Lake Cooper Loop seems to spice up Lee, Hancock County tourism numbers

FORT MADISON (WGEM) – A new three state tourism partnership hopes to help communities in Hancock and Lee counties join forces to attract more visitors and keep them there longer.

The Lake Cooper Loop consists of Fort Madison, Montrose, Keokuk, Hamilton, Nauvoo and Niota and is the brainchild of Kingsley Inn manager Chi Eastin.

She said the idea was sown when she was one Railway camera Topped the hotel in spring 2020 to attract more customers when the pandemic first emerged.

Eastin said the stream was hugely popular and now draws train fans from all over the country and around the world to the hotel.

“We have people from Europe waiting to be vaccinated,” she said. “Go to Chicago, take the train and stay with us.”

Eastin said she found the best way to get visitors to extend their stay by directing them to other area attractions.

“They come back with reports that they love it,” she said. “They met wineries, distilleries, restaurants, museums.”

Seeing an opportunity, she called a meeting with residents from the six wards that December that year.

“The facts were overwhelming,” she said. “We have to market ourselves as a region, similar to the Quad Cities.”

Her plan was well received by those present.

“I was really excited to have someone take the lead,” said Sharon Nicholl, tourism director for Nauvoo.

She said the Loop is a great opportunity for communities like Nauvoo to expand their appeal.

“I see this as an additional opportunity, certainly not as a replacement but as an addition to our tourism image by involving boaters on the river who are now interested in the rail system and see another side of the area,” said Nicholl said.

With summer trips on their way and people dying to get out, now is the time to capitalize on it, Nicholl said.

“I feel that the need is already there, so now we have to deal and meet the needs,” she said.

Eastin said she was speaking to officials in the Quad Cities to see how they jointly market Iowa and Illinois.

The Lake Cooper Loop is hosting its first major event, the River and rail weekend from October 1st to October 3rd.