Dallas Clark and his family are ready to come home.

The Twin River Valley High School graduate and favorite son of Livermore is preparing for the next chapter in life, which will include a permanent return to his roots with his wife and three children later this year.

”We really can’t wait to get back (to the area) full-time,” said Clark, a former Pro Bowl tight end with the Indianapolis Colts and Iowa Hawkeye All-American. ”I was talking to a friend of mine in Humboldt about it recently – for as much as we love the Indianapolis area (Clark’s family currently lives in Zionsville, a northern suburb), it’s just not the same as being in Iowa. Family is our top priority, and my wife (Karen, also a Twin River Valley graduate) and I want to raise our kids where we grew up.

”I’d say life moves in about third gear (in Indianapolis). We want to get back to first gear, slow things down, and let our children experience what it’s like to not be in a hurry.”

Though Dallas and Karen (Larson) Clark haven’t maintained a primary residence in north-central Iowa since high school, they have remained heavily invested in the area through the years. Their latest venture came together through a series of unrelated events, which ultimately led to the ownership and operation of Train Wreck Winery in Algona.

Clark’s father-in-law, Steve Larson, is the manager and head winemaker. Initially a casual beer and winemaking enthusiast, Larson became immersed in learning the craft and ultimately planted 500 vines with the community’s help on the Clark Century farm just south of Livermore seven years ago.

Though they didn’t know it at the time, Dallas and Karen had discovered the future location for Larson’s venture and the new family business. The old 1917 Chicago Northwestern Railroad train depot in Algona was ”in desperate need of some TLC and starting to become an eyesore” for the town, according to Clark, so the family purchased the dilapidated building.

”Karen especially took (the needs) to heart; it was a beautiful place and still structurally sound, so we were happy to buy and preserve it,” Clark said. ”Initially, we put up a new roof but didn’t really have an overall plan. We knew about the special story, and felt it could still serve some sort of purpose.”

In December of 2011, Train Wreck Winery – named after a famous crash in 1920 that happened ”just 50 yards from the vineyard,” Clark said – opened its doors for business, marrying Larson’s passion with the historic facility’s blank space.

”I’d like to say it was all part of some master plan: that we envisioned this all along,” said Clark, who retired from the NFL last summer after a decorated 11-year career. ”It definitely could look that way in retrospect. But to be honest, we were more lucky than anything else.

”Now we have this incredible story and we’re paying homage to the history of our area through the building (which serves as the tasting and retail location). It couldn’t have worked out any better, and we’re very proud of it.”

Clark has been involved in the operation from afar through the first three years, but his days as a satellite owner are almost over.

”Our plan is to get back to the area soon, find some farmland and set up shop – either outside of Humboldt or by Livermore,” the 35-year-old Clark said. ”We’re looking forward to getting more involved in the day-to-day operation of the (Train Wreck Winery) business. We also have some ideas to accelerate things with (the Dallas Clark Foundation, which serves the communities and school districts of Humboldt and Kossuth Counties), and just give our time and efforts to the kids and future of (north-central Iowa).

”Indianapolis is a phenomenal town and it definitely won’t be easy to leave, but it isn’t home. At the end of the day, Iowa is home.”