Appomattox to be Tourist Destination
In the 18 months that Appomattox tourism director Beckie Nix has been charged with raising the town’s tourism profile, Appomattox’s travel reputation has started blossoming into a destination. And - according to the News Advance - in the next few years, two new major attractions could add to the buzz.
A study on the Battle of Appomattox Station was finished last week, though the results haven’t been formally announced. It said that 30-50 acres of land in the town are prime for preserving the battlefield that marked the last fight before the surrender at Appomattox Court House, project manager Scott Smith said. In September, the Richmond-based Museum of the Confederacy announced plans to open a branch of its collections in or near the town.
Both projects are still in the planning phases, but with the help of Nix and county tourism director Anne Dixon, the town and county travel industry is growing. The Appomattox visitor center in 2007 saw a 27 percent increase in tourists looking for information. A new town kiosk displaying tourism information was finished in recent weeks. During her first few months on the job, Nix had to create the basic tourism infrastructure, starting with a brochure, basic advertising, and remodeling the visitor center.
Appomattox had never advertised its offerings as a travel destination, Nix said. “If you don’t advertise, people don’t ask. You don’t get the response.”
In 2007, the program distributed nearly 130,000 brochures, most of which were sent to individual inquiries, Nix said. Its Web site, www.tourappomattox.com, was launched in the spring and print ads were placed in tourism and travel publications. But, it’s the two new additions that may make Appomattox more than a pit stop. Stay tuned for further developments, and read the rest of the story at the News Advance.
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