The economic impact of the connected Raccoon River Valley Trail and the High Trestle Trail will be looked at in an economic survey. Curt Cable, the Dallas County Conservation Director said the survey is open for anyone to participate in. Plans are to release the results in January at the Iowa Bike Expo.
The last economic survey was in 2012 and much has changed since then. The High Trestle Trail was joined to the Raccoon River Valley Trail in August of 2024. Right away one business noticed a change.
“People were coming from the east, Ankeny and Madrid,” said Dean Vander Wilt, owner of Cayanne’s Cafe, in Woodward. “We’re getting more customers coming from Perry, Waukee, other areas that are in that area. I think we’re gonna get a lot more people from across the country coming to do the whole trail and then maybe spend the night in the motel or campground.”