Forums Closed
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As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
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01-25-2010, 01:17 PM
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#1
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PassPorter Guide
 Community Rank: Globetrotter 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,041
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Feature Article: More Than Bridges - Madison County, Iowa
More Than Bridges - Madison County, Iowa
by Thomas Cackler
Nestled in the quiet farm country of central Iowa lies a quiet rural area known best for its covered bridges and the romance that captivated a nation. While The Bridges of Madison County no longer tops the bestseller lists, the quiet landscape of Madison County, Iowa, remains one of the best-kept tourist secrets in the country. With its lush landscape, small town charm, and memorable tourist destinations, this area has a little something for everyone. Madison County is located in central Iowa, just southwest of the state capital, Des Moines. With Interstate 35 bordering the county on the east and Interstate 80 bordering the county on the north, Madison is easy to get to and offers a wide selection of recreation and tourist activities. Settled in the mid-1800s, the county saw the construction of the now-famous covered bridges later that century. Six bridges exist today, by either preservation or re-creation.
Perhaps the most famous of these bridges, the Roseman Covered, still stands in its original location after an extensive renovation in 1992. Featured in the motion picture and novel The Bridges of Madison County, the bridge stands as the second longest in the county and is home to the Roseman Bridge Store. Additionally, the Holliwell Bridge and the Stone Foot Bridge feature prominently in the movie.
Unfortunately, arson severely damaged Francesca's House from the film and it no longer offers tours, although you can still visit the grounds for photos. However, many other buildings and landscapes from the film still exist today. From the Texaco station that now houses an Internet café to M. Young and Co. feed store that served as the General Store in the movie, fans of the movie and novel will find many familiar places and buildings as they visit. But the movie and the novel are not the only draws in the area. Every fall since 1970, the entire county descends on the town square in Winterset for the annual Covered Bridge Festival. Like many small town fall festivals, this one features booths full of local produce, handcrafted items, and other fun events. Held the first full weekend in October, this annual festival highlights the area's past, present, and future, surrounded by the majestic fall colors of the Middle River Valley. Music, presentations, and a parade all highlight this quintessential small town celebration.
Winterset also features a city park that rivals larger cities for attractions and amenities. In addition to the relocated Cutler-Donahue Covered Bridge, the city park features a hedge maze, camping facilities, and two other historical attractions. Besides the previously mentioned Stone Bridge, the Clark Tower stands as a monument to some of the area's first settlers. Built in 1929 and at over 25 feet tall, the limestone structure offers an impressive view of the surrounding area.
Winterset is also home to a vibrant town square of specialty shops featuring collectibles, gourmet food, and other merchandise. If you are a quilting fan, the home of Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting television program and magazine are also located here on the town square. If you have a desire to sit in the same seat Clint Eastwood did during the filming of The Bridges of Madison County, you can stop into the Northside Café and grab the fourth stool from the front of the restaurant.
However, the most famous person to ride off from Winterset is still one of the town's favorite sons. Marion Morrison, better known to most as John Wayne, spent his early childhood in Winterset after his birth on May 26, 1907. While his family moved when he was four, the house where he was born still stands and offers tours daily from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm except for New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. For a cost of $4/adult, $3/senior, and $1/child, you can visit the birthplace and see memorabilia from classic John Wayne films such as Rio Lobo, True Grit, and Stagecoach. An adjacent store sells John Wayne merchandise and proceeds go to help fund the non-profit John Wayne Birthplace Society.
Madison County shows that while Iowa isn't atop many people's top places to visit, the charm of a tourism destination isn't in bright lights or theme parks. Instead, these tourism destinations are memorable for the experiences they offer their guests. Whether it's the romantic story of Francesca and Robert, or the rugged individualism as showcased by Winterset's favorite son draws you in, Madison is a destination that is highly recommended.
View the full article and download a free formatted PDF of it here!
Added to PassPorter's Article Collection on 09-14-2009 05:14 PM
What do you think? Please add your own comments, experiences, or news related to this article in this thread! Reader feedback is welcomed and encouraged.
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