anchoring the streetscape. Popular establishments like Uncle Sang’s sushi restaurant, Buff’s Gameday, and Palmer House Stable, a rustic reception venue, all contribute to the town’s welcoming atmosphere. Add to that the nostalgia of a classic barber shop and establishments like a bakery, and a bike shop, and it’s easy to see why Solon’s charm is so irresistible. Along with shopping and dining, Solon’s trail system has become a major regional attraction.“If you want to go out and bike for a workout on a Saturday during the summer, you want to be on the trail probably before 7am at the latest, otherwise it gets packed,” remarks the mayor. “At the trail head, we have our Timber Dome Lodge, which folks will rent out for graduation parties, events, things like that, as well as our splash pad. And again, especially on a Saturday during the summer, you’re not parking anywhere near that trail.” These recreation amenities are also a draw for regional fundraising events like the Lions Club’s Fat Tire Bike Ride, which brings people from surrounding areas who visit the city’s restaurants and shops. “We’ve transitioned from being a drive-through town to a destination community,” conveys Rasmussen.“We just have that ideal location in northern Johnson County, yet we have that proximity. We’re 15 minutes from the Eastern Iowa Airport. We are 15 minutes from Cedar Rapids, 10 minutes from Iowa City.Those are opportunities for the residents, but they’re also opportunities for the residents of those communities to come to us, and they are.” CELEBRATING TRADITION The much anticipated Beef Days Festival has been a cherished Solon tradition since 1971, celebrating over 50 years as a community event.“We have about 40 different subcommittees within Beef Days that are all volunteer led,” reports festival Co-President, Denise Bruck. “We have over 100 high school students that come every year to help us set up for the event and clean up after.” The free weekend festival features live music and raises funds that go back into the community, including local schools We are group of local business and organizations committed to the economic vitality of the Solon Community. SEDG recognizes small businesses are the backbone of a local economy and provide an opportunity for businesses to collaborate, connect and support one another. Solon Economic Development Group (SEDG) | 405 East 5th Street | PO Box 580 | Solon, IA 52333 THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE SOLON COMMUNITY visit www.solon-iowa.com 5 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 SOLON, IA
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