Evansville.

• Author: Gregory, Catherine Traylor
• Position: Indiana

Evansville, the third-largest Hoosier city, is set in southwest Vanderburgh County on a horseshoe-shaped section of the Ohio River. Hence, its nickname, "Pocket City."

One of the best river views to be found in this city of 130,000 is offered by an elegant restaurant called Regent Court. It's part of Casino Aztar's $110 million capital development package the company brought to Evansville along with its gaming riverboat.

Less than a year ago this downtown overlook did not exist. The riverboat began its operations in December 1995, and Aztar has proven itself a heavy contributor to Evansville's economy and tax base. The city reaps outstanding benefits of increased tourist trade and full tax coffers from its food and beverage tax.

"In the 17 years that I've been here it's like everyone's been watching the hands of the clock go around," comments Richard Mourdock, president of Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners. "I've seen all these changes occur but it seems like most people haven't noticed."

Pete Helfrich, director of the local convention and visitors bureau, is ecstatic. During the last six years the total number of hotel rooms nearly doubled to total 3,397. He calls it "a dramatic indicator of what kind of activity has been happening in Evansville." Two more hotels are scheduled to be up in 1998.

Evansville's entire downtown is being revitalized as a direct result of Aztar's additions, which include its hotel, five restaurants in the pavilion and a 1,600-car parking garage. The casino has become a sponsor for many of the downtown's spring, summer and winter holiday events that include the Ohio River Festival for the Arts, Downtown After Sundown and the week-long Evansville Freedom Festival, which includes the nationally known hydroplane race, Thunder on the Ohio.

New restaurants and clubs continue to emerge, established ones grow and facelifts of several of the city's most charming turn-of-the-century buildings are in full swing or completed. Most notable is Helfrich's new office space.

For well over 40 years the unused Pagoda, a Japanese-styled open-air structure, slowly deteriorated into a nearly unrecognizable faded beauty, boarded up and neglected. Its major renovation began two years ago and last fall the CVB moved its offices into the bottom floor of what is now the smartly glassed-in Evansville Visitor's Center next to the Museum of Art and Science.

Approximately $20 million is earmarked for one of Mayor Frank McDonald Jr.'s favorite projects...