Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Regardless of what happens in the future, Woodfield Manor, site of the past two Homes On Parade, will be remembered as one of the most successful in Kosciusko County.
Although some thought a second consecutive year at Woodfield might be risky, it proved to be nothing less than a safe bet.
Despite some cool and rainy conditions, the Homes on Parade this year saw a rise in attendance during the 10-day run earlier this month.
An estimated 6,134 people paid to tour this year's homes at Woodfield Manor, according to Carol Huffer, executive director of the Builders Association of Kosciusko County.
The parade got a strong boost from the opening night VIP celebration, which 1,100 people attended. The VIP attendance was the strongest since 1989 when the parade was at Stonehenge.
Overall, attendance was 4 percent better than last year, Huffer said.
The parade featured 12 homes and enjoyed a higher level of presales than ever before, which is a key for builders, she said.
In the two years at Woodfield Manor, more than 12,000 people passed through the homes located off Country Club Road.
Huffer said she also noticed what appeared to be an increased number of spectators from outside of the county. That's based on the number of people who were heard asking directions back to the highways, Huffer said.
The best attendance ever was at Brookshire in 1993 when 6,900 people passed through the homes. Much of the success that year is credited to high visibility of the development and location near major roads.
Meanwhile, T.L. Jackson Construction was the big winner in terms of individual awards. The Syracuse-based company garnered four different accolades.
Those included:
• LANDSCAPING - Freeman Builders (House No. 10).
• EXTERIOR - T.L. Jackson (House No. 6).
• INTERIOR - T.L. Jackson (House No. 7).
• INTERIOR DECORATING - Coplen Construction (House No. 8).
• BEST OVERALL - T.L. Jackson (House No. 7).
• PEOPLE'S CHOICE - T.L. Jackson (House No. 7)
