The Times Journal is a Fantastic Tourism Promoter and Partner by John Dersham

It has been my pleasure to work closely with the Times Journal from the beginning of my career in tourism here in DeKalb County. Time and time again the Times Journal has reached out to partner with DeKalb Tourism to deliver the amazing story of tourism as a major economic developer for our county. Last year nearly 65 million dollars were paid into the economy of DeKalb County by tourists. This makes Tourism the largest industry in the county for tax revenue. It also ranks as one of the top employers in the county.

The Times Journal has recognized our industry and is always coming up with new ideas to support our local economy through tourism. The latest addition to this effort is an all new 8.5”x5.5” full color publication called the DeKalb County Guide to Dining, Lodging, Attractions and Entertainment. Once complete DeKalb Tourism will make these guides available in our information center and we will pass them out at trade shows. In addition, our two Chamber offices in Fort Payne and Rainsville will have them available, as will the I-59 Welcome Center. This guide is going to serve as an ideal tool for those visitors that have already arrived in our county or are planning a trip here. The guide will be a beautifully produced color book full of where to go, where to eat, and where to stay when here. This guide will highlight your attraction, lodging facility, park, restaurant or entertainment venue.

This undertaking is the first of its kind in DeKalb and it is the first time I have seen this venue used by a newspaper publisher. This will be a real opportunity for your business to help capture your share of tourist dollars spent in DeKalb County. If you are a cabin owner, hotel, campground, restaurant, attraction, antique store, flea market, artist, craftsman, gift shop, produce farmer or any other kind of business that attracts our visitors then I highly recommend buying an ad in this publication. This is your chance to be included in the guide that will be in the visitor’s hands when they are making their buying decisions.

To be included in this guide please contact Sharon Beene at the Times Journal at 256-304-0064 or 256-630-8895. She can also be reached at sbeene@times-journal.com

Get Ready, Antique Alley Is Coming by John Dersham

Get Ready, Antique Alley is coming! Beginning on Thursday and running through Sunday May 17-20 Antique Alley Yard Sale hosts its annual event in our area. The yard sale sometimes known as the Highway 11 Yard Sale runs 502 miles along H-11. The two yard sales that pass through our area each year are the two most popular events of which we get calls and emails at the DeKalb Tourism. Antique Alley and the World’s Longest Yard sale in August keep our phones ringing and email inquiries coming year around. H&G TV runs a special on the World’s Longest Yard sale each year. When the show runs we get inquires that are nonstop for a few weeks. These events bring thousands of people through our area each year. This is important to our communities since tourist dollars are spent on food, gas, shopping, attractions and overnight stays in Hotels, campgrounds, B&B’s and cabins. If weather is good we could see as many as 30,000 additional cars coming through our area during the upcoming four day event. Antique Alley runs on H-11 all the way from Meridian Mississippi to Bristol Virginia, it includes five states, 23 counties and 77 towns. In terms of consumer spending the business model works like this; For our traveler to be a tourist they cannot live in DeKalb County. Their travel means they are spending their money in an economy they do not live it, thus paying us taxes, earning us tax revenue we would not get if they were not here. When they are here many of them stay overnight spending $85-150 per night. They buy food $15-150 per day based on family size. They buy gas and retail items at our stores. They go to movies or other entertainment all of which we collect tax dollars adding to the revenue income it our cities, towns and county. For those of you whom have businesses on or near H-11 (Gault Ave) you may want to plan your advertising, promotions and specials to capitalize on the larger number of people available to you at this time. To obtain more information about Antique Alley Yard Sale visit our www.tourdekalb.com website and click on yard sales, or call us at DeKalb Tourism 256-845-3957

John Bundy will be missed by John Dersham

From day one when I began my job as Director of Tourism I had the pleasure to begin working with John Bundy, Superintendent of one of DeKalb County’s largest tourist attractions, Little River Canyon National Preserve. John serves as Ex Officio on our DeKalb Tourism board and has been an active and a well respected voice in our organization from the beginning. John and Laura Bundy came to Fort Payne and Little River Canyon in 2002. Little River Canyon became part of the National Park System in 1992, so John has been Superintendent half the time it has been a National Preserve. If you take a look at Little River Canyon N.P. now you will see dynamic growth in infrastructure and a great deal more for our tourists and local people to enjoy and do since John came to Little River Canyon N.P. To look at it organizationally, John comes from an extensive lifelong career (34 years and counting) with the NPS. He has had 18 positions with the NPS and has moved 12 times. Have a look at John’s locations over his career. His career is absolutely outstanding. Alcatraz, California Fort Clatsop National Monument (Recently renamed Lewis and Clark National Park), Oregon Independence National Historic Park, Pennsylvania Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada and Arizona Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Pennsylvania America's Industrial Heritage Project, Pennsylvania Ocmulgee National Monument, Georgia Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alagnak Wild River, Aniakchak National Monument, Alaska Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, Alabama Little River Canyon National Preserve, Russell Cave National Monument, Alabama. John is the consummate NPS professional; he came here with the knowledge of how to make a very young National Preserve into a flourishing highly visited site becoming more and more known nationally and internationally. In fact last year nearly 200,000 people came to Little River Canyon N.P. The numbers are increasing every year as marketing and publicity along with dramatic improvements in the park have made it a must see location when visiting the southeast. A couple years ago John applied for and received a grant from the National Park Foundation, which is the official nonprofit partner to the NPS, to begin a Friends group for Little River Canyon. John though not allowed to serve on the Friends of the Preserve board was key in its organization and development. In addition John’s wife, Laura a former National Park service employee, has dedicated long hours to support the Friends group with her multimedia skills that support some great work on our Friends website and Facebook and she has provided graphic arts skills to give our Friends group it’s look. National Park Friends groups are support organizations who are dedicated to improving the visitor experience through environmental improvements, education and special events like our Rendezvous at the Rim last Saturday which was a celebration of Earth Day and the beginning of National Park week. It was a day of guided hikes, food, education booths and it was a great contribution to our community and to tourism. I have been honored to be the first President of Friends of the Preserve at LRC. If you have not been to Little River Canyon National Preserve lately you need to go and enjoy one of nature’s most spectacular sites. Little River Canyon is a one of kind location filled with beauty but also host to one of a king plant and animal species. The canyon is host to both northern and southern species of Flora and Fauna. I want to thank John and Laura Bundy and John’s entire organization, including his great volunteers whom make our very own N.P. a very, very special place and a greatly improved N.P. in John’s tenure.

Rendezvous at the Rim! Family Fun at the Canyon by John Dersham

Little River Canyon will celebrate Earth Day 2012 on Saturday, April 21 with a day of guided walks, activities, food, and fun for everyone to enjoy. Rendezvous at the Rim will bring together nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and park rangers to honor one of Alabama’s natural wonders. This family-friendly event kicks off National Park Week which lasts through April 29.

Rendezvous at the Rim is a joint effort by the Little River Canyon National Preserve and the Friends of the Preserve. This first annual event is an opportunity to experience the scenery and to learn about native animals, geology, and the skills needed to care for the Canyon and the more than 200,000 people that visit each year. Learn how park rangers fight forest fires and prepare for rescues. Talk to rangers that build trails and make the park a welcoming place to visit. Come along on guided history hikes ideal for children and adults.

Put your new knowledge to use by becoming a Junior Ranger while earning a special junior ranger badge. The Junior Ranger program was created by the National Park Service to provide kids between the ages of 6 and 12 years old with hands-on, in-depth information about the resources that our parks protect.

“This event is a great way to celebrate Earth Day and a wonderful time to take a look at all the new things at Little River Canyon National Preserve. A new trail from Little River Falls has been completed and provides a fun hike under Highway 35 and through the woods to the Little River Canyon Center. A new boardwalk trail leading from the Little River Falls parking lot provides easy access to great views of the falls.”

Activities will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Little River Falls along Highway 35. Admission is free. Concessions will be available for purchase.
For more information call DeKalb Tourism at 256-845-3957

DeKalb Tourism needs your help! By Kayla Worthey

DeKalb Tourism is asking for your help! Our organization made a major change in January of this year by converting from a membership based organization to a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). Our mission is to promote, advertise and publicize tourism related businesses within all of DeKalb County. What that means for your tourism related business…our services to you are now FREE.
What we provide to you free of charge: We will list your business on our website with links to your website, facebook, and email; you will have limited use of our marquee located on Hwy 35; we will hand out your brochures, flyers, business cards, etc. in our office; we will list your tourism related events on our calendar of events page on the website; you will have access to possible advertising in radio and TV commercials, print ads, internet ads, facebook advertising and posting, and much more.
Now, what we need from you. We need your information! Please go to our website at www.DiscoverLookoutMountain.com and surf around. If you own a lodging facility such as a cabin, bed & breakfast or campground, or an attraction in DeKalb County, we want you on our website. If you own or operate a restaurant or unique shop or boutique that can only be found in DeKalb County and you think that business would help draw tourists, please contact us. Any business or organization that could be tourism related, we want to hear from. We want to start promoting you now! If you know of a business that should be listed and is not, please let us know. There is so much out there and it is ever changing, so it is impossible for us to keep up without your help.
We encourage you contact us on a regular basis with any changes that you are aware of. Frequent communication and interaction with you is crucial to keeping the website as up-to-date as possible for our visitors! So give us a call now and help us help you! Contact us by phone at 256.845.3957 or via email at office@tourdekalb.com.

Little River Canyon to Hold Earth Day Celebration

Fort Payne, Ala. – Little River Canyon will celebrate Earth Day 2012 on Saturday, April 21 with a day of guided walks, activities, food, and fun for everyone to enjoy. Rendezvous at the Rim will bring together nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and park rangers to honor one of Alabama’s natural wonders. This family-friendly event kicks off National Park Week which lasts through April 29.

Rendezvous at the Rim is a joint effort by the Little River Canyon National Preserve and the Friends of the Preserve. This first annual event is an opportunity to experience the scenery and to learn about native animals, geology, and the skills needed to care for the Canyon and the more than 200,000 people that visit each year. Learn how park rangers fight forest fires and prepare for rescues. Talk to rangers that build trails and make the park a welcoming place to visit. Come along on guided history hikes ideal for children and adults.

Put your new knowledge to use by becoming a Junior Ranger while earning a special junior ranger badge. The Junior Ranger program was created by the National Park Service to provide kids between the ages of 6 and 12 years old with hands-on, in-depth information about the resources that our parks protect.

“This event is a great way to celebrate Earth Day and a wonderful time to take a look at all the new things at Little River Canyon National Preserve,” said John Dersham, president of the Friends of the Preserve at Little River Canyon. “A new trail from Little River Falls has been completed and provides a fun hike under Highway 35 and through the woods to the Little River Canyon Center. A new boardwalk trail leading from the Little River Falls parking lot provides easy access to great views of the falls.”

Activities will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Little River Falls along Highway 35. Admission is free. Concessions will be available for purchase. For more information, call Dersham at 256.845.3957 or visit www.friendsofthepreserve.org.

During National Park Week April 21-29, 2012, visitors can enjoy the beauty and wonder of nearly 400 national parks across the country for free. “America’s national parks have something for everyone,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Take a break and experience something new, enjoy some fresh air, get some exercise, and see where history happened. And, since admission is free to all 397 parks, all week long, National Park Week is a great time to get up, get out, and explore a park.”

The Friends of the Preserve is a support organization not directly affiliated with the National Park Service but that abides by National Park policies and procedures. For more information, visit www.friendsofthepreserve.org.

Annual Legislative Tourism Bash by John Dersham

Next Tuesday Tourism as an industry in Alabama will host its 12th annual Legislative Tourism Bash. This event is a way to thank our elected officials for their support for tourism in Alabama.
This event which takes place just down the street from the capital building is held in the RSA Activity Center. Our normal crowd is around 650 people including 100 legislators, 75 legislative staffers and 25 public officials, 300 tourism industry professionals and 100 food and beverage sponsors. The Governor and his wife often come to this event and will usually say a few words about the importance of tourism to the economy in Alabama and to the revenue stream tourism provides to the state’s general fund.
The annual Tourism Bash has been a wonderful event to network among our industry and at the same time we are able to talk individually with our elected officials. Tourism always hosts this event in conjunction with the legislation session. Usually legislators will come directly from the state house to our event which runs from 5-8 P.M.
Some of our state’s finest and best known restaurants will be food sponsors and they will provide food for all the guests. In addition we have beverage sponsors including the Alabama Wine Trail. These vendors provide samples of the wine made here in Alabama. There are now 14 vineyards on the Alabama Wine Trial (You can get a brochure on the wine trail at DeKalb Tourism Information Center).
This is an event that has become a favorite among our legislators. It is a fun time for causal conversation, a little music, and a taste of some of the finest food in the state. This event, though not open to the public plays an important role for each part of the state. It gives a relaxed environment to speak about our individual area, our needs, concerns and more importantly our progress that has made Tourism one of the largest industries in Alabama and one of the highest employers. Last year tourists spent $10.3 billion in Alabama and 175,000 people in Alabama make all or part of their living in tourism. It is no wonder why so many legislators come to our event and find out the newest things in Alabama Tourism. The event gives us in the tourism industry a chance to thank our legislators for their work in helping us become successful.