March 18, 2024

Towns along Chichaqua trail announce 30-year anniversary events

MINGO — On the patio during summer bike nights at Greencastle Tavern in Mingo, there are typically two types of bikers — riders in leathers, denim and T-shirts, and the pedalers in spandex.

Whether they ride on a hog or pedal up on a Huffy, Greencastle owner Ryan Maher will welcome everyone to the tavern’s Wednesday bike nights. What started as a night for motorcycles has brought 40 to 50 bicyclists each Wednesday to the town of 302’s watering hole, most pulling off the Chichaqua Valley Trail.

“Over the years, it’s been a good trail for people coming in out of Des Moines. It’s brought a lot of business to town, mainly for people in the service industry like me,” Maher said.

There were a few dry years, Maher said, when portions of the trail’s pavement were in need of repair. But in April 2015, Jasper County Conservation announced the department was awarded $280,000 in project funds by the Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance to repair 3.7 miles from the east end of Ira to the Indian Creek Bridge near Mingo.

Since it was resurfaced, the bike riders making the stop in Mingo, Ira and Baxter, has spiked. Maher calls the Chichaqua a “mature trail,” shaded with a canopy of trees making it a comfortable ride.

“The trail’s been very good to us, we enjoy the crowd it brings to us,” Maher said. “We have a good partnership with the Chichaqua Valley Trail and hope to keep bringing bicyclists into our community.”

The increased traffic from the Chichaqua is exactly the affect that Jasper County Hometown Pride Community Coach Jeff Davidson sees as one of the key benefits small towns can get from trails.

The first 20-mile segment of the Chichaqua Valley Trail opened in 1987. It was created from a decommissioned railroad right-of-way between Baxter and Bondurant. Last year, the Polk County segment of the trail was expanded to Berwick, connecting the towns of the Chichaqua to the Gay Lea Wilson trail and the Des Moines metro trail system.

Now in 2017, towns along the trail and nonprofit Friends of the Chichaqua Valley Trail, the Chichaqua’s fundraising and marketing entity, are planning a year of events to celebrate the trail’s 30th anniversary.

The Chichaqua Valley Trail has become an access point to many community festivals in its 30-year history, such as Baxter Fun Days in July, Mingo Days and Bondurant Summer Fest, both in June. But this year, the friends group is partnering with communities, Jasper and Polk County Conservation Departments and Jasper County Hometown Pride to host events highlighting all of the communities on the 26.13-mile trail.

Friend’s president Jeff Cook said the high point of the Chichaqua’s 2017 schedule is the Aug. 26-27 Pedaler’s Jamboree. The two day event will treat riders to live music, food and riding from Baxter to Bondurant.

Bicyclists will depart on the morning of Aug. 26 from the Caboose trailhead in Baxter, and drop off overnight packs at the check-in. According to the festival's webpage pedalersjamboreeiowa.com, the final stop will host the feature event with main stage music. Overnight camping is free for all registered riders. Hotel/motel accommodations are available in Altoona, with shuttle details to be released later. Food will be available at restaurants throughout Bondurant as well as food vendors.

“This is the Pedaler Jamboree’s third year of being in Iowa,” Cook said. “They’ve been doing it in Missouri for nine years. We’re really excited to have this group come, bring their music festival and showcase the CVT as part of their festival.”

The inaugural Chowder Winter Ride is a 10-mile pedal from Bondurant to Berwick — the newest stretch of the CVT. Riders will leave the Bondurant Depot Trailhead at 10 a.m., ride to Berwick and back, with a chowder or chili lunch waiting for them at Reclaimed Rails or Founder’s Irish Pub.

The first Chichaqua anniversary event to hit Jasper County in 2017 is Pedal the CVT, a bike ride from Bondurant to Baxter and a 5K run. Runners will meet in Bondurant at 8 a.m. and bike riders at 9:30 a.m. The ride will include Bondurant, Altoona, Mitchellville, Mingo, Ira, Valeria and Baxter.

Davidson said events like the Jamboree and Pedal CVT are good opportunities to get exposure for businesses and communities on the trail. Baxter Hometown Pride intends to have informational booths and offer vendor areas for local businesses during the 30th anniversary events.

“It’s as much a party as it is a bike ride,” Davidson said of the Jamboree. “It’s an opportunity to have some beer, food and a good time. We’re really going to take advantage of that event.”

To find out more information on the Chichaqua Valley Trail's 30th anniversary events visit chichaquavalleytrail.org or bikeiowa.com. For volunteer information for the Friends of the Chichaqua Valley Trail, email Cook at chichaquavalleytrail@gmail.com.

Contact Mike Mendenhall at mmendenhall@jaspercountytribune.com