Tourism group evaluates county's potential
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 11:34 pm
The attractions and amenities of Butler County were viewed with non-local eyes on Friday when the Tourism Assessment Resource Growth Evaluation Team was led on a tour that stretched from Dwight to the Platte River by way of Abie and David City.
The TARGET team is part of the Tourism Division of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.
"What we did was create a whole bunch of extra work for us," said Paula Bohaty, a member of the Nebraska Regional Tourism staff who accompanied the tour.
She said the group's visit will result in a community meeting to discuss the county's tourism potential. The group's report could be ready in four to six months.
In an early observation, Bohaty said that the villages of Butler County hold a lot of potential for visitors looking for a change. The "Bohemian Alps" of eastern Butler County are an attraction.
She referred to a "Ride the Ridge" tour, which is identified in eastern Seward County.
"We want to look at that thing and see how we can expand that more to Butler County," Bohaty said. "Both of those could be combined. We really believe there is a heck of a lot that can be done with that."
Also on the tour were Tom Doering, head of research for the Department of Economic Development, and Michael Collins, coordinator of development for the Division of Tourism.
The group heard from Terry Kriz at Oak Creek Sporting Club southeast of Brainard. Kriz described the club's growing popularity among hunting and trapshooting enthusiasts.
Bohaty said Oak Creek represents great potential for the county.
Stephanie Dubbs, director of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, said that the county was selected following an application process that started more than a year ago.
Among the attractions visited were the grottoes of Assumption Catholic Church in Dwight, Loma Catholic Shrine, Oak Creek Sporting Club, Pheasant Oaks Wine Tasting room, Makovicka Winery, Thorpe Opera House, Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art. The group visited a proposed museum project in Bruno and the Ox Bow Trail Park created by the Mick family west of Bellwood.
From left, state tourism officials Michael Collins, Tom Doering, and Paula Bohaty listen to assistant curator Amanda Mobley talk about the Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art which opened in 2008 in David City.
