Location of Missouri's Katy Trail proves valuable for local businesses

ST. LOUIS, MO -- Businesses along the Katy Trail are experiencing an economic boom this year, as ideal weather and the trail's growing notoriety draw cyclists to the state park.

According to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, nearly 20,000 more people used the Katy Trail so far this year on the stretch that runs through St. Charles County. An estimated 62,794 people biked, hiked or jogged along that section of the trail, up from 41,661 users during the same period last year.

Dale Rawlings, owner of the Yellow Farm House Vineyard & Winery and president of the Defiance Merchants Association, said he thinks the percentage increase in trail users is much greater in Defiance.

"People are seeing what an ideal location Defiance is, with bike rentals, shops and restaurants right there on the trail," he said, which makes it a good starting and finishing point. "Defiance is such an integral part of trail activity in this part of the trail."

Diane Barth, owner of Elysian Fields Bed and Breakfast in Defiance, said she sees an uptick in the number of people using the trail each year, and the majority of them are from out of state.

Barth, who's lived in Defiance for 16 years, said she's seen "tremendous" growth there since the Katy Trail opened.

"Everybody benefits from the Katy Trail out here," she said. "We get our business from people using the trail and coming to our bars, restaurants and wineries."

Rawlings said that though he doesn't have hard revenue numbers for the businesses in Defiance, "everybody has told me they see more volume off the trail than ever."

He said he finds it humorous that many business owners and citizens opposed building the trail 20 years ago, because now those same businesses are benefitting from the trail.

"It's turned out to be an economic boon to the area," Rawlings said.

Down the trail in Augusta, the Augusta Brewing Co. is also experiencing an increase in business this year.

Owner Steve Neukomm said his earnings are 30 percent ahead of last year's.

He attributes the increase to the good weather this year.

"Business is driven by weather," he said. "Last year was the rainiest on record. The beautiful weather we've had this year has been a blessing."

Another possible factor is that his brewery is located just off the trail, so riders can take a break and enjoy lunch and a couple of beers before getting back on their bikes.

Neukomm hoped to draw 1,000 or more folks to his brewery over this past weekend to the annual Augusta Brew Fest, which featured a number of local beer makers.

Back in Defiance, Rawlings said the Defiance Merchants Association is planning an event of their own to help drum up business.

The organization will team up with the city of Weldon Springs, the University of Missouri Research Park and the city of Creve Coeur to sponsor a Father's Day family bike ride event.

Rawlings said the city of Defiance was awarded some of the federal stimulus funds to build a sidewalk and bike trail that will lead from the Katy into town, as well as street lighting. The improvements are anticipated to be finished by summer 2010.

Missouri Lawyers Media ©October 2009