There’s no place like home
By STU MERRY
Just a few months ago, the Garrison Convention and Visitors Bureau was part of the first ever KXMC Fall Sports Show. While the show was small, the interest shown in Garrison by those who stopped left those who staffed the booth with smiles on their faces.
McKaila Matteson, CVB director, said workers fielded numerous questions about the community. "Every aspect of our community grabs these people," she said.
The CVB attended four sports shows in 2013 – Minot, Bismarck, Fargo and Minneapolis. The shows with the largest interest in Garrison were Bismarck and Minot.
"Bismarck and Minot people know us … it’s a target market because they come here, whether they are weekend or day travelers," Matteson said.
While the lake is the big draw, Matteson said many still haven’t been to Garrison.
"We haven’t over saturated the market," she said.
At the KX MC Fall Show, asking questions in return, staff learned many would like to move to Garrison. Others said they’d like to move to Garrison in the future. The third highest feedback was about the Dickens Village Festival.
Paul Schlichting, member of the Dickens Village Festival Committee, said he hears lots of positive things about the event and the community.
"They want to get down here," he said. "People talk about riding the double-deck bus and about the (SACA) play."
