The Dundee Township Visitor's Center (a.k.a. The Depot) is open, thanks to generous support by the Village of East Dundee and you--our visitors! Stop by and say hi, and don't miss our outdoor Depot Market every Saturday mid May-October from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.!
Restrooms are open every day from sunrise to sunset.
Be sure tovisit our Facebook page for current news, photos and results of our annual Largest Tomato and Great Pumpkin contests. Shop local, and see you soon!
Booth fees from our market support the Depot and allow us to keep the doors open, so shop early and often!
About the Depot
Situated right next to the Fox River Bike Trail, the Depot is a popular rest stop for bike trail users in need of snacks, beverages or a water bottle fill up. We also sell Dundee-themed merchandise, including local history books, and we've got plenty of area information about restaurants, attractions and the 60-mile bike trail.
The Depot Market is held 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday mid May through October. We typically get around 40 vendors each week selling veggies (in season), honey, flowers, and bedding plants, plus soaps, antiques, and collectibles. New market vendors are always welcome! Call (847) 426-4307 for booth information and visit our rules and regulations page for other details about becoming a vendor.
We had lots of entries for our 16th-annual tomato contest!
Scroll waaaay down to see the the results.
Our closing day for the market includes the annual Great Pumpkin contest.
Story and pictures also below...scroll waaaaay down!
(Read about past year's contest here)
Behold Here and Now Herb singing the infamous banana song! You know it's going to be a good day when there are bananas to be had at the depot.
Read all about our annual contests below...
16th-Annual Tomato Contest Winners Announced
[August 22, 2013, East Dundee, IL] It was back to basics
– good soil and lots of water -- for this year’s winning tomato in the largest
tomato contest held Saturday at the Dundee Township Visitor’s Center. Elgin
resident Gene Woods took first prize with his 3-pound 2 1/2-ounce tomato that
he said was an heirloom “pee wee” variety grown alongside a hearty cucumber
crop in his back yard.
There were 22 entries of all shapes, sizes, colors and
ripeness ranging from picture-perfect, round and red to green, orange and even a
tiny pea-sized grape tomato that should have won a “most hopeful” award. Event
organizer and Dundee Township Visitor’s Center Manager Bill Zelsdorf of
Carpentersville said, “We don’t discriminate; we accept all tomatoes and are
happy to have people support our contests as well as the Farmer’s Market.”
Unlike last year’s tomatoes, which barely topped 1 ½
pounds, this summer’s rain and warm temperatures yielded larger entries – though
there was more than a pound’s difference between first and second place.
An experienced gardener, Woods has taken home prizes in
the past and won first place three years ago. “I’m going to eat this one on a hamburger,” he
said of his prize winner. “Maybe invite the neighborhood.”
Woods took home $400 in gift certificates and prizes from
area businesses, including One Cut Above the Rest, Haeger Pottery, The
Measuring Cup, Red Lobster, Diamond Jim’s, Piece A Cake Bakery, Liberty Lanes, First
American Bank, and a Phil Aleo history book.
Santo Maglio of Gilberts came in second with a 1-pound 15
3/4-ounce tomato. He won $250 worth of prizes, including gift cards from Barb’s
Studio 54, Jewel-Osco, and Olive Garden Restaurant.
Elaine Rathjen of Dundee took third place with a 1-pound 13
7/8-oz tomato, and Cindy Kennedy of West Dundee took fourth place with her 1-pound
13-oz fruit. They won $100 and $50 in prizes respectively from many of the same
generous prize donors, plus gift certificates from Manor Restaurant, and
Denny’s Restaurant.
“It was another great turnout,” Zelsdorf said. “And I’m
grateful once again to all the businesses that donated prizes – we had over $800
in prizes this year.” All who entered received a Dairy Queen treat coupon and a
free pop.
Shown here from left are Bill Zelsdorf of
Carpentersville, Tomato Contest organizer and Dundee Township Visitor’s Center
Manager; 1st place winner Gene Woods of Elgin; 2nd place winner
Santo Maglio of Gliberts; 3rd place winner, Elaine Rathjen of
Dundee; and 4th place winner, Cindy Kennedy of West Dundee. Winners
took home over $800 in prizes donated by area businesses.
Last year, Ryan Saxon of Cary won a first-place prize in the Dundee Township Visitor’s Center annual Great Pumpkin Contest. On Saturday, it was his father’s turn.
“I tried to get my son to enter again this year,
but he’s 14 now so I guess he thinks he’s too cool,” Mitch Saxon said
with a laugh.
He spent about four hours on his prize-winning entry, which was an intricate face carved in the pumpkin skin.
The Great Pumpkin Contest, which coincided with the
end of the season for the Dundee Farmer’s Market, was held at the
visitor’s center, located at 319 N. River St..
For the contest, area businesses donated more than
$800 in prizes for winners in two categories: heaviest (by weight) and
best decorated/carved. The top three vote-getters in each category are
awarded prizes.
Bill Zelsdorf is the brainchild behind the annual contest and manager of the visitor’s center.
“It’s fun for the community and brings attention to the farmer’s market and the visitor’s center,” he said.
He started it after seeing the success of the
annual Largest Tomato Contest, also sponsored by the Dundee Township
Visitor’s Center and held in August.
Zelsdorf said entries for this year’s Great Pumpkin Contest were slightly down this year.
“I don’t know if the drought hurt the pumpkins,” he said.
Second- and third-place winners for the decorated/carved pumpkins were the Rudd Family and Breann Volberding, respectively.
Blake Brewer took home first prize for the largest
pumpkin, with his entry weighing in at 100 pounds. Both his and Saxon’s
first-place wins netted them $300 in prizes. Second place-winner was
Maddie Kirmse with a 48-pound pumpkin, and Grey Hoffman with a 44-pound
pumpkin.
Zelsdorf lauds the support from the local merchants for the contest.
“I don’t think anyone else in this area has $300 prizes for a pumpkin contest,” he said.
He urges the community to shop their local businesses.
“Their success means our success,” he said.
Here are our winners and also second and third prize pumpkins.
About the Depot
Situated right next to the Fox River Bike Trail, the Depot is a popular rest stop for bike trail users in need of snacks, beverages or a water bottle fill up. We also sell Dundee-themed merchandise, including local history books, and we've got plenty of area information about restaurants, attractions and the 60-mile bike trail.
Our communities offer a wealth of "shoportunities" with unique little downtown shops and restaurants featuring delicious treats, antiques, collectibles and art. Enjoy gourmet coffee, fresh baked goods and other treats while you browse our walkable and historic downtowns!
The Fox River Bike Trail in spring, summer and fall...the scenery is always changing!
Deer crossing!
Here's a sight you don't often see on the bike trail.
We're located at 319 N. River St., East Dundee, IL 60118. Phone: 847.426.2255
New Shopping Bags!
Perfect for shopping at the Farmer's Market! Just $2 -- collect all five colors!
Our Mission
The mission of the Dundee Township Visitor’s Center is to serve as a bicycle trail rest stop, hospitality site and clearinghouse for tourisminformation in and around the Dundee Township area.
Booth fees from our weekly Farmer's Market help keep our building open and also fund an annual scholarship to a Dundee Township graduate.
Congratulations to our winners!
2015: $1,000 to Kimberly Skvarla of West Dundee, Dundee-Crown.
2014: $1,500 to Samantha Hoyt of East Dundee, Westminster Christian School.
2013: $1,500 to Sarah Bowen of Sleepy Hollow, Dundee-Crown.
2012: $2,000 to Abigail Yonker of West Dundee, Jacobs.
2011: $2,000 to Nicole Novak of Sleepy Hollow, Dundee-Crown.
2010: $1,500 to Gina Paxon of Algonquin, Dundee-Crown
2009: $1,500 to Samantha Kowakzyk of W. Dundee, Dundee-Crown
2008: $1,500 to Ashley Herzovi of E. Dundee, Dundee-Crown
Today's Weather
Board of Directors
Stephen K. Pickett (president), Herbert Beck, Paula Lauer (secretary), Bill Zelsdorf (Depot Market and Contest Coordinator), Kim Bond, Connie Kaschub, Kathleen Mahony.
See Who Won the Tomaoto Contest!
We awarded over $1,000 worth of prizes!
The Fox River Bike Path
Stretching 60-plus miles, the FRBP is the longest contiguous paved path in the state.
Why is it called The Depot?
Because the site where the visitor's center stands today was once an actual railroad depot. Before it became a bike path, the Fox River Trail was part of the Chicago-Northwestern train line. Designed by local architect Rick Gilmore, today’s depot is similar in style to the original Carpentersville depot that was just up the tracks. This is a picture of the depot that stood where today's visitor's center stands.
The Carpentersville depot
Thanks to the Dundee Township Historical Society for providing this neat picture of the original train depot in Carpentersville. Check out the historical society link below in the "local links" section.
Bicycle Rentals
Try out the trail the easy way – rent your wheels! Located right on the trail, they offer hourly or daily rates.
Main Street Bicycles
39 E. Main St., C'Ville
M-T 10-7, F-S 10-6
Sun. 10-4 May 1-Aug. 31
847.783.0362
Other Bike Shops
Sales and service also available at:
Wheel Werks
115 N. Main St.
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-444-6897
T, Th & F: 12-7 p.m. W and Sat.: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sun. and Mon. by appointment Bike fittings by appointment done in the a.m.
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