Episode 90: Mike Zeller
What happens when a wild idea on a river float turns into one of Kansas City’s most ambitious development projects? In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, we sit down with Mike Zeller — entrepreneur, visionary, and CEO of Flying Truss — to talk about his bold plan to transform the historic Rock Island Bridge into America’s first trailhead and entertainment district on a bridge.
What started as a joke — “Chicken on a Bridge!” — is now a massive revitalization effort connecting communities across the Kansas and Missouri rivers. Zeller shares how a dream became a development, the challenges of adaptive reuse, and why this railroad bridge-turned-riverfront attraction could become one of KC’s most iconic destinations.
You’ll hear the origin story behind the project, the history of the bridge itself, what to expect from the future R.I.B. — food, music, trails & more, and why connecting the city above the river that helped to shape it matters.
Whether you're into urban planning and redevelopment, creative placemaking, or just love a good Kansas City dream-turned-reality story, this episode is a must-listen.
