On her weekly golf show, Sarah Haas recently told me that there is an interesting effort underway. She said that a major golf association from Chicago was working to partner with the Southern Illinois Golf Association to market each others golf assets. We would highlight, of course, the Southern Illinois Golf Trail. I admit that I don’t know a lot about the Golf Trail in our area. But, that is not the important part, anyway.
I see the beginnings of a real connection between our area, and the rest of the state, regarding tourism. And, I see the potential for a lot more opportunities. The Golf Trail idea would fit right in with the other “trail” opportunities we have. Some of the opportunities are being developed, some are in the thought process stage, and still other good ideas await that overhead light bulb to shine.
The time I take of yours, this week, will come not in reading, but the imagining after, I hope. We all would like to see increased tourism to southern Illinois. That is a given, isn’t it? Increased tourism means money for restaurants, motels, shopping centers, and small towns that have managed to break away from the early 1900’s mentality of isolationism. Even with gasoline prices being prohibitive, we all will travel this summer and fall and make up the difference somewhere else. Why not travel southern Illinois?
I have no reason to believe that individual tourism groups do their best to attract visitors. There are impressive web sites up and running to draw visitors. But, I would hope we could expand on these fine efforts with a more collaborative menu of reasons to come to our region. Let me throw out a few ideas:
We should build on our Golf Trail, and our growing Wine Trail. Who couldn’t spend a fall afternoon of music, bread and southern Illinois wine at Pheasant Hollow, Blue Sky, or another winery? We have the makings of an impressive Antique Trail, too. No shopper of antiques could deny that – for example in Franklin County- Christopher and Benton could yield one day long stops for just that purpose.
Let’s let our imaginations really flow! From the Old Slave House, to Charlie Berger’s hanging site, to the place where Lincoln debated Douglas, we have the makings of a History Trail that has many stops already established in area museums and other places of preservation. From Carlyle Lake to Little Grassy to Crab Orchard to Rend Lake and beyond, what northern Illinois fisherman-or woman- wouldn’t be tempted to fight the fish of southern Illinois. Hunters would come from miles outside the area to hunt in our region- they already do! Let’s aim for a Hunting and Fishing Trail! If affordable schooling is what those outside our area wish to hunt for, then an Academic Trail would also make a nice excuse to wander scenic southern Illinois. We are blessed with the best community colleges in the state, and for those that can afford it, SIU. I read a newspaper article on a tour of foreclosed homes, held somewhere. It made me think of cramped city dwellers, and suburb sardines, and just what their reaction would be to a small, efficient, home close to Shawnee National Forrest. Why not a Hideaway Home Trail? Toss in a weekend of water skiing, tennis at Benton, indoor swimming in West Frankfort, and a Miners game and you have the making of a sports fan’s dream getaway. If somehow the gals in the family aren’t a sports fanatic, then how about one of our spas, and personal care centers? You know a Fan or Tan Trail?
Well, you get the idea, I hope. We have plenty in southern Illinois to offer. A lot we have created on our own, which is good. However, we tend to hold things close to the vest and try to market it ourselves. That is not such an effective idea. Here is my overview: We should take all these existing trails, create new ones from your ingenuity, and put them together! Yes, we al work together. If I were marketing this, I would build around something like making it your reward. And, like a reward from any good candy store, you choose your own reward, or rewards. “Choose Your Reward” would present a menu of opportunity, not just a question of individual choice. We would of course, help them plan their rewards tour. We would go from being a possibility, to being the choice offering many possibilities.
What would be your reward? So, what do you think, planners? We have built factories that now stand vacant. We have closed businesses that once were hallmarks of cities. But, our natural wonders, and many creations of our own beckon us to utilize them to draw people in to discover southern Illinois. One for all, and all will benefit!
See you on the radio. Let me know what YOU think, please. bfasol@yahoo.com
