David Raasch says he originally created Three Trails-opoly as a joke.
Though several aspects of Raasch’s board game paying tribute to western Independence might warrant a laugh, he is making it a serious venture to help raise funds for the Englewood and Maywood business associations.
Raasch, who has lived in Independence’s historic Englewood neighborhood for six years, occasionally attends the Englewood and Maywood merchant associations’ meetings at Curt’s Famous Meats. After obtaining the permission of locally owned and operated businesses between the associations, he created Three Trails-opoly, the board game of western Independence loosely based on the popular property board game Monopoly.
But there are twists and turns that make the game special in its own regard.
For example, the money features the likeness of Harry S. Truman.
Instead of pieces like a dog, a race car or the thimble, the pawns feature the pictures of Stacie and Monte Short, active members of the Englewood Business Association; Pastor Bob Spradling, who is now in his 26th year leading Maywood Baptist Church; Al Carlisle, a longtime Independence resident whose father was affiliated with Fairmount Park; Donna Pittman, owner of Curt’s Famous Meats; and Terry Raasch, David’s wife.
“I scored brownie points with that,” he says, laughing.
Players may customize game pawns based on their family members and friends, Raasch said, and may also have a photograph of their own home replace the “Home Sweet Home” space where Raasch’s own house is featured. When players land on this space, they may collect double rent from other players who land on their owned properties.
Each time players pass Van Horn High School – the “start” position – they may collect $2,000. “Thanks to your education!” the board proclaims. Instead of a “go to jail” space, players are held at the Englewood Cop Shop, 10920 E. Winner Road, where they remain until they roll doubles or lose a turn.
Raasch took the least-expensive route in creating his game. He recycled the die and actual boards from thrift store finds. Three Trails-opoly uses small chips instead of houses and hotels as players build on their properties.
With a sale price of about $42 each, Raasch said 40 percent of profits are donated to the Englewood and Maywood business associations based on the number of properties they have on the board. He included no charge to the businesses for allowing their likeness in the game “because I felt like that defeated the purpose,” Raasch said.
Though he is targeting western Independence residents, Raasch, a former Susquehanna-area resident, says anyone is welcome to play. The Examiner, which is featured on “good” and “bad” news cards that players draw, is likely the most “eastern Independence” business featured in Three Trails-opoly.
“I think they’ll enjoy the immediate awareness of what life is like around here and the instant recognition of the businesses,” Raasch said.
Some players might even associate with the events portrayed throughout the game. One “good news” card reads “You win the costume contest at the Mystic Pumpkin Festival. Collect $100.”
“I actually did that once!” Raasch says as he collects his money.
Independence, MO —
