Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
ORLEANS – In January, about 20 hearty souls turned out to walk 2 miles on the new Monon South Trail in Orleans.
The walk/run was organized by the owners of Hometown Scoops, an ice cream stand just off the town square in Orleans.
“We thought it would be something fun to do and encourage people to begin using the new trail,” said Sadie Padgett, co-owner of Hometown Scoops.
Starting in March, the walk/run group will begin weekly walks on the Monon South Trail. The Monon Movers Club will meet every Tuesday beginning March 4 at 6 p.m. Padgett said the walks will cover about 1.5 miles and take participants past historic sites around town. The walks begin and finish up at Hometown Scoops.
“We want to get people out and about and also promote the new trail,” she said.
The Orleans trailhead opened in December and was the first Monon South trailhead to open. The Mitchell trailhead opened Jan. 24. Phase 1 construction of 20 miles of trail will continue on trailheads in Salem, Borden, New Pekin and Campbellsburg throughout 2025. The rest of the trail will be constructed in phases and cover about 60 miles when complete.
As a small business owner, Padgett sees a lot of growth potential from having the trail nearby. The trail will bring new visitors to the trail communities, and Padgett said she wants those visitors to Orleans to find places to eat and things to do.
“The Monon Movers Club is all about connecting people while highlighting the Monon South Trail as a key part of Orleans’ downtown revitalization,” Padgett said. “We aim to make Orleans the go-to trailhead in the area, attracting visitors from neighboring communities.”
As the Monon Movers Club grows, Padgett plans to offer branded merchandise such as T-shirts to participants.
Food Truck Frenzy coming in April
In addition to the Monon Movers Club, Padgett and her dad Larry, co-owner of Hometown Scoops, are making plans to invite food trucks to the downtown square. Starting April 3, the Padgetts are bringing Food Truck Frenzy to Orleans. Several food trucks will be set up weekly on Thursdays from 4-8 p.m.
The Padgetts are also planning to offer an e-bike rental service later this year.
“I’ve noticed people of all ages and families using the trail,” she said. “Once it gets warm, I think you’ll see even more people using it.”
Hometown Scoops opened in 2021, while Sadie was still in high school. In addition to the Orleans stand, Hometown Scoops has a mobile trailer that goes to events during the summer.
Hometown Scoops will open for the 2025 season March 20.