The Woodard Family
Ask any financial planner to define “legacy” and it is difficult to do. It’s very personal. It means different things to different people. For most, it’s purely a financial transaction, or it could be a vintage watch or an engagement ring passed down through generations, a CD, stocks or family heirlooms.
PASSING DOWN PURPOSE — NOW IS THE TIME
For the Woodard family, legacy is clearly defined! It’s passing down purpose! It’s passing to their children a deep commitment to serving their community and giving back in a meaningful and impactful way. Beyond financial assets or real estate, Turner and Diann Woodard wanted to pass on a strong commitment to their son Turner John (“TJ”) and their daughters, Taylor and Whitney, what was bestowed upon them by Turner’s mother Edna Woodard Van Riper.
The Woodard family, led by Edna’s passion and commitment to Indiana Landmarks and their historic preservation efforts around the state, is just one example of their philanthropic commitment and community engagement legacy plan for their children and grandchildren. When families intentionally guide children to apply resources toward philanthropy and community engagement, those resources become a tool for impact, responsibility, and legacy.
“Those who can, must,” Turner says. “If you have the resources and wherewithal to better the community you live in, you must step up to make a difference. The time is NOW.”
Turner and Diann, both longtime Indiana Landmarks members, assisted with the grand opening of the Indiana Landmarks Center, helping to celebrate Landmarks’ adaptive reuse of a historic church in downtown Indianapolis as their statewide headquarters and raising money for their work around the state. A recent donation by The Woodard Van Riper Family Foundation boosted Indiana Landmarks’ ability to quickly intervene on behalf of threatened historic places.
“Preserving Indiana’s special and historically significant buildings and monuments is a must and it’s one way that our family can add value and respect in local communities,” Turner says.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
The Woodard family is best known for saving the famed 500,000-square foot former Stutz Automobile Factory in downtown Indianapolis from the wrecking ball in 1992 and pioneered its reuse as a small business incubator — a new concept at the time — attracting artists, furniture makers, technology companies and many, many other businesses as tenants. For several of the initial years, the clean out and clean up of the Stutz Factory was a family affair.
“TJ and the girls used to bring their skates and bikes and while we were doing what demolition we could, the kids were having a ball in the wide open spaces,” Diann
recalls.
For over 25 years they, along with the Stutz Artist Association, supported and helped host The Stutz Annual Artist Open House, a community-wide social fundraiser for the association which enabled both professional and upcoming artists to thrive and the community to connect with local artists in their working studios.
HITTING THE ROAD FOR CHARITIES
Another hallmark event orchestrated by the Woodard Van Riper Family Foundation is their Charity Road Rally which brings together two-person teams from smaller local charities to compete in a day-long drive across central Indiana hunting for various signs and landmarks along their journey. It’s a very unique event, as it not only builds camaraderie among the charity staffers, but it also connects 12 local charities in the same room to share stories of success and challenges.
“I know for many it’s a different sort of day. That is one of our goals. We hope everything we are doing will help in some meaningful way,” Turner says. “Our foundation mission is to support the aspirations of grassroots community driven organizations, rooted in our shared values of inclusivity, collaboration, and service to others! Our commitment is to champion positive change, by actively helping fund and telling the stories of these vital community organizations!”
As new and pressing needs arise in the local community, the Woodard Van Riper Family Foundation will continue to be a rallying cry for local charities to help them get their message out and reach their missions.
In the early 90’s, downtown Indianapolis was a bit slower on evenings and weekends.
“Our family was honored that we could provide an affordable venue for different and unique businesses to thrive so that our tenants could earn a living and then make their own impact within the city.” Turner says. “It worked and we’re proud to have been a part of that bottom-up community building effort.”
In fact, the “adaptive re-use” model of the old Stutz Factory and even their reimagining of the Canterbury Hotel, sold in 2013 proved sustainable, and, assured that the landmark’s futures were secure. They sold a majority stake in the Stutz to developer SomeraRoad in 2021 for the company to continue to invest in the Stutz Factory for use as artist studios, galleries, offices, restaura
nts and a cultural center that is vibrant and thriving today.
Beyond investing and preserving some of Indiana’s most unique buildings and real estate, the Woodard family has been long-time supporters of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Mounted Horse Patrol. From their early days of owning the Stutz Factory and the Canterbury Hotel, the mounted officers and horses would trot by and were offered carrots while on patrol. It was this 30 year passion of supporting the IMPD Mounted Patrol that led the Woodard family to be the lead donor and a core fundraiser to help ensure that the new barn, stables, riding arena and offices were built!
After a grand opening in September 2025, The new Woodard Van Riper IMPD Mounted Patrol Headquarters in Indianapolis, is now the state-of-the-art home for Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s seven horses and officers, made possible by a public-private partnership and the generosity of Indianapolis-area residents who wanted to make sure the city’s mounted patrol continues to serve the public well into the future.
The Woodard’s are still fully invested in the Indianapolis area with their ownership of racing legend Sarah Fisher’s Speedway Indoor Karting building and well as Village at Valley, an urban renewal mixed-use project on the industrial end of Mass Avenue.
“Villages at Valley is in a developmental phase and will be a great addition to the vibrant Mass Avenue scene as it comes to fruition,” TJ says.
LEGACY OVER TIME
As the family moved away from the daily operations of the city-block sized Stutz Factory, their focus for real estate shifted north to reuse opportunities in Carmel. At the same time, TJ, his wife Megan, and their three boys (all under 5 years of age) bought a family home in Carmel. With TJ playing a leading role in the revitalization projects and site selection for the family’s new businesses, in 2021, the Woodard’s purchased Carmel’s ‘70s-era’ former Rich Furniture building on Rangeline Road to renovate it as a boutique and unique office and retail space, expanding the approach they applied at the Stutz Factory. It is now known as the Turner Jeffrey Building. At the same time, they acquired both the Horton Fan Factory on Carmel Drive, renaming it, “The Weldon” and the former Keltner Business Plaza and renamed it, “The Rivington”.
The Weldon has been repurposed into a vibrant youth sports complex which houses pickle ball courts, gymnastics, dance and fitness businesses, another example of “adaptive reuse” applied to a factory building in Carmel. The Rivington is a office/warehouse combination building providing much needed space for small businesses in Carmel to flourish. The Turner Jeffrey Building also houses the Woodard’s business operations, an art gallery, and a showroom to display the family’s automobile collection.
THE “NOW” ACTION PLAN
As part of their mission driven legacy plan, in 2026 TJ purchased Wasatch Lake, the 400 acre retreat property one hour southwest of Indianapolis in Poland, Indiana. Wrapped around a 60-acre lake, Wasatch Lake is open year-round and offers 7 lakefront cabins, Longhouse Lodge, an expansive 9,000 square-foot gathering space for groups and receptions, plus 12 miles of hiking trails that wind around the lake and through the forest. The property purchase by TJ and his family is not merely about ownership, but about values, purpose, and stewardship passed down through generations.
“It was important for me to step up with passion, love and commitment to the traditions of our many long time guests! Along with my three boys, my wife and our great team at the lake, there are many reasons why this property needed to stay in the family,” TJ says.
He’s already made a big impact with the development of a high tech website to enable guests to make reservations on-line (wasatchlake.com) and major upgrades to cabins and the lodge. Although it’s a for-profit business, TJ relishes in providing a venue for some of life’s most special occasions.
“We host weddings, family reunions and other special events on the property and we constantly receive feedback and thank you letters on how special Wasatch Lake is to so many families,” TJ adds.
He is continuing his family’s legacy of commitment to the arts and community organizations leading efforts to support the Carmel International Arts Festival, Actors Theatre of Indiana, Indy Jazzfest, Humane Society of Indianapolis and the Children’s Museum. In addition, TJ is on the board of the Heartland Film Festival and the Alumni Board of Park Tudor School.
As TJ, Megan and their three boys celebrate their family’s special moments at Wasatch Lake, it reminds him of spending time with both his grandmother and parents reflecting on how important is it to take care of others around you. TJ’s boys are the 4th generation that will carry on The Woodard Van Riper family traditions of supporting community and giving back.
