Loess Hills Scenic Byways History
Monona County Residents Pioneer Loess Hills Preservation
On June 15, 2000, United States Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Morton Downey, announced that the Loess Hills Scenic Byways a 220-mile route extending from Plymouth County on the north to Fremont County on the south had been designated as a National Scenic Byway.
 |
Scenic Byways are defined as exceptional roads through areas that exemplify regional characteristics. They possess distinctive cultural, historic, natural or other qualities unique among neighboring states. The application for National designation was completed following three months of hard work, which included numerous photos and details, through the combined efforts of the Loess Hills Alliance, Golden Hills Resource, Conservation and Development and the Western Iowa Tourism Region. |
This national recognition is especially rewarding for two Monona County residents who pioneered the development of the original segment of the byways in Monona and Harrison Counties. Walter Ordway, Soldier, Iowa native, and Tom Bruegger, Director of Monona County Conservation, joined forces in the fall of 1989 to create the first Loess Hills Scenic Byways.
The story of how the Loess Hills of Western Iowa became a prime tourist attraction begins in 1988, when two California men visited the city of Soldier, Iowa during its' Centennial Celebration, as guests of Walter Ordway, a Soldier native. The two visitors were impressed with the beauty of the Loess Hills and began negotiations to purchase land in the area, for development as a tourist destination. When this plan and an alternative one failed, they dissolved their partnership and the project was abandoned.
For Walter Ordway, the months he had spent working with these projects and interviewing local residents, had convinced him that there was great potential for tourism in the Loess Hills. Others were not so easy to convince. "I could not get support from County, Regional or State Offices." He said.
In October of 1989, Ordway was traveling the Great River Road in Eastern Iowa, enroute to the State Tourism Convention, when he envisioned a similar scenic path through the Loess Hills.
In November of 1989, the Loess Hills Development Initiative was formed by Walter Ordway, Rich Mills, chairman of Western Iowa Tourism; Michele Walker, Executive Director of Western Iowa Tourism; Dr. Electa Strub of Missouri Valley; Joyce Ruth, Monona County Tourism representative; Tim Sproul, Director of Harrison county Conservation; Sharon Sullivan, Executive Director of Harrison County Development and Marty Adkins, Executive Director of the Golden Hills Resource and Development Office.
|
Ordway presented the scenic byways concept to this group and eventually an action plan was developed to form four scenic byways, two each in Monona and Harrison Counties. The group also discussed the need for a logo for signs and other materials. "I drew four designs on a napkin," said Walter. "They chose the one that became the official logo used on all scenic byway items." A grant for the purchase of signs and posts was received from the Golden Hills R.C. & D. Doug Kuhlmann, Monona County Conservation employee, then silk-screened the design on over 200 signs, which were then hand painted by Tom Bruegger, Director of Monona County Conservation. |
 |
Meanwhile, Ordway and Wilbur Mann, Monona County Supervisor, drove the many roads of the Loess Hills to map and flag the ones that would be the route of the byways. The same process also took place in Harrison County. For Tom Bruegger, this sudden interest in the Loess Hills was an exciting turn of events. Since 1974, when he assumed the position of County Conservation Director, Bruegger had been trying to promote the Hills. Along with Carolyn Benne of Western Hills AEA, he began the Loess Hills Prairie Seminar, which is held each spring. "This is the greatest chance to learn about the Hills," said Bruegger. From an initial attendance in 1976 of 12 people, the seminar now attracts 300-500 attendees.
With the aid of Golden Hills Resource, Conservation and Development Office, the Loess Hills Scenic Byways were expanded to include all seven counties in Western Iowa. A unique feature of the byways is the addition of loops that allow the traveler to create their own tour.
With the National Scenic Byways designation, comes increased tourism in Iowa and also increased opportunity for funding for the development and preservation of the Loess Hills. Approximately 25 million dollars is made available annually through the Federal Highway administration for the Scenic Byways Discretionary Grant Program.
According to Tom Bruegger, the best examples of the Loess Hills are in Monona and Harrison Counties. "If we don't take steps to preserve them, we will lose something very important," he said.
Pictured above at the left is the Scenic Byways sign that can be seen through out the area depicting the scenic route that now has been designated as a National Scenic Byway.
The picture was drawn by Walter Ordway, and besides depicting the scenic byway, the logo is found on various Loess Hills memorabilia.
JoAnn Seufert
Mapleton Press - Newpaper Correspondent
2001