In the News

One Drake billboard can be found in the Continental Hotel located on the Centerville Square. Several more will be found at 10 other different locations in Appanoose County.

Photo by Michael Schaffer / Daily Iowegian

November 12, 2010

Billboard program highlights Appanoose County tourism locations

By Michael Schaffer - Managing editor
Daily Iowegian

CENTERVILLE - Commercial Resources Inc. of Centerville plans to unveil a new billboard tourism program featuring a cartoon duck, named "Drake." Part of the unveiling involves a guided bus tour starting at 10 a.m. Nov. 19 visiting all 11 billboard locations.

Bus space is limited and those interested in the tour should contact CRI at (641) 856-2744 or go to www.gocenterville.com to see a map showing the tour stops.

Drake billboards will be located at Honey Creek Resort, The Columns, Maytag, One of a Kind bed and breakfast, Fashion by HallTree, The Continental Hotel and Restaurant, Appanoose County Historical and Coal Mining Museum, the Drake Public Library, The Shoppes at Bradley Hall, the Manhattan Steakhouse and Golf Club and Exline Country Store and Antique Exchange.

The Drake billboards will contain interesting local history of people and places that connect Appanoose County to world events. It will be easy to spot a Drake billboard - they look like a large cartoon duck leaning on a sign.

The billboard project was created to provide local tourism information to the guests of the newly opened Honey Creek Resort located in northern Appanoose County. CRI wanted to find a fun and unique way to direct tourists to interesting places in the community, as well as to recognize the historical relationships between former Iowa Gov. Francis Drake and Centerville.

Frances Drake was Iowa's governor from 1896 through 1898. Drake lived in Centerville and was commissioned as a Lt. Col. of the 36th Iowa volunteer infantry in the Civil War. He was a very successful businessman, banker, lawyer, railroad builder and founder of Drake University in Des Moines.

The Drake map and sidewalk billboards will point tourists to interesting historic sites, fun places to shop, fine dining, lodging and recreation destinations. CRI is committed to helping local businesses be ready to take advantage of tourism opportunities for economic growth.