September 6, 2007
Inland Lakes Railway: Connecting Lake County With The Orlando Magic
Inland Lakes Railway is adding a new rail service that will allow area residents to enjoy one of the region’s unique entertainment experiences without having to battle traffic to get there.
Starting in November, the railway will offer train service from Eustis to Orlando for selected Orlando Magic games. In preparation, they conducted successful cross-county charter trips on Memorial and Labor Day helping to pave the way for regular service.
For Magic games, fans will hop on the train in Eustis or Tavares and then enjoy a scenic, leisurely ride through Lake Dora, Zellwood, Plymouth and Apopka before arriving at the Amway Arena in downtown Orlando. After the games, the train will be waiting to return passengers to Lake County.
The service will be available for selected Orlando Magic weekend home game with ticket packages ranging between $60 and $90 for round trip train service and a game ticket. If the rail service is successful, it could be expanded to include trips to the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center and other Orlando venues.
This innovative approach to traveling across Central Florida has the potential to combine two of the four themes that emerged from the How Shall We Grow? visioning project. Centers promote growth in city, town or village centers countering urban sprawl while Corridors connect centers with a balance of roads, light rail, streetcars and buses. The rail project will help connect the Cities of Tavares and Eustis to Orlando and hopes are that easier access will promote additional commerce and growth in city centers giving an added boost to downtown businesses.
John Drury, City Administrator of Tavares, believes the new rail service will boost their downtown economy and he sees “entrepreneurs opening shops and restaurants around Wooton Park in downtown Tavares where the train is scheduled to stop.” Though the current focus is on tourist venues, this could spur additional rail connections and services further increasing economic vitality.
Coming on the heels of the decision by four Central Florida Counties to partner in the development of a 61 mile Commuter Rail connection, the Eustis-Orlando service is another opportunity to use rail as a way to bring people and places together while also opening doors for new and creative economic opportunities.
”The Tavares community has placed a priority in changing the way we grow…on moving people around in a variety of creative ways, ” said Nancy Clutts, Vice Mayor of Tavares. “As we urbanize, our downtown will be accessible by air, rail, trail, water and roadway. The Eustis-Tavares rail service is a pilot project which can be built upon and which some day may lead to commuter rail service to Orlando.”
The public/private partnership between the Orlando Magic, the Inland Lakes Railways and the cities of Tavares and Eustis is an excellent example of regional collaboration. “This is a creative and unique approach in Central Florida, which other cities and communities around the nation already enjoy,” said Joel Glass, Vice President of Communications for the Orlando Magic. He added that this regional effort just shows that the Orlando Magic is “a team all of Central Florida can enjoy."
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