FORT MADISON – Local and state officials christened the Turnwater Bar and Grill and encompassing Fort Madison Marina Thursday with the facility’s opening set for Monday morning at 11 a.m.
About 200 people, including donors, local officials, and media, were invited Thursday to a test run of the facility on a chilly night that didn’t allow for a full exposure to the patio and the vista of the Illinois bluffs nestled against the Mississippi River.
At about 7 p.m. the setting sun bounced off the BNSF Bridge almost electrifying the bridge as a visual spark to the night’s events.
Mayor Matt Mohrfeld welcomed the guests in a presentation held in the event center on the west side of the facility.
“We have the nicest bar and grill in southeast Iowa, we have a much needed event center, and 6,500 square feet of patio. We have a convenience store, gas, it’s fully staffed, with public restrooms and showers. We have opened the door for business in Fort Madison,” Mohrfeld said.
Mohrfeld said the old marina chased people away, while the new marina will put a pin in the map of the Mississippi River at Fort Madison, Iowa.
“We are now at a point where we do have the best damn marina on the Mississippi River,” the mayor said.
Lee County EDG Dennis Fraise echoed Mohrfeld’s sentiment.
“We used to drive down here on this road in the evenings,” Fraise said referring to his high school days in the 70s.
“Since that time we’ve lost 25% of our population. Think about that - 1 in 4 people have left Lee County and tonight we’re seeing the renaissance that is the new Fort Madison. It’s like we woke up one day and realized we had this river. Look at this view. I don’t know how far you have to go, but it’s a hell of a long way to beat this.”
Fraise then introduced Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-1) who said the project will accomplish greater goals.
“I do think it will lead toward what we wanted which was tourism, economic development, and attracting new business,” she said.
The U.S. Representative for the district congratulated the mayor for the vision of the project.
“I think this is a testament to the vision and the big thinking of your Mayor. You’ve got the Caitlin Clark of mayors,” she said.
“You had a big vision to do something in a town and community that has been struggling and we all know it. What you have done here is nothing short of amazing.”
The ceremony moved on with Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham saying the facility will help Fort Madison with a problem that’s been plaguing the state.
“The greatest challenge in Iowa is still the same as it was pre-covid and that’s that we have a population problem,” she said.
“We have to create communities. Focus on the community development side of the equation and create communities in which people want to live. We can retain people and, more importantly, we can attract people to Iowa.”
Durham said she’s in Lee County so much that she should have temporary office space.
“This rivals anything we see in any big city.”
She said the marina is catalytic and has been asking officials what’s next, which has included conversations around the new playground, the Old Fort, and the former Sheaffer Pen building across the highway.
“I can’t, quite frankly, wait to see what’s next,” Durham said.
Mohrfeld gave credit to Michael Mohrfeld and Wade Knoke for their commitment and detail of the marina, restaurant, and other assets. Michael Mohrfeld is owner of Mohrfeld Electric and Knoke is a project manager with the company, the two make up the for-profit piece of the development.
There is also a non-profit piece that is responsible for maintaining the marina and dock facilities with revenues generated off marina facilities.
The city infused the project with $1.5 million and leased the property to the non-profit Southeast Iowa Aquatic Restoration Group, Inc., who leased the land for the facility to the for-profit Turnwater Bar and Grill.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, Turnwater is registered by Chris Swed, who was originally hired to manage the facility, but that position is now held by Dan Krieger. The non-profit was registered by Fort Madison attorney Rich Fehseke.
The city leases the property to the aquatic group for $1 per day. The non profit is responsible for all property and income taxes due off the property with the caveat that the two groups work together to identify abatements available.
Mohrfeld thanked several people by name including Larry Smith for his fundraising efforts, as well as Greg and Ashley Shottenkirk who donated the final $750,000 toward the project. He also thanked Michael for his continued commitment of resources to get the project completed.
He also recognized the millions of dollars raised out of the community with no return on investment.
The next step in the process is the playground.
You don’t build a $12 million marina and put up a swingset. We had one vision in mind for that - would people drive 50 miles to come to this playground. That’s the playground we’re gonna build,” he said.
“Is that gonna take $1.5 million? Debi Durham assured me of this – ‘we have money for that.” But she assured me it would take a little more from us, too.”
Turnwater opens to the general public today (Monday, April 22) beginning at 11 a.m for lunch, dinner and beverages seven days a week. For more information contact the bar and grill at 319-250-9120. You can visit the website at https://turnwaterbarandgrill.com/.
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