Getting their dream off the ground — to convert about 300 acres of land just north of Iola as an outdoor recreation and event center — will be an arduous task, sisters Cassandra and Karlea Boyer agreed Monday.
The Boyers spoke to Iola City Council members about their vision for the property they inherited, which was developed years ago by their grandfather, the late Marvin Boyer.
Their dream, Cassandra Boyer explained, is to turn the land into a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, complete with a mile-long walking trail, RV park, petting zoo and perhaps tiny homes.
The Boyers visited with City Administrator Matt Rehder and Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock recently to give the city a better handle on infrastructure needs.
Cassandra Boyer said the project likely would come in phases.
The first, and easiest to accomplish, would be to get an RV park established, using the remnants of Marvin Boyer’s old museum complex, which burned to the ground years ago, but still has a concrete foundation.
It would be relatively easy for the city to set up electric service there, Schinstock said.
The other portions are a bit more difficult for the city to tackle without a better grasp of what’s needed, Rehder said.
He encouraged the Boyers to visit with an engineer to lay out a formal site plan, which would dictate utility needs.
“In essence, our guys can make an educated guess,” Mayor Steve French told the sisters, “but you want better than an educated guess.”
“Getting professional help lessens your burden,” Councilwoman Joelle Shallah agreed. She further encouraged the Boyers to continue with their plans. “You are coming up with great ideas to contribute to the community.”
The words resonated with Karlea Boyer, who thanked the Council for its encouragement.
“We’re open to talking with people,” she said. “We have a lot of fun stuff going on. We’ve been working so hard, but we need help.”
The Boyers have begun exploring potential grants and into whether they need to form a non-profit entity to better help with funding mechanisms. They’ve also been approached by a local organization interested in partnering with the family.
IN OTHER matters, Rehder was directed by Council members to bring back a new policy regarding utility tap fees. If approved, the fees would depend on the cost of materials used and the labor involved in getting them in place.
Council members in January were asked to reconsider how much the city charges developers to connect to the city’s electric, gas and water systems, noting the city lost more than $27,000 in utility connections in 2024.
