Foundation seeks to revive French Icarian Colony

A foundation in Corning is getting a 35-thousand dollar state grant to study the feasibility of developing a former French colony into a tourist attraction. The French Icarian Colony flourished between 1850 and 1880 as a major stopping point for people traveling west.Shanna Lode, of the Iowa Division of Tourism says the Icarian Colony Foundation wants to know if today’s travelers would still be interested in the site.Lode says it’s hoped the study will show the Icarian Colony would be a successful tourist destination.Lode says the study should be completed in six to nine months.