Organization: Conner Prairie
Role: Concept Developer
Concept Development: 2023-Present
Status: In Development
Key Contributions: Concept Development | Experience Strategy | Site Planning | Interpretive Planning | 3D Modeling | Phased Development Planning
The Opportunity
Conner Prairie’s Civil War Journey had reached the end of its intended life. Originally designed as a ten-year experience, it had been operating for nearly thirteen years. Much of the technology supporting the exhibit had become outdated, replacement parts were increasingly difficult to find, and ongoing maintenance was becoming more challenging. Some of the topics presented within the experience also needed to be reconsidered.
As part of an Experience Master Plan completed in 2023, transportation and agriculture in the early 20th century were identified as possible themes for future development. They were initially envisioned as separate experience zones, but I saw an opportunity to bring them together as a single town.
The idea became Progress Corner, an early 20th century community where changes in transportation and agriculture could be explored as interconnected parts of the same story. Combining the two themes also allowed the new experience to share infrastructure and make use of existing buildings that were already grouped together as a town.
My Role & Approach
The Experience Master Plan established transportation and agriculture as future themes for the area and identified several potential attractions, including a train simulator, automobile simulator, farm memories show, and tractor tour. My role was to take those ideas and begin developing them into a cohesive experience that could work within the existing site.
I combined the transportation and agriculture concepts into Progress Corner and developed the overall layout and guest experience around them. This included determining how existing buildings could be reused or expanded, where new structures would be needed, and how the individual attractions could fit together as parts of the same town.
I also developed additional experiences to help connect the area and fill out the guest journey. These included an aviation experience, post office, and new concepts for the existing general store and splash pad. Rather than replacing those existing spaces, I reimagined them as the town’s general store and Water Works so they could become part of the new Progress Corner story.
Developing the Concept
Progress Corner was organized around the idea of a small town experiencing the changes taking place in transportation and agriculture during the early 20th century. Rather than treating those subjects as separate experiences, the town provided a setting where their stories could overlap and guests could explore them as different parts of the same period of change.
The existing site helped shape the layout. Buildings and infrastructure from Civil War Journey could be repurposed for new uses, while new construction and additions were placed where needed to accommodate the experiences identified in the master plan. The existing farm area became the setting for the agriculture story, while the depot and surrounding buildings formed the center of the transportation experiences.
The concept was also designed to grow over time. Individual experiences could be developed in phases, allowing Progress Corner to begin taking shape without requiring the entire area to be completed at once. Each new phase could add another reason for guests to return while contributing to the larger experience, with the overall concept continuing to evolve as new opportunities are identified.
The Guest Experience
Progress Corner was conceived as a place guests could explore at their own pace, with individual experiences offering different ways to engage with stories of transportation, agriculture, and the changes taking place during the early 20th century.
Railroad Experience
Existing railroad infrastructure would become part of a larger depot experience, combining interpretation of railroad history with a simulated train journey and new uses for the existing station area.
Automobile Experience
A new automobile garage would explore Indiana’s role in early automobile manufacturing. Guests could see a historic vehicle, learn about the state’s automotive history, and experience a simulated ride in an early automobile.
Water Works
The existing splash pad would be reimagined as the town’s Water Works, combining water play with interpretation about the development of indoor plumbing. Pipes, valves, switches, and unexpected sprays would make the infrastructure itself part of the play experience.
Farm Tractor Tour
Additional Experiences
Other proposed experiences would help connect the larger story, including a general store that introduces guests to the town, a farmhouse and multimedia experience exploring changes in agriculture across generations, an aviation experience, and a working post office where guests could mail a postcard from their visit.
Planning for Implementation
From the beginning, Progress Corner was conceived as a phased development rather than a project that needed to open all at once. This allowed individual experiences to be prioritized and developed over time while spreading the investment across multiple phases.
Planning also considered what each new experience would require beyond its physical design. This included staffing, maintenance, technology, security, food and beverage, retail, interpretation, marketing, guest services, and opportunities for earned revenue. Potential upcharge experiences were considered alongside experiences included with general admission, with the goal of adding value for guests while helping support continued development of the area.
As the concept continues to develop, these considerations provide a framework for evaluating new ideas and determining how they might fit within the larger Progress Corner experience.
Project Status
Progress Corner remains in development as part of Conner Prairie’s long-term plans for the historic grounds. The concept continues to evolve as new ideas and opportunities are explored, but the central approach remains the same: bringing stories of transportation and agriculture together within a shared early 20th century community and developing the area in phases over time.