• Article Photo. Destination Vinton: Area group is working to promote tours, including this one that began at IBSSS.
    Destination Vinton: Area group is working to promote tours, including this one that began at IBSSS.
  • Article Photo. A 1917 Hudson racer was among the cars seen in Vinton during the CR Antique Automobile Club visit.
    A 1917 Hudson racer was among the cars seen in Vinton during the CR Antique Automobile Club visit.
  • Article Photo. A few more photos of the antique cars seen in Vinton on Thursday...both downtown and at IBSSS.
    A few more photos of the antique cars seen in Vinton on Thursday...both downtown and at IBSSS.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.

Thursday's visit to Vinton by members of the Cedar Rapids chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America is among the first of what Destination Vinton Committee members hope will be many tours of local attractions.

Club members Dan and Judy Ortz initiated the tour, which included about 20 people and a dozen antique cars. Among the cars was a 1917 Hudson racer.

Destination Vinton is part of the Vinton Unlimited organization.

"We recently joined the Cedar Rapids Visitors Bureau," said committee member Sue Hammond.

Destination Vinton is also working with Eastern Iowa Tourism and the Iowa Group Travel Association, and has begun working with the Iowa Braille School personnel. Many groups from throughout the U.S. as well as other countries have come to see IBSSS, particularly because of the Mary Ingalls connection. Interest in Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prarie" series inspires many visits to the school where Mary Ingalls was once a student.

The club members began the day at IBSSS, where Robert Spangler and Carolyn Hibbs shared some of the history of Iowa's school for the blind.

The local committee has also completed brochures highlighting the chain saw carvings by Brian Parr, and is working on creating and distributing more maps showing the location of Vinton attractions.