Our Town: Its a very different highway thats building Elys popularity [Video]

ELY, Iowa (KCRG) – Ely is being transformed, two wheels at a time.

“It’s a great place to stop.”

Chris Thompson is a bicyclist who rode to Ely from his home in Robins.

He’s one of the 4500 bicyclists who travel the Cedar Valley Nature Trail through Ely each week.

“This trail has been immensely huge to our community and to our businesses, the economic development,” said Ely Mayor Scott Ladwig.

The trail runs 128 miles from north of Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County to just south of Ely.

“Well there’s a lot more people on it and it’s grown a lot, now it goes to Solon,” said Cedar Rapids bicyclist Nancy Henely.

Bicyclists seem to be everywhere in Ely.

There are often planned stops at Dan and Debbie’s Creamery and at House Divided brewery.

“There’s a Wednesday Night bike club and they’re here every Wednesday and there’s 20 of them I guess,” said House Divided co-owner Lisa Corrin.

The bikes can …