Heart of Ohio Tailwinds Bicycle Club Tallgrass Trail Fund

This designated fund was created in 2025 through the generosity of members of the Heart of Ohio Tailwinds Bicycle Club. It supports the enhancement and maintenance of the Marion Tallgrass Trail, a local recreational trail which is heavily utilized by area bicyclists and outdoor enthusiasts. This 12-mile long, rails-to-trails project was completed in 2017 by the Marion County Park District, and follows the former Erie-Lackawanna railroad, which was abandoned in 1976.

The Heart of Ohio Tailwinds Bicycle Club is known for the Hot Tamale Bicycle Tour, a local ride they have organized for 40+ years. It is typically held in June and offers a variety of routes for different cyclist abilities — including an 11-mile family-friendly ride, as well as 18, 25, 41, and 62-mile tours.

The Tallgrass Trail begins at 2093 Holland Road West with a trailhead and nature center and extends westward — through the Big Island Wildlife area and the villages of Espyville and DeCliff — to the Hardin County line. Visitors may find trumpeter swans, bald eagles, and a beaver lodge as the trail follows the shore of the 53-acre Marion Community Foundation Lake.