Inside Richmond: The City's Pulse

Episode 19 - Inside Richmond: The City's Pulse | Inside the Tourism Strategy Shaping Wayne County with Mary Walker and Angel Murphy

• Kevin Shook • Episode 19

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Ready to rethink what a Midwest getaway can be? Host Lindsay Darnell sits down with Mary Walker and Angel Murphy from the Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau to explore how Richmond blends national history, vibrant art, and outdoor adventure into an affordable trip that truly feels different.

From the Levi Coffin House and the legacy of the Underground Railroad, to the birthplace of recorded jazz at Starr-Gennett, to two authentic Egyptian mummies and a mural scene worth every photo stop, Richmond is far from ordinary.

We highlight the trails that make planning fun and effortless:

  • Chocolate Trail for indie cafes and sweet shops
  • Antique Alley for treasure hunting
  • Heartland Wine and Ale Trail linking local wineries and breweries

Families can go fossil hunting at Thistlethwaite Falls, paddle at Middlefork Reservoir, or bike the Cardinal Greenway. Plus, a major gorge project is on the horizon, bringing zip lines, tree houses, and boulder gardens that will elevate the outdoor economy and energize local dining, lodging, and events.

Mary and Angel bring real visitor data and insights, showing how tourism fuels small businesses and downtown growth. With new housing, walkable streets, and a rising dining and arts scene, Richmond is rewriting the script on what a small city weekend can be.

If you’ve ever said, “there’s nothing to do,” this episode proves otherwise. Discover how to become a hometown tourist with tips, events, and hidden gems you can start exploring now.

Plan your trip or staycation at: www.visitrichmond.org

SPEAKER_04:

Welcome back to another episode of Inside Richmond the City's Pulse. I'm Lindsay Darnell, your host, and today we have Mary Walker and Angel Murphy from the Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau joining us. Guys, thank you. Thank you for having us. Thank you. So I really wanted to get you on because we've kind of been doing a theme the last couple of episodes, talking about revitalize Richmond. We've talked about different projects going on within the city and our gorge activation. We had the EDC on here on our last episode talking about make my move participants, getting people to come and live in Richmond. So I really wanted to talk about getting tourists here to Richmond. So for those who might not be familiar, can you tell us a little bit about what the Wing County Convention and Tourism Bureau does? Sure.

SPEAKER_01:

Our whole means of existence is to bring people in to spend money into our economy for our businesses. And we do that in a variety of ways. One through the leisure market, which is the individual family traveler. We do that through group market, which would be things like tournaments, special events, et cetera, conventions, and bus tours. Now, bus tours we don't do as much of. We used to do a lot of, but that's a little more difficult market because if they don't get 20 people to roll the bus, they cancel. And so we found that our return on investment of time and labor and all of that was much better in the leisure and the uh the group segment. So those are things that are occurring all the time.

SPEAKER_04:

Okay. And then how would you describe Wayne County to someone who's never visited before? Boy.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, I I mean, I I it's certainly rich in history. And when we look at um the historical value, because it it's amazing. I mean, we have things that are national in scope. We have the Levi Coffin uh story, the Underground Railroad, we have Star Jeanette, we have the National Road that goes right through Richmond. Um, we have the fossils in the Whitewater Gorge 20 million years ago that was formed. Um, and then we're nestled amongst uh Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Dayton. So it's a wonderful community in which to uh raise a family, to uh not be in the hubbub. Um I I don't know if our I'm sure our listeners have been to Indianapolis during rush hour, but that is not a fun time. And so we have the ability to um to really not be in that kind of an environment, but we can go visit if we wish. We've got five colleges here, which is amazing for our community. Our accessibility from I-70, US-40, uh 35, 27 is really amazing. I mean, so we're just nestled right there, and then being on the Indiana-Ohio border also gives us um additional um visitors and such that we can attract because the visitor doesn't really care where Indiana begins and Ohio ends, and they don't care where Wayne County ends and Henry County begins. And so what we like to do is we take a more aggregate overview approach, and we create trails and that type of thing that um we put it together for the visitor so that they can look at that and it's all done and say, oh, gee, well, that we maybe should spend two nights and three days there, or one night and two days. And so um, when you look at the cost of living and the accessibility and the colleges and the attractions, I mean, we have some amazing attractions, the Wayne County Historical Museum. Um, I've heard people refer to that as a small Smithsonian because it's there's the woman who started it traveled around the world seven times collecting artifacts. Wow. And you know, the little uh I'm sure you've heard this, and I think it was just recently uh in the the news, but um we have two mummies in Richmond, and uh nowhere else in Indiana is there mummies. And so, you know, we always joke about we have two mummies and a gorge, um, but we do, and those are things that are are specific and unique to Richmond, in addition to all the other wonderful attractions, the arts, Richmond Art Museum. I mean, the arts are amazing for a population of 36,000 people in Richmond. It's it's really an incredible um, you know, catalyst that we have to bring visitors in. And um, and these are long-standing institutions. So the Richmond Art Museum, um, they're the second oldest art museum to Indianapolis in Indiana. And so we have all of that history um that makes us who we are, and I think that's just a wonderful attribute.

SPEAKER_04:

I think you really hit the nail on the head with that because you know, that is all of what Richmond is, and we do have such a rich history. Um, you know, the birthplace of recorded jazz, the Star Jeanette piano, um lawn mowers were invented here, I believe. Um, and they were manufactured here. Um, so it's it's amazing all of the history that we have. So, what makes this area stand out from other destinations in Indiana or the Midwest? I know a big one is the mummies. Is there any other ones that you guys can think of?

SPEAKER_02:

We have over 100 colorful murals scattered throughout Wayne County. And that continues to grow. There's there's some being worked on right now over by Fairview School. And I think that's a huge asset because every corner you go around, you're greeted with a piece of art. Um, whether that is a historical significant piece of art, if it's just a colorful mural that you want to take a selfie in front of, I think that draws a lot of people and it's it's something you can find literally around every corner, every alleyway. There's just murals popping up everywhere.

SPEAKER_04:

And you know, I would say last summer you guys had um a grant, is that right, to do the murals, and you had people from all around the world coming and painting these murals.

SPEAKER_01:

We had 11 murals. 11.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, and a community mural, which I thought was a big piece of that. And um the community members, residents got to come together and contribute to that mural. And they get to say, Hey, I helped paint that corner right there. And I know my children uh went during the the open painting, and they had such a fun time saying, like, hey, I helped paint this, and now that's a lasting piece in our community that they can drive by every day and say, Hey, I belong to that. Right.

SPEAKER_04:

And then they can tell their children, hey, I helped paint that mural.

SPEAKER_01:

That's awesome. Well, and you never know that those kinds of things might stimulate the interest in the arts. And and that creativity is unleashed. You know, we're we're so much to our phones and our tablets and all of that, and to be able to do things like that where it's just out of the norm, there's no electronics, um, and it you can do it as a family was really a very cool experience.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, definitely things have changed since like I was a child. I'm sure when you're a child, we did not have not me. Just kidding. We did not have that. We had Super Nintendo's or regular Nintendo's, and then PlayStation came out when I was around, I don't know, 12 or so. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

It is, it's it's just a great as a parent uh with three children, it's it's just Wayne County is just so vibrant and there's endless possibilities. And you know, I try to get my children involved whenever I can with like the murals and and we're always going at this way falls to look for fossils and things like that. And it's when you live here, I think sometimes you forget everything that's around us. And when you work in tourism, you're getting to promote that every day. So it's that extra piece saying, like, hey, I take my kids here, but not every kid around the community and around Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky get to experience fossil trails or murals. And so I think living here and also working for tourism is just that extra piece that you get to promote. And it's exciting.

SPEAKER_04:

I bet because, you know, prior to working for the city, I didn't realize how many events, how much different things that we actually do have in our city that you can go to on the weekends or on a weeknight and a lot of kid-friendly things. Um, so we've been really engaging a lot more this past year and a half after coming to the city and working because I've actually found out more things coming across to you guys and meeting you guys when I first started, um, going to your website and you have everything listed on your website. So you are a great resource hub for not just tourists, but also the residents of the city to get on there and see what events are going on. You have a community calendar. Um, another thing that I really love that you guys do is your chocolate trail. Oh, yes. Yes. And I did not realize about all the different places you could stop to get chocolate until seeing that.

SPEAKER_01:

And if you um, so we have a passport, and uh if you fill out, I believe it's 10 um out of the numbers, at least 10, then you get a free t-shirt. So it's one of those things where we get a lot of um, you had to ask about what draws people in. Um, you know, that is certainly one of those. So we we get um families to come in to do that. We have girls um, you know, get-togethers, uh, the yah yah sisterhood kind of thing. And uh and it's but it's really fun. And and one of the things I wanted to add to Angel um comments about working in tourism is we get to also hear the out-of-town people say, what a fabulous community we have. And that just reignites because you know, we do take things for granted. We do drive by these buildings, and um, even like Reed Center. Um, how many people know that in Reed Center, all of those windows are actual Tiffany glass? They were made by Tiffany Studios, New York City. Everything in Reed Center, the design, all the interior was designed by Tiffany Studios. I mean, that's an incredible piece of art and architecture, but we get to hear it directly from the visitors, and it just reaffirms what we're doing is right. But other things in addition to the murals, so we have a mural trail, um, we also have uh the chocolate trail, we also have antiques, um, antique alley. Uh we have the you mentioned about the fossils, the Whitewater Valley fossil hunt. So again, that's a family activity. Bring the kids. We have a passport again. If they fill out five, they get it, the kids get a patch, and they get to learn about trilobites and all the other kinds of fossils. Um, and so we we really try as a tourism bureau to take our assets and package them in a way that um the visitor doesn't have to spend time doing it. And so it's already done, and then they can say, well, this is how much time we'll spend here. Or we don't have this time now, but we'll come back.

SPEAKER_02:

And I think it's also uh important to like Mary mentioned earlier about the visitors don't know the border of Wayne County or Ohio, Indiana. And our chocolate trail, we've had over almost 4,000 check-ins um to participating locations. And so that's bringing people indoors and to our small businesses and our attractions. And we have great relationships with some in New Paris that they're going to New Paris to the like the Cedar Coffee, for example, and they're going over there for the chocolate trail, they're experiencing that. And a visitor's not gonna know that this is New Paris, Ohio versus Richmond, Indiana. It's they're five minutes down the road, and you know, it's still supporting those small businesses despite you know it being in New Paris or Richmond. But it's it's getting people around, it's supporting our businesses, it's supporting the economy. And I think that's a a really important aspect specifically to the chocolate trail that it's getting people in those doors. Because yes, they're getting a free piece of chocolate, but a majority of those people are purchasing more chocolate because you can't just have one piece.

SPEAKER_03:

Yep.

SPEAKER_02:

So it's we like to do those those things that are supportive and getting people in the door.

SPEAKER_01:

So even like our antiques trail, so that that does the same thing, you know, the the whole goal is getting people in the door. And um our antique trail, we have two, it goes from Richmond all the way to Knightstown, Indiana. And so we we use that as a hub and spoke. So using Richmond as a hub, spending the night here and spoking out and coming back. And so our second trail goes up to Portland, Indiana, and then back through Greenville. Um, and and again, the the visitor doesn't care about borders. We just they just want to make it easy so that they don't have to plan, they don't have to do a lot of research.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, and we have the Heartland Wine and Ale trail as well.

SPEAKER_01:

Right.

SPEAKER_02:

It goes off to Ohio as well. Yeah. Oh wow, and what's that trail? The Heartland Wine and Ale. Um, so it takes you to wineries, breweries um that are you know making their own products. So old schoolhouse winery, we now have pilgrimage over in um Cambridge City, um, you know, cordial cork here and and so on. And it's it's kind of like a little tasting tour. You go experience all the different wineries, the the breweries, and kind of just get a little flavor of of Wayne County in the area. And it's a fun, just a group activity if you're just girlfriends or you're a husband and wife or whatever it may be. And it's just uh a little adventure in addition to, you know, you can do the Heartland Wine and Nail Trail and the Chocolate Trail and make it a two, you know. It's it's a lot of our things kind of go side by side and it makes it for that extended weekend stay.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, I think that's great. And I'm excited to kind of get some more of these questions answered. Um, and we're kind of doing um events and attractions is kind of like the next theme of question. So, what are some of the most popular attractions or hidden gems that visitors shouldn't miss? So let's say if you don't have a trail, what would you really highly recommend them to go see?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, certainly the Levi Coffin House and Interpretive Center. I mean, that that is the um Levi and Catherine Coffran were the conductors for the Underground Railroad. And that's really uh national and even international um interest. So whether it's um due to the uh black interest or due to historical interests, um, you know, Levi was uh an amazing, uh he had a general store, and even back then in the 18 mid-1800s, um, it was a fair trade store. He wouldn't sell anything in his general store that was produced by slaves.

SPEAKER_03:

Wow.

SPEAKER_01:

I mean, that's pretty when you think about that, and you think about the hardships of getting um general store items and to be that particular, but that he was they were so strong in that. And it's just an amazing history. And you go through the home and the interpretive center and you see where they were hiding. Um, the Richmond Art Museum is yet another uh amazing institution. They have all kinds. Sean and Lance and the team, they do amazing um events, pottery Palooza, they have exhibits going on all the time. They have um places where people can, you know, exhibit their own art. And um and I mentioned the Wayne County Historical Museum. I mean, that that's that's really another hidden gem in the fact that it's not just a Wayne County museum. I mean, it says Wayne County, and people think if they're not familiar with it, but it has African, Indian, Egyptian, um uh Japanese cars that are manufactured in Wayne County. I mean, it has a lot of everything that would be of interest to people, not just with ties to Wayne County. Um, gosh, what else? The antiques are huge. Um, we we've we coined that probably 20 years ago now, and it's still one of our most popular trails. Um, because again, it you're packaging it.

SPEAKER_04:

So antique stores, I see them in Hagerstown, Cambridge, Centerville, Richmond. It is amazing. And you know, really I didn't have a much appreciation towards antiques when I was younger. I was raised by my grandparents, they loved antiques. We would visit these stores often. Um, and I was just like, what's the point? You know, why are we going? But as I've gotten older, I've really learned to appreciate antiques and to the point where I want to have antiques in my house just to kind of give it a little bit of a different feel when you come in, so it's not just all modern.

SPEAKER_01:

Right. Well, and the the craftsmanship of the antiques, um, you know, it's difficult to replicate that today. Um, you know, some other things that we believe are our uh draws to the area would be our recreational assets. So we have Cardinal Greenway, Indiana's longest trail, 62, 65 miles now. Um we have the eastern edge, which I think is the prettiest in the Whitewater Gorge area. I'm a little biased. But um the the recreational part, we have Hazar Breedum. Um we're there now putting back in mountain bike biking. They took that off for uh liability purposes, but they've worked some things out, so that's back on, and that's 455 acres. You look at Cope Environmental with their uh building. Um I don't know if you know much about the COPE building, but that when that was built, that was one of eight in the world in terms of the lead standards, the environmental standards. So everything they did to that, they had to really think through even paint, nails, et cetera, about the environmental impact. And so it it's pretty impressive when you look in Centerville, Indiana. And when they built that COPE Environmental Center, that was one of eight in the world when they got approved with their um accreditation.

SPEAKER_04:

That's amazing because I did not know that. So it's very interesting. I'm learning a lot from you guys right now, and I love it. Um, Wayne County has such a rich history and vibrant art scene. How do those play into your tourism efforts? And do you get a lot of tourists who are specific towards arts and want to kind of just see all the arts, the murals, the art museum, that type of stuff? Um, what do you say?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, the the arts are definitely a draw. Um, you know, not to mention just we've already talked about the Richmond Art Museum, but there's the Symphony, there's Nettle Creek Players, there's Richmond Civic Theater, there's Reed Center, there's there's so many different art um opportunities to get engaged, and they're first class. You know, again, I can't stress for a population of 36,000, the amenities that we have here is really second to none because you can go into another community, and and part of that is, I believe, because of our accessibility, um, we get visitors in to spend their money into our economy. Locally, uh, they're engaged and spend their money into their economy. And then when you start doing things like what's happening with the downtown and the revitalization, that's that's just explosive. I mean, that I believe will be a catalyst for having restaurants, retail, et cetera. We we we all we've always complained for the last five, ten years, gee, you know, closes at five, there's no restaurants, limited restaurants, and you know, it's a chicken and the egg. And so if you have, which we have now, all the market rate apartments that are going to be going up across from us uh here at at um this wonderful studio, uh you've got the Hiddle building, you've got uh Readmore now with the Elder Beerman's, the six main. Uh once people start living here in downtown, that will automatically draw and be catalysts for these kinds of services that we all want and that Earlum wants and IUEs for their students. And I'm I'm really interested to see what happens with U.S. Bank, the former U.S. Bank building, because that um luckily we were able to keep locally and not all of a sudden now it's a tax write-off and it you know right.

SPEAKER_04:

So I I don't know if you guys saw the episode with Roxy Deere and Dakota Collins for Revitalize Richmond, but we were talking about that. She was telling me the story of how they acquired that building. Um, and her ideas would be to make it a steakhouse on you know the ground level, which I would love. Yes, I like chain restaurants, but I really would like to have local owned restaurants. The food's always better, and that's no, you know, shade on chain restaurants, but I feel like local-owned businesses and restaurants they put more heart into you know their food or their uh retail.

SPEAKER_02:

So I I really love to shop local, and the connections that you make as well, right? Like when you can walk into Roscoe's and they recognize you and they know your drink order, or if you walk into Corner Cafe and they know what you're gonna get for lunch, it's that connection and that that personality that's greeting you. And I think you don't get that with a chain restaurant. You do when it's a local business. Right.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, and the other thing, too, from a visitor standpoint, visitors like to seek out locally owned restaurants because they have chains in their own communities or nearby, and so that's what makes the um the experience um more uh experiential, if you will, because it it is local and you do have that um customer service, and not that you don't have the other chains, you do, but it's just a different experience. Um, and so visitors love that.

SPEAKER_02:

And I agree, and I think that'll grow as well once we have individuals living downtown. If you think about the walkability, like just from downtown, you can walk to Roscoe's um along the bike path, the loops, you can walk to Corner Cafe, you can walk to Smiley's, and you're gonna be greeted with those familiar faces, those locally owned businesses. And I'm really excited to see more of those popping up because the walkability, the accessibility just in the downtown area.

SPEAKER_04:

And I don't know if a lot of people realize I walk a lot because the city building's just right here on Fifth Street, so I'll walk a lot on Main Street or I'll go down to the depot district. And it's refreshing. I'm not getting in the car and driving five minutes. I'm actually walking, I'm enjoying the scenery and I'm enjoying the weather. And it just kind of gives me a better mood to get out and walk to these places, and it's so close.

SPEAKER_01:

And sometimes we think depot district is so far, but it's really two, three blocks.

SPEAKER_04:

Right. I think we have like just become so accustomed to driving everywhere, even if it is five minutes. Um, so you know, just getting out and walking it is really refreshing. And I've I've started doing walking more in my neighborhood, especially with my five-year-old. He loves to go and on walks. And right now, because all the Halloween decorations are up, he likes to see all the Halloween decorations at people's houses. But it is, it's kind of just getting yourself more active instead of just being, you know, so accustomed to just driving or sitting in the house, like get out and do something.

SPEAKER_01:

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_04:

Um what are some annual events or festivals that really bring the community and visitors together?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, uh I I think things like um potterypalooza would be one. Um we have, gosh, I mean, but there's so many different events. And you know, that's the difficult part is that you have Oktoberfest, you have all of these, you know.

SPEAKER_03:

So there's not just one.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, we we actually had to invest in a new calendar for our website because there were so many events that we just could not keep up and it was it was too much for us. And so this new calendar that we have on our website kind of collects all of the local events from online that people are posting, the businesses and attractions are posting, and we promote them that way. But there's literally hundreds, and it it just there's never, I don't think there's never a week that there's not something happening. And we just this last weekend I took my kids to um Middle Fork Reservoir for the little Halloween thing for the dogs. Um there's you you can just get on there and find something for any interest, if whether it's a family, whether you're an adult looking for, you know, a festival to attend or live music. There's just it's just never ending. It really is.

SPEAKER_01:

I mean, we just had uh Forest Street Fair.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

And um with the Cardinal Greenway, they do Bike Tuber Fest. And and so it really depends on what your interests are, whether it's um historical or arts or recreational. There's really something. I mean, I know it sounds cliche, but there really is something for everyone.

SPEAKER_04:

So I I talked about this on our last podcast that I hear so often there's nothing to do in Richmond. And that is just not true. And it's always learning where to look. And I would say you guys probably have the biggest resource on your website and your calendar of all of the different events and activities that are going on within the city or Wayne County, actually.

SPEAKER_01:

And even a little beyond too.

SPEAKER_02:

Mm-hmm. And it and it's it it really is endless. It's even if it's a rainy day, there's bound to be something, whether it's an indoor activity or live music. Um, and if it's if it's not, then hey, go have lunch somewhere uh inside. And it's just I it it just blows my mind when someone says there's nothing to do because it's it's really you can just go on the website and just click on a tab, and there's hundreds.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, and speaking of the website, and I know it'll be at the end of the podcast too, but it's visitrichmond.org and the um the web crawler Yodel that uh Angel mentioned with regards to helping us um secure all of those events for our website. Um, for our listeners, if you have an event that you believe would also, so part of our criteria for our calendar of events is that it has to be of interest to visitors as well. And um if they so they can do one of two things or two things. Our web crawler, Yodel, will go against all the different websites that we give them, um, and they'll constantly just keep crawling and pulling these events. Another way is through Facebook. However, what it doesn't do is Facebook posts. So it needs to be an actual Facebook event, and then it will be caught with regards to our program. And so I would just encourage organizations who are having something, um, you know, we don't charge to promote them. We also do the electronic marquees both at our office and also the county building. Um, and we feed that with events and that type of thing. So uh know if you do a Facebook event, make sure you do the event portion and not just the posting.

SPEAKER_04:

Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

So that way it'll catch it and put it on to your website.

SPEAKER_01:

It's been it's been amazing.

SPEAKER_02:

Um it really has. And we've seen such an increase in in web traffic. So we know it's working. Um just year to date this year compared to last year, our website visits have increased over 60%. Wow. So we know visitors are interested, we know locals are looking for events, and we we can capture and see where they're coming from, their age demographics. So we know tourism is thriving and it's continuing to grow, and and seeing those numbers when we're looking at our analytics is just mind-blowing for us. So it's it's really exciting, and and we know the interest is there, and we're doing our best to capture it and continue to see it increase.

SPEAKER_04:

I will say too, um, I was checking out the website and it is so neatly organized as well, looking at the community calendar and different events or festivals. Um, so it's you you just go to it and you pick, okay, I want this one, I'm interested in this one. It's on this day at this time, I'm gonna go. So I I just really wanted to stress that it is really neatly organized, it's easy to follow. Thank you. Thanks. So, are there any new attractions or upcoming projects we should be excited about? Um, I want to kind of talk about the gorge activation and how is that going to affect what you guys do when you're trying to promote tourists to come here?

unknown:

Well.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, the the gorge in itself right now is an amazing asset, a natural asset. But when you start coupling that with activities such as zip lining and tree houses and boulder gardens and uh kayak and canoeing, it just takes it up to a whole new level. And so it will be of interest to because of one being natural, and two, then having these additional um activities, it'll be a tremendous draw. Uh we, as I had mentioned, um participate in a program called Placer AI. And when we were working with Denise Rhett, superintendent for the Richmond Parks, uh, looking at what the gorge might be able to do to give some assemblance, some data based on real numbers, uh, we took Placer, Angel did, and um came up with uh the Red River Gorge, which is in Kentucky. It's in the state park, middle of nowhere though. But they have all of these things. And to give you an idea, they have just in one year, 62,000 visitors from outside a 30-mile radius. They've seen their numbers increase 51.7% over the last 12 months. After visiting the gorge, they've contributed to the local economy by going elsewhere. Visitors came from 43 states. And then when you look at age groups, because you know, we had talked about Valerie and and uh Roxy and others have been on your podcast previously, um, quality of place, quality of life is really important. Um, and that's important to our visitors. So it's it's actually a twofer. So things like the gorge, we locals get to participate in, but it's also great for visitors and visitation. And when we look at age groups, um, the millennials are 28.9%, Gen X 26.7%, Gen Alpha Gen Z, 0 to 17 is 21%. And so that's what Red River, raw Red River Gorge in Kentucky generated in one year. And the thought process is well, if they can generate that in the middle of nowhere, then what opportunities do we have where we have over six six million people in a 10-hour radius that we can draw from? And so it's exciting.

SPEAKER_04:

It is because then these tourists, if they're coming to the gorge, they're going to be spending money most likely on a lot of our local businesses eating, right? Maybe checking out some of the cool little retails uh shops that we have here in Wayne County. Um, I'm excited. I know it's a process, and you know, I like to say on the podcast, Rome wasn't built in a day. So it is going to take some time, but we are going to get there. I know Revitalize Richmond, I believe it's a five-year plan, if I'm remembering correctly. Um, so it is a process, but we are working on, you know, improving our city within the near future, and especially with this gorge activation. I'm really excited. I'm not gonna have to drive down to Brookville to go canoeing or kayaking. Um, there's also kayaking right now at Middle Fork Reservoir. I haven't gotten to try it, but I really would like to, and it's really reasonable. I think it's only$8 to rent the kayak. I don't know how long it is. Um, but I mean, especially to go down, like I I think I'd be more scared in open water. That's just how I am. I'm scared, terrified of open water. But in the gorge, it's not right big, so I would be more comfortable.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. Well, and Metal Fork Reservoir, the same.

SPEAKER_02:

And it's it's scenic, and you have the bald eagles out there that nest and the new trail that they just revitalized out there that is just absolutely breathtaking. Um, anytime we share those photos of the Metal Fork Trail lately has just blown up on social media because it's just they have the little wooden um natural stumps that you can sit on and the little swing there. And it's just people are seeking that scenic, you know, break away from the hustle and bustle, and and things like the gorge provide that. And it's it's a good mental health break as well. And I think that's really important nowadays is just to have a little mental break, get out in nature and just relax. I agree.

SPEAKER_04:

I think that there's just so much technology. Um, you're always busy, you're working, you have kids, you gotta get them to their activities, and so it is a great break just to kind of get back into nature and just kind of like I said, breathe, enjoy that fresh air, enjoy that scene.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely. Yes, yeah. And and I know Mary mentioned the the place or AI and and you mentioned the economy, that with this technology that we have, the placer AI, we can actually see based on the cell phone data that they are going to those that Red River Gorge, and then immediately afterwards they're gonna go get a bite to eat because they're exhausted from kayaking all day. And so we can actually see the trail that they are going to XYZ restaurant, they're going to this hotel, and it's it's that journey that we know is happening and can be replicated here.

SPEAKER_01:

Absolutely. Great point.

SPEAKER_04:

Yes, that really is. And like I said, I'm so excited to kind of just see where we're gonna be in the next five years. Absolutely. Um, how does tourism impact local economy? I know we've kind of gone over this in small businesses here in Wayne County. We do know that a lot of these tourists are when they're on the trails, they're stopping at businesses or restaurants, they're purchasing uh retail items or they're purchasing food. Um, so we'll kind of I know we talked a lot about that. Um, how do you collaborate with local businesses, artists, or organizations to create a great visitor experience?

SPEAKER_02:

Our gift shop, I think, is a great starting point because we we're right off of I-70, right on I-40, and a lot of visitors tend to start here at the Welcome Center. And we make it a valid effort to try to showcase local artisanwares, um, local businesses at our gift shop. And and that's I think that's a good starting point. And and it's hard to believe, but one of the most popular things that people come in asking for are postcards because they still want that little souvenir. But they're also seeing the handcrafted wooden bowl bowls and the jewelry, and and we can tell that story of the local residents that are making that handcrafted jewelry or they're hand painting this greeting card. Um, and so that's it's our way of kind of getting a foot in the door and saying, like, hey, you're welcome to Richmond, Wayne County, and look at all the talent we have here and showcasing that.

SPEAKER_04:

I'm glad you said that because you know, kind of throughout this podcast, and then you saying that you have a lot of handmade and crafts and jewelry and paintings. I'm thinking in my head, there's a lot of talent in Richmond. A lot of talented people, artists. Um and I want to say the arts is just not painting or drawing or pottery, it's music. Um, you know, it's we have the Richmond Civic Theater dance, yeah, dance and acting. Um, I've not been able to go to the Richmond Civic Theater to watch a play. I that's on my bucket list. I need to do that. Um, my five-year-old, we tried the movie theaters, just wasn't ready yet. Um, this was about a year and a half ago. We might try the movie theater one more time before I'll actually take him to a play, um, just to make sure I don't want him to be disruptive and you know, make it a bad experience for people coming to watch the play. But that is on my bucket list.

SPEAKER_01:

It's a wonderful theater. And they do an incredible job with their plays.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, and not just for entertainment purposes, but also if that's an avenue that you want to pursue as a career. You know, they start out with young kids doing some of those plays, and that's their their first acting, you know, career, so to say. And it's it's giving them that ability to spread their wings and try new things and explore what they're interested in as they continue to grow in Wayne County. And I think having that here is just a vital, vital piece. Yeah, it really is.

SPEAKER_04:

Um, at my last job, we had a high school student that worked during the summer, and that's what he wanted to pursue acting. And after the summer, he was back in school, so it didn't work out for him working um at my last job, but I did see him go on, and he's performing in plays at the Richmond Civic Theater. So he's starting that that journey of what he wants to do right here in Richmond. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02:

I I hope and pray that he'll make it big. Yeah. We have so many that have have grown up here in Wayne County and have made it big. We have Harold Jones, and we have Jennifer Nivens, who's actually coming back to Richmond at the end of the month, and she's a world-known award-winning book author. Her book was transformed into a movie on Netflix, and she grew up here. And I think that is such an exciting little tidbit that we can say that we have people that have grown up here and they have thrived and they've gone out and done amazing things. And that can happen right here and in your your roots.

SPEAKER_01:

And well, and and the beautiful part about that is that it serves as an example for others to say, I can do it too. You know, if they can do that in this community, I can do that. And so I think those role models, their mentors, um, is really amazing.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, and it's really neat too to say, hey, this person came from where I grew up or I was born and raised, and they were born and raised here, or they grew up here, and now look at them.

SPEAKER_01:

Right, right.

SPEAKER_04:

Um, what role does community pride play in attracting visitors to the area? Do you see a lot of our organizations that are putting on this event? They, I mean, I see it. There's a lot of cheerleaders for Richmond. I will say, shout out to Renee Ulinsky. She is the biggest cheerleader for the city of Richmond that I have come across.

SPEAKER_01:

She sure is. We're lucky to have influencers like her and others. Um, because that's important. Community pride is everything. Um, it it uh comes out to the visitors. And the, you know, I I'm I'm a firm believer of you never know when a visitor comes what they're doing. I mean, they may be just visiting, but they may also be, hey, you know, I'm looking at a place to retire. Um, gee, I'm thinking about moving my business. Um, you just never know behind why they're here originally what they may uh be interested in. And so our everyday people, people on the street, the front line, are so important to our visitors and to locals and to greet them and to say, we're so glad you're here because that really makes a difference.

SPEAKER_04:

It does. Um, how are you reaching new audiences, whether that's through social media, storytelling, or partnerships?

SPEAKER_02:

Um, especially this year, our social media um outreach has grown exponentially. Um, we are past six million um social media views just up until today. Um that's six million eyes on Richmond and Wayne County. And and we're doing that through through multiple avenues, both organic and paid advertisement. But it's just promoting all of these assets that we've already talked about now, and just saying, like, hey, did you know we have two mummies here in in Richmond? And it's promoting that, and people spread the word and they're saying, you know, hey, they're attacking their friends, like, hey, let's go for the weekend. And it's just so especially this year, it's just it's been remarkable. Our our increase, you know, six six million people with eyes on Wing County.

SPEAKER_04:

That's like I can't imagine that many people looking, but it's great. Um, the mummies is great. Talking about mummies, we're having a baseball team. Yeah, the flying mummies. The flying mummies. I'm really excited about that. I believe we'll get a lot of tourists for that as well. Are you guys going to kind of hype that up when you're sure? Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01:

It'll be a fun activity. Um, you know, even if it comes from a radius. I mean, Richmond certainly serves as a um as a cat as a um nucleus for all of our surrounding counties. Uh, people come here to shop, they visit, they buy, they eat, um, and watch baseball. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04:

So I'm excited. I went to the name announcement. I got to meet Uncle Rico. I accidentally knocked over the tripod and poster on him. I was so embarrassed. But it was great. It was fun. He was like, oh, it's fine, it's fine. I was like, I am so sorry. My foot hit it. Um, so first time meeting someone famous, and I knocked over a tripod and poster on him. But that's okay.

SPEAKER_00:

He'll remember you. That's that's true.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, and I think that's a great example of just having pride in in what we have here because the flying mummies, I mean, it's the Wright brothers, it's the mummies, and it's just taking what is here, having pride and and celebrating that. Because not everyone has that in their their communities. And it's just I think that's a really cool piece of of what makes Wayne County so special. Yeah. That we just we just celebrate everything. We we love what we've where we've come and where we're going.

SPEAKER_01:

And and you know, with all of these things that we've mentioned today, and even those that we haven't even had a chance to talk about, all of those things you had asked earlier about impact. Um, we do an annual economic impact through visitor spending uh study uh co-op with the state tourism uh IDDC office. And we started that in 2012 when they started it, and we've done it every year since. Um the latest figures we have are 2023. We should be getting the 2024 shortly, but just to give people an idea of the impact of tourism in Wayne County, and a visitor, by the way, is defined as 50 miles out. So these numbers are not inclusive of any local spending. 171.2 million dollars in one year, 2023. And when you compare that to when we first started the um, in terms of comparison, the economic impact report in 2012, that was 84.6 million. So that has grown 102, over 102 percent in just 12 short years.

SPEAKER_04:

Wow.

SPEAKER_01:

I mean it it it's really amazing. And you know, the thing is locals really can't tell a visitor from you and I um unless, of course, they're the Model T or the Autumn Oaks where they have the the Coon Dogs or you know, where they have something that's um visible. Visitors are coming here all the time, and so we don't really realize that because they're they're not differentiating themselves between us. Um but it it's an incredible um industry for Wayne County, and um and then you take those dollars and replicate that out in terms of indirect. Um, you know, the these dollars go into the restaurants and retail and attractions, and then they take those monies, the staff, and spend their money into our economy. That's what we call indirect economic impact. And so it's pretty amazing.

SPEAKER_04:

It is, those are big numbers. I I would have never guessed that. If you would have asked me how much do you think that you know visitors are spending, I would have never guessed that. So I mean, we are bringing in money for Yeah, and that's just one year. Yeah, that's crazy. I'm like, I'm still kind of that's all I'm blown. Um, so uh what trends are you seeing in the types of travelers coming to Wayne County? I know you said you have this um software, the AI. Um are I know you gave us the numbers for uh the gorge down in Kentucky. What kind of trends are you seeing that are coming here to Richmond?

SPEAKER_02:

I think especially um through Placer AI as well as our digital marketing social media campaigns, we can tell that people are coming here to experience the attractions, specifically the museums. Because it's not it's not something that everyone has. Um our Model T museum has grown exponentially this year as well. We've seen um the the numbers through Placer and through social media campaigns increase for that. And it's just a a unique little hub there down in the in the Depot district and two buildings, and you really don't know, you know, uh even as a resident, if you've not been in there, you don't know how much is really in there. And they continue to grow their exhibits and they've added like the little um is it a movie theater where you can go and watch um in there and it's just I I love when our attractions continue to grow and add more because they see the value and they they know visitors are coming. And and that's when it's a digital marketing versus you know magazine or newspaper, we can see in real time these numbers growing and and see that where the interest is. Are they interested in Model T? Are they interested in the mummies? And watching those numbers just right in front of us, literally growing. Um, and it it helps us market and and helps us continue to grow and and bring tourism to to Wayne County Richmond and Wayne County.

SPEAKER_04:

And I know a lot of people think that they have to go to Dayton or Indianapolis to a museum, but we have three right here. Well, actually four. You have the Richmond Art Museum, you have the Model T Museum, the Wayne County Historic Museum, and the Joseph Moore Museum. I I know we have a football hall of fame. I've never been in there. I don't even know I don't know if it's well actually that's no longer. It's no longer okay.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, even outside Richmond, we also have like the Overbeck Museum. Right. Um, which, you know, those are world-renowned famous um sisters that grew up in Cambridge City and are celebrated in Cambridge City. They have a huge mural um celebrating their history there. And and uh specifically people that are interested in arts, they run to to come see the Overbeck Museum and and the pottery there and a huge piece of history.

SPEAKER_01:

I I would really encourage our listeners to be a hometown tourist and really, you know, they some think it's always greener on the other side, but it is amazing, truly, what we have here. And I would I would just encourage people to be a hometown tourist and take a day and take in some of these sites that you haven't been to or maybe never been to. Um at the Bureau at the Welcome Center, we have Scavenger Hunt, um, one and two. Your five-year-old might enjoy that as well, where you know it gives clues, and then you have to um find what the answers are. And it's a learning, but it's also a kind of a thing that families can do together. Um, all of the trails, but it's really people need your point about we think there's so much outside, we don't look within, is really, really true. Um, we truly do have a lot.

SPEAKER_04:

I really like what you said about becoming a hometown tourist. I think that's a great idea. So, to our listeners, really go to their website, look at their events, and become a hometown tourist and see what Richmond has to offer. Take pride in our community, not just Richmond, but Wayne County. Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, well, I mean we have residents that come into the Welcome Center for whatever purpose, and they've never been in there. And, you know, we greet them not knowing that they're a resident. We thank their visitors and we greet everyone the same, and they're just blown away with everything they didn't know already exists where they live.

SPEAKER_01:

That's the fun part.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, yes. When they come in, they're like, Oh, I didn't know you had a chocolate troll. I love chocolate. And I'm like, here's a passport, go enjoy some free chocolate, spend some money, enjoy time with friends. And it's just I think it's just remarkable that it's I I think it's just because you're so used to it and it's around you all the time. You just don't really recognize what is here.

SPEAKER_04:

I think it's um you kind of have blinders on if that's a good way to describe it. You're waking up, you're, you know, getting kids ready, or you're getting ready for work, you're dropping kids off, going to work, picking them up, doing your activities, getting home, getting dinner, homework, and baths done, and then you go to sleep, and it's a repeat. And so I really think a lot of us just have blinders because our life gets so busy.

SPEAKER_01:

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_04:

Um, but on those weekends, instead of just kind of couch rotting, I do that a lot. I love that. Saturdays, I call it a couch rot. Sundays are my cleaning days. Um, get up and enjoy something, do something different.

SPEAKER_01:

Right. And and from the Welcome Center standpoint, um, we're open right now seven days a week. So our hours are um so from April, May 1 to the end of October, we're open seven days a week. And then November 1 to April 30th, we're open six days a week, uh, close Sunday. So there's no reason people can't, whether it's through the website or it's coming out there. Um we also serve as a state welcome center for those of you who come out to the gift shop and and get information as well. It's also a state center, so we have information on um southern, northern, central Indiana that if people want to just pick up some brochures to make a day, um, they can do that too.

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_04:

That's really nice to know. I'll have to stop out there and just kind of take a tour of the tour. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

Love that.

SPEAKER_04:

Okay, so I I know we're kind of running short on time. So let's go um to my closing questions. What's one spot in Wayne County that you personally love to visit when you have a free day? We'll start with you, Mary.

SPEAKER_01:

Gosh. It's really hard to narrow that down because it really is depends on what I'm in the mood for. Um, so I I mean, I gosh, I love the Wayne County Historical Museum because it's there's so much there that and they're changing it up all the time. Um, that I can see new things. Um, but I love going to the Richmond Art Museum because they're changing that up. And then I love to go to events that they have there. Um, the Levi Coffin, I mean, just it it really is difficult to pinpoint one thing. Um, I may be in the mood to walk the Cardinal Greenway, not 62 miles, but um, you know, a portion of that. And so, or shopping. Uh, you know, we haven't even talked about the private retail shops like Warm Glow, uh, now Uranus, um, and then all of our individual uh retail boutique shops. Um, you know, it just really depends what I'm in the mood for. I know that's not specific, but but it really does.

SPEAKER_04:

There is just so many great things that choose one. Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

What about you, Angel? Gosh. I'm probably gonna have to piggyback on Mary, that it's it really just depends. Um, specifically with my kids, that it's it's depends on the weather. You know, um, specifically, my youngest kid is now asked for an e-bike for Christmas. So I see lots of Cardinal Greenway days ahead of us and bike path days um spinning outside. But we also enjoy the farmer's market and going around and looking at all the vendors and getting fresh produce. And he loves his veggies. Um, and so it's it's a lot of that family time. Um, we spend so much time outside. Thistleweight Falls is like a five-minute walk from our house. So we're always down there looking for fossils or taking our dog for a walk. Um, the parks are huge. Um, my youngest son has autism, so we're always at the sensory park. Um, that's one of his favorite spots. But my oldest kids love the arcades, and there's just there's so much specifically for families that there's never a dull moment, there's never a dull weekend when we have nothing planned. Yeah. Um, so we're always finding something.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, we um actually went to Springwood Park with our Cub Scouts pack yesterday as our citizenship um adventure or requirement. And we picked up trash. Um, we also picked up the hedge apples and threw them in the woods. So when the parks department comes in mow, they're not hitting them and ruining the blades on their mower. But um, I was really shocked at how engaged these kids were with running and picking up the trash and throwing those hedge apples into the woods. It was really, you know, a an amazing experience to watch these children because, you know, as adults, we know like don't throw trash on the ground, throw it in the trash, or keep it in your car until you get home, throw it in the dumpster. Um, but these kids, like, they were so excited. They had their gloves on, they had their trash bags, and they picked up, I want to say it was nine bags of trash. Wow. Yeah. Nine bags of trash.

SPEAKER_01:

Shout out.

SPEAKER_04:

So, you know, they chose uh our cubmaster chose Springwood Park out. We were originally going to go to Middle Fork Reservoir and walk the trail and do it. But after visiting the parks, they saw Springwood was the one that was in most need of getting trash picked up. Um, now we didn't let them go down to the water and get the trash out of the water. I kind of got as close to the bank as I could to get trash, but it was so amazing. And I was shocked at how much trash they picked up. But um, it's really great, you know, get your kids out there too when you're there playing on the playground and say, hey, let's five minutes, let's take this trash bag.

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_04:

Pick up some trash and make our park look beautiful again.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, and it's giving them that pride and that that responsibility and that ownership, like, hey, this is my park too. That's right. Not not technically, but it's it's my park, it's my home, and and having pride in that, and and I love I love that for the kids.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, and a lot of them stayed for about a half hour after they were done and played on the playground. Wonderful. And you know, I took my son to Dairy Queen after I was like, you did such a good job. So we're gonna go to Dairy Queen as a treat before we head home. And like he just he really had fun that's a good one.

SPEAKER_01:

What a great experience. And to Angel's point, I mean, the learning whether they realize it's pride or not, it really is. It's like, oh, I like this better without trash than I do. So yeah, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, okay. So finally, what's one message you'd like to share with both residents and future visitors about Wayne County? Angel will start with you. One message.

SPEAKER_02:

One message. Oh my gosh, there's always something. Despite whatever you think, there is always something happening, there's always something going on, something to discover and explore. It's possibilities are endless. Okay.

SPEAKER_01:

I I think mine would be from a local standpoint, is that um you never know who you're shopping next to, and to always think that could be a visitor, that could be someone who might invest in our community, and how do we make it them welcome and say, you know, go above and beyond. Well, can I help you find something? Gee, you know, do you do you need some help? Um, you know, that's what this community is built on. And I think it's really important that we continue to um have pride. That's so important because it it affects our mind. I mean, if we're prideful, we're happy. If we're not, then we're the other. And that's not a fun place to be. So you know, I was just encourage people to really engage and um be a hometown tourist in your communities uh throughout Wayne County, because we really do have a great deal that it's it's fun to uncover individually, but also as a family.

unknown:

Right.

SPEAKER_04:

Guys, I want to thank you so much for coming on. I've learned a lot. I know our listeners are gonna learn a lot. Um, I just one last message get on their website, visit Richmond.org, and check out their community calendar, become what Mary says, a hometown tourist, and just have pride in Richmond. Thank you guys, and we will see you next time.