What do we mean when we say Centerville is "reinventing" itself? As Project Manager Linda Howard explains, Centerville has thrived throughout its history by seizing the available opportunities. It began life as a mercantile and agriculture center, transformed itself into a bustling coal mining and railroad community, and then turned to a period of intense manufacturing growth. Centerville is now well on its way towards "reinventing" itself as tourist destination.

The Appanoose County Coalition for the Arts encouraged the Appanoose County efforts to become an "Iowa Great Place". The Iowa Great Place web site states: "Great Places offer a vibrant, integrated quality of life where people choose to live, work, visit, stay and play." After an intense application process, Appanoose County proudly received the Iowa Great Place designation in October, 2007. One of the "puzzle pieces" of the Appanoose County Great Place application is the Ritz Theatre. Click Here for a link to the Appanoose County Great Place website!

Tourism is big business in Iowa. In Appanoose County, tourism expenditures have grown to 13.26 million dollars in 2006. With the Honey Creek Resort State Park scheduled for completion in the summer of 2008, Centerville has seized the opportunity to once again reinvent itself as a unique, first-class tourism destination. Not only will visitations to Rathbun Lake increase, but Centerville has actively worked to create attractions that will bring visitors to Centerville! Some of the attractions already in place include the Morgan Cline properties, the Appanoose County Historical Museum, the restored Seth Thomas Tower Clock in the historic Appanoose County Courthouse, the restored 2nd Baptist Church, the restored First United Methodist Church, the restored Centerville Band Shell, and the Centerville Town Square. The Ritz Theatre will proudly contribute to economic development in Centerville and Appanoose County by providing a venue for live theatre. Quality live theatre productions will be marketed throughout southern Iowa and northern Missouri. The ACCA has been following its business plan for the last four years. That plan has included presenting live theatre at the Simon Estes Auditorium at Centerville High School. We have determined that our business plan is viable; the Ritz Theatre will be creating a new venue and new jobs that will help grow tourism and aid economic development in Centerville and Appanoose County! And with the Children's Art Festival and planned Children's Art Camp, our area youth will be able to participate and learn from Ritz Theatre-sponsored children's art programs.