Asp.net MVC User Control ViewData

The method

ViewData.Eval("DisplayMessage") 

should work for you.

Of course after I create this question I immediately find the answer after a few more searches on Google

http://forums.asp.net/t/1197059.aspx

Apparently this happens because of the wrapper class. Even so, it seems like any property passed should get added to the ViewData collection by default.

I really need to stop answering my own questions :(