The State of Tourism

December 11, 2016

"Times have never been better for adding tourism to a small town's economic mix." says  Joanne Steele from  the Center for Rural Affairs.  A link to her complete article “Rural Tourism: It's Never Been A Better Time to Be A Small Town”  will be posted on facebook on the Blaine Co. Community Events page. 

Red Carpet Country tourism association held their December board meeting at the Sod House Museum near Aline.  The Sod House and Museum is an amazing visit !  It is the only existing original sod house in Oklahoma.  If you are traveling through NW Oklahoma on Highway 45 or close to Cherokee, Cleo Springs or Fairview, go by and check it out! I have driven by it many times and never stopped, so I am so glad the meeting was held there. I recommend that everyone looking for something to do in NW and N Central Oklahoma check out the facebook page and website for RED CARPET COUNTRY -- you're sure to find lots of fun and family-friendly activities in Red Carpet Country. 

TOURISM is the third largest industry in Oklahoma, and Blaine County has a natural draw for tourists -- Roman Nose State Park.  Once here, visitors have few options other than the park and the Lodge. There a couple of gift shops, small "down home" restaurants, but the biggest draw to Main St.  Watonga has been the Whirlwind Winery, which is open every Friday and Saturday. The winery participates in the “Groupon” program and brings visitors from all parts of Oklahoma and even some from Kansas and Arkansas and Texas.    

Watonga Arts Center is a building next to the Whirlwind Winery, currently being renovated  to be turned into an Art Gallery with additional spaces for art workshops and art lessons.  It can also be a venue for live music, storytelling sessions and other arts activities for the community.  Once the Arts Center is open the east end of Main St. will be completely full  of active business storefronts.   As a day-trip destination, the City will benefit from  visitors and their tax dollars.   

Working with the PHOENIX CIRCLE FOUNDATION, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit,  the owners of Watonga Arts is  hoping and waiting for local business people to step up and support their effort to help make our downtown more attractive.  This area is a flower bud about to bloom, but it will die on the stem if it isn’t nurtured. 

I have found that “not all small towns are alike”, doomed to fade away, as many locals are fond of saying.  Since I have had the opportunity to be part of the Red Carpet Country tourism board, I’ve travelled across the north west and north central part of the state, and visited with directors of Chambers of Commerce, City Managers, directors of tourism.  I have witnessed the transformation of a dying town into a quaint, active, and prosperous town that still maintains that “down home” atmosphere, historical sites, and welcoming spirit.  The towns of Watonga, Okeene, Geary, and Canton are all taking steps to attract tourists to this area. As the saying goes, “If you are coasting, you’re going downhill.”  Blaine County is ripe and ready to start going uphill.  

[Blogger: Linda Barrett]