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Mortonite Troy Ummel’s business has a new attraction, which he calls, “unique, rare and maybe a little flamboyant.”
Patrons of his Peoria restaurant, Connected, can now relax by the establishment’s nearly 22-foot indoor waterfall.
“It might be a little unorthodox, but I wanted something to really take this place over the edge,” Ummel said.
Ummel said he was inspired by the waterfall located at The Shoppes at the Palazzo in Las Vegas.
“I just fell in love with it,” he said. “I got to be good friends with the engineer of the Palazzo and Venetian properties. He just thought it was funny that someone would try and duplicate this multimillion dollar project in a smaller facility, but he sent me the waterfall’s blueprints.”
Ummel said he was worried the older building’s concrete floor would not be able to support an identical structure made of concrete.
With the help of a couple professors from Bradley University, he learned that the floor would not, in fact, support the weight of such a structure.
“They said, ‘We’ll design it out of wood and we’ll make it a classroom project,” Ummel said. “They drew it and designed it, took the plans from Las Vegas and intertwined the two.”
What they came up with was a structure similar in appearance, but with a much lighter, wooden base.
“Still, it’s a very heavy structure, but not nearly as heavy as it would’ve been without a wood base,” he said.
The waterfall’s lower tank holds about 1,200 gallons of water. It has a pump, which carries water from that tank to a similar tank at the top that holds about 900 gallons. The water falls from this tank and cascades down decorative rocks to the bottom tank.
In order to take the constant beating of the water the rocks had to be real, which, Ummel said, can get pricey.
“Dr. Sue Ellen Clark, who is a prominent Neo-natal physician here in town, donated two palates of flagstone that she had planned on using for a patio at her home,” Ummel said, adding that she decided against using the rocks at home because they were jagged and hurt her feet. “It’s funny because her husband will come in and say, ‘How are my rocks doing?’”
Ummel said having the support of Dr. Clark, many people at Bradley University and other friends made his dream of bringing a waterfall to Connected a reality. Without their help, Ummel said the cost of the waterfall would have easily surpassed $50,000. Although he did not wish to disclose how much the he paid for the project, he said it was well below that estimate.
Mortonite Troy Ummel’s business has a new attraction, which he calls, “unique, rare and maybe a little flamboyant.”
Patrons of his Peoria restaurant, Connected, can now relax by the establishment’s nearly 22-foot indoor waterfall.
“It might be a little unorthodox, but I wanted something to really take this place over the edge,” Ummel said.
Ummel said he was inspired by the waterfall located at The Shoppes at the Palazzo in Las Vegas.
“I just fell in love with it,” he said. “I got to be good friends with the engineer of the Palazzo and Venetian properties. He just thought it was funny that someone would try and duplicate this multimillion dollar project in a smaller facility, but he sent me the waterfall’s blueprints.”
Ummel said he was worried the older building’s concrete floor would not be able to support an identical structure made of concrete.
With the help of a couple professors from Bradley University, he learned that the floor would not, in fact, support the weight of such a structure.
“They said, ‘We’ll design it out of wood and we’ll make it a classroom project,” Ummel said. “They drew it and designed it, took the plans from Las Vegas and intertwined the two.”
What they came up with was a structure similar in appearance, but with a much lighter, wooden base.
“Still, it’s a very heavy structure, but not nearly as heavy as it would’ve been without a wood base,” he said.
The waterfall’s lower tank holds about 1,200 gallons of water. It has a pump, which carries water from that tank to a similar tank at the top that holds about 900 gallons. The water falls from this tank and cascades down decorative rocks to the bottom tank.
In order to take the constant beating of the water the rocks had to be real, which, Ummel said, can get pricey.
“Dr. Sue Ellen Clark, who is a prominent Neo-natal physician here in town, donated two palates of flagstone that she had planned on using for a patio at her home,” Ummel said, adding that she decided against using the rocks at home because they were jagged and hurt her feet. “It’s funny because her husband will come in and say, ‘How are my rocks doing?’”
Ummel said having the support of Dr. Clark, many people at Bradley University and other friends made his dream of bringing a waterfall to Connected a reality. Without their help, Ummel said the cost of the waterfall would have easily surpassed $50,000. Although he did not wish to disclose how much the he paid for the project, he said it was well below that estimate.
“It turned out to be a lot of work,” he said. “We really just rolled up our sleeves and thought, ‘We’re going to do something really neat.’”
While Ummel wanted to bring an attraction to his restaurant, he said the waterfall also has had a relaxing effect on his customers.
“It’s more about what the waterfall does for the people,” he said. “It almost beckons, creating a gathering spot. People are more relaxed and can concentrate more on their conversation. Ultimately, I think a fine dining experience includes finishing your meal and chit chatting like you would do on your patio.”
Located at 3218 N. Dries Lane, Connected opened for business Nov. 7, 2009. It features Italian-American cuisine, with top selling entrées including wild boar, sea bass, and the filet.
The Bradley Cheesecake, which pays homage to one of Ummel’s biggest supporters, features two layers each of red velvet cake and cheesecake —to represent the school’s colors — covered in a buttercream icing.
The almost hidden and, until recently, unadvertised restaurant brings an outdoor Italian streetscape to central Illinois.
Brick walls accentuate the Italian-style storefronts that line the interior walls of the establishment. Balconies, artwork and lit trees emphasize the outdoor feel. The waterfall, Ummel said, was the finishing touch.
“It’s been a neat attraction,” Ummel said. “It’s been a huge draw and you don’t really see things like this around here.
“We do some unorthodox things, but we’re making it. I just love this building and I believe in this place.”
