By Jane Irwin
The year 2009 was a remarkable year at Walker’s Bluff, filled with a multitude of projects, activities, and events.
Topping them off, in October, the Legends Restaurant was dedicated in a grand opening ceremony held on the highest point on property purchased over eighty years ago by the Grandparents of the present owners.
Cynde and David Bunch welcomed family, friends, the architect, decorators, builders, craftsmen, suppliers, and well wishers to a unique celebration of pride and accomplishment!
In these words from her speech, Cynde welcomed everyone to Walker’s Bluff and thanked them for joining in to celebrate the grand opening of Legends!
She likened this to the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” or the “ Legend of Jesse James.” She expanded on what, so far, it has taken to make this “Legend” begin.
“It took two people eighty years ago to buy the rolling, hilly property on the Big Muddy River which happens to act as a “heat sink” and is nearly 9 degrees warmer than the surrounding area on those freezing cold nights for which Southern Illinois is famous"
“It took my Father to unselfishly provide for me and my sister our inheritance while he is still living."
“It took my cousin, who is the best excavator there is, to remove thousands of pieces of old farm equipment and buses and tires and to see the natural swell of the land and create the beautiful Lake Jewell. This same cousin works hour after hour building roads and spreading, to date, 158,000 tons of gravel, which was carried in truck load by truck load.”
“It takes an Uncle who loves this land and only believed its use was for cattle pasture. But he was brave enough to try to put in a vineyard. 1700 posts, 20 miles of wire and 4000 plants later we have the only vineyard west of California that produced Italian Barbera and French Shriah Grapes this year"
“It takes men who have not studied or gone to school in thirty years to spend several weeks in class studying Japanese Beetles, mold and curly leaf disease and successfully obtain their licenses to buy spray and maintain our own vineyard”
“It takes a builder and eighty plus men working sixty plus hours a week for five and one-half months"
“It takes a stone mason and his crew and 250 thousand pounds of stone and an electrician and 30 miles of wire"
“It takes 33 thousand square yards of concrete”
“Over 400 mums, trees and shrubs and nearly a ton of grass seed"
“It takes a son-in law, armed with a cell phone and a knowledge of welding to build our amphitheater”
“It takes my 72 year old father and two men mowing fifty-three acres and weed eating all week, every week”
“It takes a bank believing in a vision for Southern Illinois that a balance sheet may not support”
“It takes two designers, 500 yards of fabric, hundreds of gallons of paint, days of shopping”
“It takes architects, engineers and draftsmen to guide us from the flood plain”
“It takes accountants and lawyers to set in order the business of business”
“It takes fifty plus servers and culinary staff with willing hearts and great attitudes to serve alfresco dining while dodging mud puddles and rain drops”
“It takes a young intern fresh out of college partnered with the best ad agency in the tri-state area to bring people to visit from Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Taxas, and all of Illinois”
“It takes a girl who was a college star softball player to put on her best high heels and shulk through the mud carrying food to tables all the while smiling from ear-to-ear, worrying if our night’s entertainment got lost again on Reed Station Road”
“It takes a retired stage director twenty plus hours a week searching for talent that is affordable as well as entertaining”
“It takes our children who, every time they are called upon to answer the call with a willing heart; and who have not yet ‘locked us up’ every time they see another rock truck ‘dumping their inheritance”
“It takes grandchildren who are always ‘on stage’ and willing to run food or lanterns to tables”
“It takes great friends who offer an encouraging words and helpful suggestions”
“It takes a husband who can fix anything and does not necessarily hate being away form his boat”
“It takes a God who cared enough about His people to change the destiny of us all…..to have good jobs in a time of ‘economic downturn’…..to have hundreds of men working side-by-side; day after day, with hardly a cross word…..to see young men who have not had training or much education work hard and well side-by-side others who are teaching them a vocation”
“Everyone is so amazed that we have built a Legend in less than six months!”
“When we look back at what it took to build this Legend, I am telling everyone- Just Hold on Because with the Team we Have, It is only the Beginning!"
I was there at this grand opening ceremony and was completely impressed. As the mother of the general contractor, I was also very proud. I’d visited Walker’s Bluff just after my son built the beautiful gazebo for Cynde. At that time, she was so kind as to give me a tour of the Keeper’s Cottage that was just being finished. I continue to be amazed as each step of the Legend comes to fruition. Eagerly, I follow the progress and watch the website for information of events and activities.
I’ve followed the progress of Walker’s Bluff as have many, many Southern Illinoisans and all are excited, delighted and awed at what is coming together there!
We thank God for the good fortunes he has bestowed upon Cynde and David Bunch through their hard work and perseverance. We thank them for their vision and courage in bringing such a venue to our area. So many people’s lives have already been made better through so many different avenues.