This year’s Logan County Visitors Bureau Annual Breakfast was held at the Opera House in West Liberty this morning.
The Logan County Visitors Bureau Director, Anna Louden, gave a presentation about the different things the Visitors Bureau is doing to promote tourism in Logan County and their goals for this year.
Louden explains why the Logan County Visitors Bureau Annual Breakfast is held:
Kris Swisher was awarded the Max Evans Tourism Award. This award goes to someone that promotes tourism all throughout the area. Swisher exhibits hospitality in the community and works to promote Logan County as a whole.
Best of LoCo is a program to give recognition to businesses, restaurants, attractions, and shops that people frequent often. There were many categories this year, and over 1,200 votes were placed in the community.
The Logan County Pizza Bracket Challenge began in March and wrapped up in early April. There are over 32 pizza places in Logan County and 15 restaurants participated. Over 36,000 votes were placed in the friendly pizza bracket challenge. All of the pizza places that participated said they saw an increase in traffic and people were trying new restaurants. Pop’s Pizza Parlor in East Liberty won.
The Logan County Coffee Trail is new this year. There are seven coffee shops in the county and the first 100 people that complete the trail will receive a gift card. This program is continuous throughout the summer.
Coming up is National Tourism Week – May 7-13, 2023. This is a great way for families and children to get involved and explore attractions in Logan County. Stop by the Logan County Visitors Bureau/Chamber to pick up your rack card listing all of the activities and coupons (100 S. Main, Bellefontaine). See below for the schedule of the week:
Sunday, May 7th: Free Tours at Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek & a free kids dip at Stoner’s Ice Cream Parlor using coupon
Monday, May 8th: Logan County History Center Scavenger Hunt 3-6 pm
Tuesday, May 9th: Hot Dogs at Ohio Caverns 1-4 pm and Visit Marie’s Candies for a free treat
Wednesday, May 10th: Free tours of the Holland Theatre 5-7 pm
Thursday, May 11th: Feed the animals and play putt-putt for $3 at Marmon Valley Farm 3-6 pm
Friday, May 12th: Historic Boat Tours with Spend-A-Day around Sandy Beach Bridge 3-6 pm
All Week: May 9-12th- Free admission to “The Tiny Museum” at the Depot and $10 drop-in Archery Lessons at Indian Lake Outfitters
The third annual Ice Cream Trail will occur and has been a big hit for the last two years. This will start in May and goes through Labor Day.
The Visitors Bureau Guide was an exciting product that was published, and Elle A. Design in West Liberty helped design it. The Guide features all the different shops, restaurants, attractions, and places to visit in Logan County and is available to the public. Visitors Bureau Guides will be created yearly now to keep it as updated as possible.
The Indian Lake and Bellefontaine Cobblestone Hotels will be breaking ground this summer. Indian Lake’s hotel will feature 54 rooms on the south side of 33 in Russells Point at the former Aunt Millie’s location. The Bellefontaine hotel will be an 80-room hotel to the right of Urgent Care with frontage along 33.
Goals for the Logan County Visitors Bureau include growing the partnership with Indian Lake tourism for visitors to explore other parts of the county. The Visitors Bureau is partnering with Ohio Hi-Point Career Center to put informational kiosks around the county that would feature things to do, events, happenings, information, etc.
Louden expressed that in Logan County we have “four seasons of fun”. She urged those in attendance to share with those they come across with to explore and promote all the amazing parts of the county with everyone, such as the Piatt Castles or Ohio Caverns, because many people do not know that they’re right here in Logan County.
This year’s guest speaker, Scott Ryan, Chief of Engagement from the Ohio Department of Development, gave a presentation explaining all the incredible things that Ohio has to offer.
Ryan said, “Logan County is literally a living brochure that embodies everything that makes Ohio the best place to live, learn, work, and play.”
You can learn more about the Logan County Visitors Bureau and find ways to experience Logan County here.
