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From Tampa, Kansas to Tampa Bay, Florida

Posted on by Pat Melgares

From Tampa, Kansas to Tampa Bay, Florida. That’s quite a journey and quite a contrast.

Welcoming reception in Tampa Bay, Florida
Welcoming reception in Tampa Bay, Florida

Today, in the conclusion of our series about Tampa, we’ll learn about the remarkable connection that was made between these two communities – one small and rural, the other large and urban.

During the last two weeks, we’ve learned about Dave Mueller, a Marion County farmer who has purchased and renovated several buildings in Tampa, Kansas. He shared the story of this amazing urban-rural connection.

This all began with the creative staff at the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Tampa Bay, Florida, which is located on the west coast of the state along the Gulf of Mexico.

The Tampa Bay tourism staff was just wrapping up a conference in Orlando, a couple of hours away. As many of us do these days, they asked their phones how long it would take to drive home to Tampa. When the answer came back, “23 hours,” they were amazed.

Was something wrong with their GPS? No, the phone had correctly calculated the drive time from their location to Tampa…Kansas.

Continue reading “From Tampa, Kansas to Tampa Bay, Florida” →

Dave Mueller, Tampa

Posted on by Pat Melgares
Photo, head and shoulders, Dave Mueller
Dave Mueller

It’s the same old story: Small town population is aging, the average age is creeping upward, and young people are moving out.

It’s a story heard all over Kansas – except where it is not.

Today, in the second of our series about Tampa, Kansas, we’ll learn about this remarkable community that is seeing an influx of young couples and youth.

Last week, we met Dave Mueller, a Marion County farmer who purchased and renovated several buildings in Tampa. Those buildings now house the Santa Fe Trail Café, the Tampa Trail Stop grocery store, a hair salon, community room and fitness center.

Mueller’s cousin is Gary Fike, director of K-State Research and Extension’s office in Riley County. Fike said Mueller revitalized Tampa by working with others to create the grocery store, café, and more.

All the while, Mueller has seen Tampa’s demographics change. “Over the past 10 years, we have had a lot of young families in their 20s and 30s move in here,” he said. “Our average age has dropped dramatically.”

Continue reading “Dave Mueller, Tampa” →

Dave Mueller, Tampa Trail Stop

Posted on by Pat Melgares
Steel highway sign, Tampa, Kansas, ox pulling covered wagon
Highway Sign outside Tampa, Kansas

“Success builds success.”

“One thing leads to another.”

Those observations describe the positive momentum that is happening in a rural community in central Kansas.

Dave Mueller has played a leading role in the resurgence of the town of Tampa in Marion County. Mueller grew up on a farm near Tampa. After attending K-State, he worked for a national feed company before coming back to join his father on the farm. Mueller raises crops and runs a cow-calf operation on the family farm today.

Tampa is a historic community. It was a frequent stop for wagon trains traveling along the Santa Fe Trail. Over time, it experienced the typical struggles of smaller rural Kansas communities, such as declining population and outmigration. By the late 2000s, most of the businesses in downtown Tampa had closed.

“My aunt and uncle, Butch and Phyllis, had operated Butch’s Café (in Tampa) since 1980,” Mueller said. By 2009, Butch had passed and Phyllis was wanting to retire. “I bought the building so that the café could continue to operate.”

Next door to the café was an abandoned building. Mueller approached that building’s owner about purchasing it, but the owner was unwilling to sell. One day while Mueller’s crew was replacing the roof on the café building, the roof on the abandoned building next door collapsed. Continue reading “Dave Mueller, Tampa Trail Stop” →