Grant County Blog

Ivanhoe’s Brings Culinary Tourism to Grant County 

Ivanhoe’s restaurant in Upland is one of Grant County’s most popular attractions.  On any given day the license plates on the cars in the lot represent several Indiana counties, and often other states.  One day as I was enjoying my lunch there I watched three DeLoreans pull in.  I know those folks weren’t from around here, and they weren’t in the neighborhood by accident. Like many from around the region, these visitors came to Upland, Indiana to enjoy a great dining experience. 

 

The term Culinary Tourism is all the rage in the travel industry.  Destination marketing professionals are waking up to an obvious fact that savvy restaurateurs have known all along:  a unique food and drink experience has the power to lure tourists just like museums, recreation, and shopping. Long before it was the buzz, Ivanhoe’s founder Ivan Slain was instinctively making his restaurant a destination diner.  Today, co-owners Ivan and his son Mark, continue to make the Ivanhoe’s experience worth the trip by offering 500 ice cream creations, as well as tasty meals in a fun and friendly setting. 

 

 

In its broadest sense, Culinary Tourism is defined as the pursuit of unique and memorable culinary experiences, and it is a significant industry.  According to the Travel Industry Association of America, 60% of  U.S. leisure travelers say they travel to engage in culinary activities.  These people are looking for authentic local character and cuisine that they can’t get back home.  Again, Ivanhoe’s hits the mark.  The restaurant is an established tradition that reflects the wholesome tastes and values for which small Midwestern communities are known. Communities across the nation are scrambling to exploit the growing culinary tourism market. Quantified Marketing Group (QMG), the nation’s largest strategic marketing firm for the restaurant industry, has some tips for increasing a locale’s proverbial piece of the culinary tourism pie. 

 

* When it comes to culinary tourism, encourage local players to not view other restaurants as competition. Aligning with other local restaurants to create a culinary event will benefit a city’s entire dining scene.

* Take stock of food products indigenous to your locale.  You may very well find an item around which you could build focused culinary tourism efforts.

* If your area does not already have a farmers market, now may be the time to encourage such cooperative efforts.  U.S.D.A. statistics reveal farmers markets have grown 66% since 1994. Perhaps Grant County can realize more culinary tourism revenue by exploring these suggestions and utilizing the principles demonstrated by our own Ivanhoe’s restaurant.  It is definitely food for thought.

Cardinal Greenway Gears up for SpringBy: Jodi Fourman

Imagine the openness of fresh air…a slight breeze…the warmness of sunshine…and the smell of freshly cut grass and trees. All this can be found this spring along the eight miles of the Grant County Cardinal Greenway. The trail begins in Jonesboro, winds through the downtown area of Marion, and this year will go all the way to Sweetser. The Cardinal Greenway is part of a state and nationwide initiative to link communities and bring people together through recreational trails made from abandoned railroad lines.

“The trail is a great way to exercise while breathing fresh air, and enjoying the beauty of nature,” said Fairmount resident Susy Presswood. “[It’s] a great place for families with children, whether walking, hiking, bicycling, or pushing the baby carriage. The trail is even great for people in wheel chairs.”

The Grant County Cardinal Greenway is free to all. There are trail heads in Marion on Miller Avenue between 2^nd and 6^th streets, at Hogin Park located at Valley Avenue and 14^th Street, and Jonesboro/Gas City at SR 22 & SR 15.  All of these larger trail heads have parking, but there are smaller access points located at different places along the trail, including the Splash House at Junction Park and at 38^th Street in Marion.

The Grant County Cardinal Greenway relies on donations to maintain and keep the trail clear and usable. There is no government or foundation funding for maintenance of the trail. A small group of dedicated volunteers manage the Marion section of the trail. The volunteers meet regularly all year long to maintain the trail.

“As volunteers we do maintenance such as picking up trash, mowing, trimming, repairing damaged fences, painting, cutting down fallen or dead trees, blowing leaves and trying to add beauty to the trail,” said Presswood. “It is a lot of work, but it is enjoyable to work with the other volunteers.”

Each year the Greenway hosts a clean-up day in the spring. This is a kick-off event to get the trail ready for the summer. This year’s spring clean-up event will take place on Saturday, April 17, beginning at 9 a.m. and concluding around 12 p.m.  Volunteers meet at the Jonesboro/Gas City, Miller Ave, and Hogin Park trailheads.

Come out to learn more about the Grant County Cardinal Greenway and how you can be a part of giving back to the community through serving on the trail.

 

For more information about the Grant County Cardinal Greenway:

Call the Cardinal Greenway of Grant County at (765) 667-1761

Cardinal Greenway, Inc – www.cardinalgreenways.org

Facebook –  Search for the group “The Cardinal Greenway of Indiana” or “Cardinal Greenways”

Show Me Grant County – www.showmegrantcounty.com