Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bailey Smith, Wednesday, presented a report to the City Council, with regard to the success of RAGBRAI. The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa was held July 21st and 22nd, with Atlantic serving as an overnight stop.

Of the event, Smith said after all the bills were paid, RAGBRAI profits amounted to $43,200. That figure will be split into quarters, with $10,800 donated to the Chamber, Police Department, Fire Department and Booster Club.

Here are some of the background and final stats for the event:

• The event was in the planning stages (ever since the City was notified) for six-months, with a core committee of 27 people, and 20 committees formed to help in the planning and coordination.
• There were 32 food vendors in all, 14 were local, non-profit organizations. Their $100 vendor fees were returned to those organizations. There were also four, local for-profit vendors, while the rest travel with RAGBRAI from point-to-point.
• There were 190 groups of anywhere from 2 to 15 people placed with housing. The numbers showed that was a substantially higher amount than 2011, the last time the event was held in Atlantic. 98% of the housing requests were fulfilled by the Housing Committee.
• All of the hotels in town were full during the event, as was the Schildberg Campground.
• In addition to the Schildberg Campground, RAGBRAI participants stayed at one of the five other campgrounds in Atlantic. Those sites included the Sunnyside Park, the Cass County Fairgrounds, Middle School, High School and on the ground of the Heritage House.
• There were a little more than 8,100 riders who camped out. (2,200 were at Sunnyside, 2,300 at the Fairgrounds, 2,200 at the Middle School, 325 at the Heritage House, and 910 at the High School.) That does not include persons who were housed or camped out in private yards or properties with permission.
• There were about 16,000 registered riders in town for the event, and an unofficial count of around 2,000, who didn’t register but just joined-in for the ride for a certain amount of miles.
• About 12,000 people were downtown Atlantic for the concert.
• There were 14 different types of beer served out of two tents that were run by the Atlantic Fire Department. Over 1,000 cases of beer was ordered, with very little returned.
• Smith said the town was nearly spotless the morning of the ride out of town.
• And, she said the Chamber has received “An overwhelming amount of positive comments how the event went,” including mutually positive comments from residents and riders.
• According to Bailey Smith, many riders were impressed with the Christmas lights that added an extra special attraction to the downtown the night of July 21st. Those same persons said they would love to come back for Atlantic’s Lighted Parade and Christmas festivities.