High Trestle Trail bridge wins contest and will be featured on 2012 Iowa Travel Guide

Posted Oct 20, 2011
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The cover of the 2012 Iowa Travel Guide will feature the new High Trestle Trail bridge near Madrid, the Iowa Tourism Office announced today. On September 19, the Iowa Tourism Office invited Facebook users to "like" their page for the chance to vote for one of three potential covers for the 2012 Iowa Travel Guide. The High Trestle Trail version received 48 percent of the votes and won the competition. The other options featured a collage of Iowa images and an image of a couple canoeing on the Cedar River in Linn County. "This is the first time we've asked the public to help us choose the cover of the Iowa Travel Guide, and we're thrilled with the response we received," said Iowa Tourism Office Manager Shawna Lode. "Tourism's economic impact benefits all communities so we wanted to find a way for all Iowans to be a part of our efforts to promote the state as a travel destination. We are excited that so many people voted to show their support for tourism in Iowa." During the one-month campaign, the Iowa Tourism Office's "likes" on Facebook grew from 2,203 to 4,847. Users cast more than 10,000 votes. And 540 individuals took advantage of the opportunity to pre-order the 2012 Iowa Travel Guide. The Iowa Tourism Office will produce 150,000 copies of the 2012 Iowa Travel Guide, which will be available in late December. To order a copy of the current guide, or to preorder the 2012 edition, visit www.traveliowa.com or call 800.345.Iowa. Jessica O'Riley, Iowa Tourism Office Iowa Economic Development Authority 515.210.6585 TESTIMONIAL Would anyone ever guess how successful the High Trestle Trail (HTT) would be and this soon? Everyone had hopes that someday we could share our trail with the world. It is happening as we speak. My hope is we move forward FAST and take advantage of the opportunities in front of us. The communities near the bridge should be planning and building with the idea they are the destination. I would encourage entrepreneurs to look at the business opportunities offered by the trail and the thousands of visitors we are receiving weekly. This is a great opportunity to build your business community, strengthen and sustain your communities. As a member of the Boone County Board of Supervisors I am committed to economic development. Tourism is I think the State of Iowa's second leading industry next to agriculture. Every dollar from out of county, State and the region are fresh dollars to our communities. Take that dollar and turn it over seven times and that is one great big impact to the local economy. I wish you all "GREAT SUCCESS" go get em. Thomas Foster Boone County Supervisor WHERE ELSE IS THE HIGH TRESTLE BRIDGE SHOWING UP? The 2012 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy calendar! This 12-month calendar will fill your home or office all year long with spectacular rail-trail scenes, from 13-story-high trestles in Iowa to old mining routes through the Rocky Mountains. order one PROPS TO THE CYCLING MODELS OK... time to identify the four cyclists on the cover... We also want to the story about how the photo was taken. Was the photo was staged? or were the four cyclists just enjoying the trail that day?