Southern Illinois Sucess: The Winery of Walker's Bluff
CARTERVILLE - The wine industry in Illinois has seen an explosive growth over the past decade, with the number of wineries increasing from around 10, to now over 100 across the state.
But there is no argument, that one of the most impressive of wineries in any state, is Walker's Bluff. In this visit to the winery, we see what is so impressive to visitors, and learn how the plans are to make this a destination location, resort and conference center for visitors and businesses.
But after millions of dollars already invested, and its fame growing, Walker's Bluff future success, and ability to add greatly to the Southern Illinos economy, with hotels, water park, conference center, and SPA, may hinge on whether the state grants it a gaming license, which many business meeting planners say is critical to consitently attract conferences.
Walker's Bluff Casino License Could Transform Carbondale's Regional Economy
Carterville -- Expanding the state's casinos by six may sound very dry, as if it's just another detail tossed our in a review of recent legislation.
For the owners of Walker's Bluff and the people living in the Carterville-Carbondale area, the fact that they've secured one of the treasured casino licenses, holds the potential to transform the local economy for decades to come.
Cyndie and Dave Bunch, the owners of Walker's Bluff winery, had already invested millions in developing a world-class winery on the property Cyndie inherited from her great-grandfather.
She had hoped her investment in the region where she grew up would help create more jobs and diversify the local economy, so dependent on SUIC. But she found out that convention managers and conference planners are looking for sites that offer more than a great location to hold their meetings. They say they need an entertainment venue for conference attendees to have fun after the meetings are over.
And so seven years ago, she sought a casino license from the state. It seemed to many, an impossible effort. And for years, it appeared the naysayers were right.
But with the need for a new Capital bill, and the need to generate new revenues, the seven-year effort to secure a casino license for Walker's Bluff finally happened in May.
With the license now secured, Cyndie Bunch plans to proceed with their effort to build a new convention center, year-round water park, and a 300-plus room hotel, on the Walker's Bluff property. The lack of a license in the past, cost them millions of dollars in convention business. Now the regional economy looks to the future with the expectations of a more diversified economy, and new jobs coming from the increase in tourism and conventions.
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Wines Of Walkers Bluff: Epidode 329
Stan tries some wines from this southern Illinois winery. The owner of the winery house a home in the San Juans and is looking for distribution in Washington State. Check out the results.
Jon+Erin's Walker's Bluff Wedding
Courtesy of Authur Agency in Carbondale, IL.
Walkers Bluff| (618) 956-9900| Carterville| IL - Shop Where the BEST Gift Giver Goes
Walkers Bluff| (618) 956-9900| Carterville| IL
#ThisIsYourWalkersBluff
For both Cynde and David Bunch, the visionaries of Walker's Bluff, the soft rolling hills, fertile acreage and a heritage steeped in memories propelled the creation of Walker's Bluff in 2008. Acquiring land that had been in Cynde Bunch's family since 1934 was the first step toward what would become Southern Illinois' premier dining and entertainment venue. Their initial plan included building a modest home where they could enjoy the idyllic spring and summer seasons along with a small vineyard for David to experiment with his passion for wine made from California grapes. A small gazebo was added on the river bluff to host family reunions and weddings. The gazebo quickly became a Sunday retreat for local families who wandered out to enjoy the scenery, fish the stocked streams and, for some, satisfy their curiosity. Always the consummate hosts, they welcomed the steady stream of visitors enjoying their vista, and the positive feedback and community support gave way to the idea of creating an entertainment complex unequaled in the Midwest.
Wedding and celebration in Southern IL On September 23, 2017
Southern Illinois wedding and celebration. Entertainment by Cosmo T's DJ Shows. On September 23rd, 2017.
Rustle Hill Winery
Live music and local art mix with wine forged from the grapes of the Shawnee Hills grape growing region to create an entertainment venue of epic proportions. Coming soon, Rustle Hill will be opening a micro brewery.
Illinois' $45 Bill Capital Bill and Gaming Expansion Become Law
In another bill signing ceremony on a massive piece of legislation, Gov Pritzker today was joined by Sen Dick Durbin and members of the legislature to sign into law two bills that have the potential to literally alter the landscape of Illinois for decades to come.
The Governor signed a $45 Billion Capital Bill -- the largest in the state's history, that will spend over six years funds in every corner of the state, with the Governor noting the majority will be spend downstate, with the massive array of roads and bridges crisscrossing the state.
In Sangamon County alone, which houses the State Capitol and where the bill was signed, over $1 Billion dollars will be spend on a host of projects, from a new library at the University of Illinois-Springfield, to a project that will move Amtrak trains away from the center part of Springfield to the 10th street corridor. In fact it's that project that determined the selection of the site for holding the bill signing ceremony, alongside the very railway that took Lincoln from Springfield to Washington following his election as President.
The Governor also signed a bill expanding gaming, or gambling, in Illinois that will see six new casinos being located around the state. One location is at the winery of Walkers' Bluff, where the Governor will visit on Tuesday to hold another ceremony.
For the people of Carterville, where Walkers' Bluff winery is located, it will likely make a massive change to the regional economy. The winery is now planning a year-round waterpark and 300+ hotel and conference center, built with private funds. But the owner of the property says she couldn't commit to those projects without a gaming license to attract conventions and conferences. She told the Illinois Channel when we did a story there in 2017, that the previous year they had to turn away over $2 million in business because they couldn't offer gaming to the conventions.
The speakers at today's signing ceremony were near giddy with the delight of projects now being funded. But those Capital funds will come at a cost with higher taxes and fees on a host of things, including a doubling of the state's gas tax from 19 cents/gallon to 38 cents. Those go into effect on July 1, the start of the state's new fiscal year.
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5 Finger Death Punch Under and Over It Live at Moonstock 2017
5 Finger Death Punch performing Over and Under It live at Moonstock 2017 at Walker's Bluff in Carterville, IL 8/20/17
Gas Taxes Double, Casinos Expand and the $45 Billion Capital Bill is Set to Take Off
This week, in the Wake of the Historic Spring session of the legislature, Gov Pritzker signs into law the $45 Billion Capital bill, that is said will transform Illinois' transportation network, deliver Rural Broadband, and address the Billions in deferred maintenance at parks, schools and colleges across the state.
But it comes at a price, and a large part of that $45 Billion Capital Improvement funding is coming from a doubling of the Motor Fuel Tax, aka the gas tax, with signs drivers around Illinois near the border are driving into neighboring states to buy their gasoline. When the gas tax doubled from 19 cents/gallon to 38 cents, the price between a gallon of gas in Illinois communities was frequently 30 to 50 cents a gallon higher than gas at station just across the Mississippi or Ohio rivers, or in Indiana or Wisconsin.
The gas tax is funding what is called Horizontal Capital which are those projects, like roads and bridges. The Vertical Capital is funded by money from gambling - at least in part. This week, Gov Pritzker went around the state, starting with his bill signing of the Capital bill and Gaming expansion bills in Springfield. On July 2, he went to Walkers' Bluff, in Carterville, Illinois which is the future site of one of the six new casinos that will be opening.
The governor and others, spoke of the economic development that the casinos will have on the regional economy where they're located. Carterville, located about 10 mins by car from Carbondale, is an area of the state that's always had a high unemployment compared with other regions.
The casino license for Walkers' Bluff will mean plans will go forward on a 300-plus room hotel, convention center, year-round water park, and the casino itself. The owners of Walkers' Bluff have already invested millions to develop the site with a world-class restaurant tavern, and winery with a magnificent underground tasting room.
Politics, Personalities, Policies and business developments! Stay in touch with one of the most politically active, and important states in the USA!
Follow us on Twitter: @IllinoisChannel
website: IllinoisChannel.org
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Theory of a Deadman - Joey Drum Solo / Drown (LIVE) Moonstock Music Festival 8-19-17
A massive drum solo out of Joey Dandeneau, followed by the song Drown by Theory of a Deadman, live at the Moonstock Music Festival at the Walker's Bluff Winery in Carterville, Illinois!
5 Finger Death Punch Got Your Six Live at Moonstock 2017
5 Finger Death Punch performing Got Your Six live at Moonstock 2017 at Walker's Bluff in Carterville, IL 8/20/17
Five Finger Death Punch at Moonstock- Under and Over It
Five Finger Death Punch at Moonstock 2017
Five Finger Death Punch at Moonstock 2017 - The Bleeding
Five Finger Death Punch at Moonstock 2017 8/20/2017. Final song of the evening. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe to catch future concerts and random ass videos.
OZZY OSBOURNE'S CELESTIAL PERFORMANCE SLAMMED BY ECLIPSE PURISTS
Does the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, need to show more respect for the moon?
A total solar eclipse is scheduled for August 21, 2017. This means the moon will move between the sun and the Earth. It will last for about three hours darkening the sky in broad daylight.
Ozzy Osbourne is set to perform during the celestial event, and eclipse purists are not having it! They say he's not giving the proper respect to the solar event. According to a local Illinois news source, SaukValley.com.
Osbourne plans to sing his 1983 hit “Bark at the Moon” during eclipse totality at 1:20 p.m. /ET on Aug. 21 at Walker’s Bluff winery in Carterville, a small town about 120 miles southeast of St. Louis.
Joe McFarland, a local who owns an eclipse shop in Illinois slammed the event.
McFarland said the eclipse is “as close to a religious experience that anyone can experience, no matter your faith or lack thereof.” Viewers trying to get the “perfect picture” or listen to music during totality will miss a rare moment of spiritual introspection, McFarland added. “One one of the biggest mistakes being made locally is the winery is having a big music festival prior to the eclipse, and then, at the moment of totality, Ozzy Osbourne is going to take to the stage and play Bark at the Moon.
Would you watch Ozzy Osbourne Bark at the Moon during the eclipse?
Superior Sound at a Wedding in Carterville Illinois
Superior Sound at a Wedding in Carterville Illinois
Southern Illinois Premier Mobile DJ Service
Five Finger Death Punch at Moonstock 2017 - Coming Down
Five Finger Death Punch rocking it at Moonstock 2017 8/20/17
Businesswoman Cynde Bunch, on Investing in Southern Illinois' Growth
From the State Capitol: We talk with businesswoman, Cynde Bunch, on her investing in Southern Illinois and her effort to gain a gaming license for her winery and resort development in Carterville, Illinois.
Ms Bunch was a pioneer in the HMO industry, who is now investing in a major way, to expand a resort in an area of Illinois, that's suffered for years from low employment.
Superior Sound DJ at a Tent Wedding Reception in Carbondale Illinois
Superior Sound DJ Service Djing a wedding in Carbondale Illinois
Halestorm - Still of the Night (LIVE) Moonstock Music Festival, Carterville, IL 8-19-17
Filling in for Papa Roach is Halestorm at the Moonstock Music Festival in Carterville, Illinois and their powerful cover of Whitesnake's Still of the Night!