Business View Magazine | December 2020

398 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2020 JASPER , INDI ANA A revitalization plan to draw tourists and residents to downtown Jasper began almost 20 years ago. The project included The Spirit of Jasper Train &Depot, which offers tours, dining and meeting spaces on historic train cars, and in the rebuilt depot. The Jasper City Mill, a project completed in 2008, was designed after two previous mills from the same location, and built from original parts obtained from France and Virginia. It is a working mill that grinds corn for cornmeal, which is sold in the attached country store. The 25-foot diameter waterwheel is a favorite attraction for visitors to the area, and can be seen from the Jasper Riverwalk, another part of the original downtown improvement plan. The walk offers a series of pedestrian and biking paths and bridges along the Patoka River. Since the implementation of these projects, there has been continuous growth and innovation in downtown Jasper. The newly constructed Thyen-Clark Cultural Center, located in the city core, brings the municipally funded Jasper Arts Center and the Jasper Public Library under one roof. Within this 63,000 square foot building is an impressive atrium for community gathering and events. The project which broke ground in April of 2019, will be completed by early 2021. Built on the century old Hoosier Desk site, the center was funded through a combination of private and public donations, along with investment from the city of Jasper and the State of Indiana. The historic Astra Theater is another successful arts initiative in the city. After closing its doors in 2002, the theater sat empty for several years. Then in 2018, the Astra reopened after a full renovation to replace all major infrastructure – making Thyen-Clark Cultural Center