More than just a mall, Coralville offers plenty for the visiting RAGBRAI bikers

Hey, you RAGBRAI’rs, it’s time for Coralville’s uprising to take centerstage.

The town previously known for its impressive shopping mall offers much more than day trips to the big box store.

Coralville is celebrating its 150th year of existence this year, which fits perfectly with the Register’s 50th Annual Great Bike Ride Across, which arrives today, July 28.

You're in for a treat if it’s been a while since your last visit to Coralville. The city has changed quite a bit over the years.

The “Coral Reef” of eastern Iowa

Coralville earned its name in 1866 when Harvard zoologist Louis Agassiz referenced the “Coral Reefs of Iowa City” during a lecture at the University of Iowa. He was mesmerized by the fossilized coral he found near the limestone mills on the banks of the Iowa River.

Coralville’s population in 1873 was 300, though the town had access to a meat market, a blacksmith shop, a lumberyard, a general store and four saloons.

The town’s population took a bit of a hit in the early 1900s when the Iowa City Electric Company bought out the Iowa River damn’s waterpower, but it rose again after World War II.

Today's magnificent Coralville dam near the Iowa River Power restaurant took nine years to complete, finished in 1958 by the US Corps of Engineers.

The city ballooned to more than 2,000 in 1960 and tripled 10 years later, boosted by the construction of Interstate 80.

The Coral Ridge Mall, Iowa’s second-biggest indoor shopping center, was built in 1996.

The city has commemorated its 150th anniversary with an awesome temporary art project called Inside Out. One-hundred-and-thirty-seven black and white student portraits were pasted on buildings throughout the city. The project used wheat paste, plastered on Northwest Junior High, Kirkwood Elementary, and Coralville Central Elementary school buildings. Artist Isaac Campbell, who is also pasting murals in each RAGBRAI overnight town, finished the portraits in June.

Coralville’s population, as of the 2021 Census, was 22,949.

Find your zen in Coralville

One of my favorite areas in the Coralville/Iowa City metro is the Iowa River Landing, which has absolutely exploded in the last 15 years.

Xtream Arena now anchors the neighborhood, but with it is the always delectable 30Hop rooftop bar, Scratch Cupcakes, Backpocket Brewing and several other bars, restaurants and hotels.

The Iowa Heartlanders call the ice rink in Xtream Arena home. The ECHL team is an affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. The sports facility also now hosts the Iowa High School State volleyball tournament as well as girls’ high school state wrestling.

Speaking of breweries, Reunion Brewery on First Avenue is a great place for a cold drink. A fabulous donut chain, Hurts Donut, is not far from the First Avenue strip. It's open 24 hours daily, so don't be afraid to grab a late-night snack.

Coralville and the surrounding communities of Iowa City and North Liberty also provide plenty of biking opportunities, with solid trails traversing the landscape.

The Iowa River dam is worth the ride east. A bike trail runs parallel and over the powerful body of water. If you cross the bridge on a bike it’ll connect to a wonderful park, which also boasts a pretty dope disc golf course and dog park. The same trail also takes you along and around First Avenue, providing ample city access. But a word of warning, Clear Creek is certainly not clear, though you can find your way to plenty of tasty restaurants.

It can be hard to tell where Coralville ends and Iowa City begins, but that's not a problem. Both places are fantastic and offer a lot. Don't forget to take a spin through Kinnick Stadium Saturday morning and revel in the beauty of the University of Iowa campus. Wave at the children for me at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital, too. They'll sure be excited.

But mostly, I'm amped for RAGBRAI to set up shop in S.T. Morrison Park in Coralville, a great location with three entertainment stages that should rival Des Moines' wonderful setup on Wednesday.

Enjoy the night, riders. You certainly deserve it after the 80-mile trek from Tama-Toledo in near 100-degree heat.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Welcome to Coralville, RAGBRAI - the coral reef of Iowa