Officials with the Iowa DOT’s Iowa Byways Advisory Council have selected the 26-mile long White Pole Road as one of three new Iowa Byways. The route was praised for its historic sense of place and for its unique experience that provides many opportunities for exploration and engagement. John Fisher, President of the White Pole Road Corporation, says “It’s very encouraging to receive such great feedback on our efforts. They believe our byway has great potential to impact even more visitor experiences as well as the economic benefits for each of our communities along the White Pole Road.”

The WPR joins the Bridges Byway in Madison County which connects the iconic covered bridges and the Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway between Northwood and Lamoni as a 2016 designation. The Iowa DOT will work with the new byway applicants over the next several months to assist with finalizing their route signage which will be installed by the 2018 tourist season.

The White Pole Road is a tribute to the original dirt road that once connected the five communities of Adair, Casey, Menlo, Stuart and Dexter. This particular stretch of road is important because it served as the nucleus to Iowa’s first certified route which stretched statewide from Davenport to Council Bluffs in 1914.

For more information on the White Pole Road Development Corporation, visit www.whitepoleroad.com and to learn more about Iowa Byways, visit www.iowabyways.org .