Dinosaurs, bison, hiking, sledding and chocolate? How the Tarners bring it all together.
Brachiosaurus. Spinosaurus. Titanosaur. Hadrosaur.
You might be asking yourself what those things are and why is there an article about them. You might have also guessed that they are a type of dinosaur but wondered what they are doing in South Bend.
What they are doing in South Bend is becoming part of one of the most interesting and exciting attractions and destinations in the Midwest. Just opposite of the South Bend International Airport and on the west side of the U.S. 20 Bypass are 80-plus acres of the Continental Divide and the land now home to the Indiana Dinosaur Museum, South Bend Chocolate Company, South Bend Public House and South Bend Farms.
Market Basket: Mark Tarner's dinosaur and chocolate complex near the South Bend airport on target
This impressive campus will not only thrill kids and adults alike but will also teach us about dinosaurs and the origins of chocolate. It is a bold vision and wonderful legacy given to our community by Mark and Julie Tarner. It sounds and tastes pretty unique in a way only Mark could create.
From the rolling hills that will welcome roaming bison to the new South Bend Farms, the experience will include a year-round destination that will take hours to explore. The next iteration of the Public House restaurant concept will provide some of the best outdoor seating options in the region, plus more of the upside-down burger.
From Mark’s early vision and success with the South Bend Chocolate Company, a brand that represents South Bend across the entire United States, you will find a special combination of experiences that should welcome hundreds of thousands to South Bend each year. With an opening scheduled in the next few months, residents and visitors alike can experience yet another attraction that solely lives in South Bend.
We are bullish on this initiative so much so that the Hotel Motel Tax Board of St. Joseph County awarded $1 million toward the construction of the project. At a time when we are creating a tourism master plan, we need to look no further than here locally for the contributions, vision and soon-to-be reality of an experience that will differentiate itself, and our county, from anything else in the country. The impact of this destination will materially enhance the offerings and experience for both residents and visitors within St. Joseph County.
Where else can you have lunch, go to a farmers’ market, dig for fossils, sample chocolate, downhill sled and hike the Continental Divide — all in the same day at the same place?
If you’ve driven by the facility on U.S. 20 and the Bypass, you would have seen the impressive green, white and brick building come out of the ground over the last 20 months. What you likely haven’t seen, though, but perhaps heard about, is the passion, hard work and thoughtful detail that has gone into building this experience.
St. Joseph County welcomes more than 5.3 million people each year, and now they will have an additional focal point to make their stay even more enjoyable. We anticipate the Indiana Dinosaur Museum will be a destination for school-aged groups and field trips from across the region and draw even more from a one-tank getaway like Indianapolis and Chicago.
For more information, photos and videos about the Indiana Dinosaur Museum, like them on Facebook and get ready to explore, taste, touch and experience this incredible destination.
Visit South Bend Mishawaka is here to help tell our story, highlight our incredible experiences and bring the best to The Bend. Here are just a few exciting and upcoming events. To see more, head to visitsouthbend.com.
• March 22-24: Notre Dame Softball at Cook Stadium• April 5: Notre Dame Men’s Tennis at Eck Tennis Pavilion• April 5-7: ETS Sports Scrimmage Series at Newton Park• April 19-21: Federal Postal Employee National Bowling Association at Chippewa Bowl• April 20: Notre Dame Blue Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium
Jeff Jarnecke is the executive director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka (jjarnecke@visitsouthbend.com).
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Chocolate and dinosaur museums near completion in South Bend
