trail: “I started out in Cooper, then drove some RRVT Association membership forms and stickers up to Jefferson, and then went back to Herndon. I got on my bike in Herndon and rode to Yale, where I ran into some friends and chatted about the hotel. And the round gym there is very cool, and a conversation with the hosts led me to believe that a lot of thought has been put into the restoration. Finally, I did not meet anyone who wasn’t enthused about the RRVT or wasn’t surprised to learn about what the RRVT vision was. I had a good time.”
We all did. It was indeed something to build on in falls to come.
Article Published: 10-16-2006
