SIL - Nov / Dec 2021

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Throughout the past several years, we as a country and people, both nationally and worldwide, met with some of our most trying times in recent memory, and the arduous steps to return to a sense of normalcy continues to this day. Tragically, businesses many locals regarded as staples of their communities saw closures; events, some recognized as longstanding traditions, canceled or indefinitely suspended. And of course, our personal lives forever changed. Yet, in the wake of these trials and tribulations, hope continues, and in the eyes of many it thrives. And nowhere in Southern Indiana is this continual push for renewal and progress better seen than in Crawford County through tourism, hospitality and expansion. “In terms of the tourism and hospitality outreach, I think we have come a long way,” said Michael Thissen, executive director of the Crawford County Economic Development Corporation. With the initial impact of COVID-19, Thissen recalled research conducted on all 3,200 counties in the U.S. on COVID-19’s effect on the tourism industry. “The only one in our region that was even worse was Orange County because of the resort,” said Thissen. “Early on, we thought that the tourism and hospitality industry, which is one of the top industries in Crawford and the region, was going to take a major hit.” Yet, despite this fear coming true for some areas in the region, Crawford County took a surprising turn. “When you talk to some of the tourism sites in Crawford, and by extension some of the other businesses, they’ve been breaking records — attendance records and everything,” Thissen said. He attributes this in large part to the focus on outdoor recreation for many of Crawford County’s tourism locations. “We took a hit in the March and April timeframe, but by summer people were dying to get out, and what better way than to spend time in the open air?” Openair recreation is the steadfast theme of many of Crawford County’s exciting and gorgeous outdoor tourist opportunities. Boasting a plethora of fantastic options for the outdoors (several covered in past issues of SIL), primary spots of attraction in Crawford County include Patoka Lake, Cave Country Canoes, Marengo Cave and O’Bannon Woods. At Patoka Lake, 22 • Nov/Dec 2021 • Southern Indiana Living Around SoIN Shown above, left to right: Kaylee Gildersleeve, Crawford County Tourism Office Manager; Michael Thissen, Executive Director, Crawford County Economic Development Corporation/President, Crawford County Chamber of Commerce; Mandi Elliott, Marketing Coordinator, Crawford County Economic Development Partnership. Crawford County: Hope Through Tourism and Hospitality Story by Jon Watkins Photos by Jerrah Photography visitors can encounter numerous activities across the “8,800-acre water playground” (a majority of which are outdoors), such as archery, biking, boating, camping, disc golf, hiking, fishing, water and winter sports, and special events are listed on the Patoka Lake website (sometimes multiple events transpiring on a single day). In another area of Crawford County, O’Bannon Woods State Park, “Indiana’s newest 3,000-acre state park,” offers horse trails, blacksmithing demonstrations, fishing, explorations into a historic three-story fully-restored working hay press, and beautiful picnic areas capable of making Yogi Bear’s jaw drop. However, if you’re more inclined to the spelunking side of natural wonders, Marengo Cave offers some of the most wondrous and cavernous (pun intended) cave tours available anywhere in the Ohio Valley region. Giving tours since 1883, the two primary tours (Crystal Palace and Dripstone) offer enthralling and eye-widening insight into the underground beauty beneath our very feet in Southern Indiana. Located five miles from Marengo Cave is Cave County Canoes, residing on the sparkling Blue River. Offering trips ranging from their Half Day (a twoto-four-hour trip) to their Full Day (five-to-seven-hour) trips (and even a Two-Day trip, which combines both the Half Day and Full Day trips), all levels of expertise and visitors are welcome — including pets! These vast arrays of outdoor options will enamor any nature enthusiast, but Thissen notes that such interests appeal to not only tourists but also a younger generation. “Young professionals who want a weekend out — what do they want? Well, maybe half the day they want to go canoeing and then they want to sip a beer and watch the creek go by. Maybe they want to go to the Overlook for lunch and then go on a hike. We have
Boasting a plethora of fantastic options for the outdoors, primary spots of attraction in Crawford County include Patoka Lake, Cave Country Canoes, Marengo Cave and O’Bannon Woods. At Patoka Lake, visitors can encounter numerous activities across the “8,800-acre water playground” , such as archery, biking, boating, camping, disc golf, hiking, fishing, water and winter sports. that,” he said. Not wanting to limit the county’s focus to only one target demographic, Thissen plans to keep bringing in a continual expansion of the best any region can offer. One of the major projects involving this is the expansion of the Patoka Lake Winery. Offering aged libations to suit nearly any palate, Patoka Lake Winery’s catalog includes dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, reds, whites and fruit wines. These wines are not only beautifully stored, but they’re heavily decorated in awards, having won silver and gold medals in competitions such as the Indy International Wine Competition, Newburgh Jazz & Wine Festival and the Indiana Wine Fair. With a tasting room open daily to the public, the winery features wines and wine slushies (and select meats, cheeses or chocolates) that visitors can enjoy at their leisure. Current flavors of wine slushies on tap during October include Pumpkin Spice Latte, Frozen Hot Chocolate, Salted Caramel and Apple Cider. While sipping on delectable drinks, note that the winery ships products to over 30 states, so if you find something you enjoy, feel free to inquire about enjoying the product even after your visit through shipping or purchase at the gift shop. And if you’re enjoying your visit to the winery immensely (which you surely will), they have several options available for overnight stays. One of the options resides within one of the two large silo structures on the premises. These structures house unique suites offering Jacuzzi tubs, fully furnished kitchens and dining areas. There are also winery suites available above the Tasting Room, and nearby on the Patoka Lake Marina floating cabins are also available as options for rental. Regardless of your desired approach to relaxation, the winery (along with a cascade of outdoor locations) is certain to be able to meet your needs. There is no doubt that together we can overcome the events of the recent past, and Crawford County stands as a testament to the power the strength of community and adaption bring in combination to weather the storm of change. Their hospitality and tourism industry not only brings stunning sights, but they bring something we need more than ever: hope.• Let us HeLp protect Your dreAms. Brandon Stevens, Sales Specialist - All Lines Mark R Stevens Agency LLC 2066 Old Highway 135 Nw Corydon, IN 47112 Bus: (812) 734-0612 Mark Stevens, Agent Mark R Stevens Agency LLC Bus: (812) 283-8600 2940 Holmans Ln Ste C Jeffersonville, IN 47130 mstevens@amfam.com Home | Auto | Life | Business | fArm & rAncH 24-Hour cLAims reporting & customer service 1-800-mYAmfAm (692-6326) AmfAm.com American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. and Its Operating Companies, American Family Insurance Company, American Family Life Insurance Company, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 010996 – Rev. 7/17 ©2015 – 12075955 Southern Indiana Living • Nov/Dec 2021 • 23
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SIL - Nov / Dec 2021

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