Tourism’s new home

After hits and misses, council relocates near downtown Clinton

August 23, 2023 by Pete Gawda

Good things come to those who wait — it’s an old saying Stephanie Wells can now appreciate.

“We are excited to be in our new building,” Wells, executive director of the Anderson County Tourism Council, said of her organization’s new location on the second floor of the Stephenson Realty and Auction building at 210 Charles Seivers Blvd.

“We are still open to the public,” she said. “We’ re not as visible as we used to be.”

The Anderson County Commission spent many months discussing whether the Tourism Council should move, and if so, where it would move. That discussion included refusing to ratify the first auction of council’s old log building near Interstate 75 and rejecting the council’s proposed move into the building being built by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce.

The commission eventually approved a second auction. The sale of the old log building closed in July. It was also in July that the council moved into its new location.

At its meeting Thursday, Aug. 10, the county Budget Committee took action on dispersal of the proceeds from the sale of the old building. As Commissioner Shane Vowell, who is on the committee, explained, the committee will be proposing to the County Commission at its next meeting that the Tourism Council be awarded $311,877 to reimburse that organization for the original cost of the building; and that the remainder of the sale price, $362,183, go into the county’s general fund.

That log building was paid for by the Tourism Council from hotel and motel taxes, which are earmarked to finance promotion of tourism.

While the old building needed some renovation, Wells said mold was not a problem. She said there was mold, but it was not a toxic mold that would be a health concern.

The electronic billboard that had been a fixture in front of the old building has been moved to the new location.

However, the top of the electronic billboard was badly faded and will have to be replaced.

The new location does not contain a welcome center. Wells said it is primarily office space. She said that over the years the number of walk-ins declined and most people who stopped in recent years were looking for maps and restrooms.

She went on to say that hotels and other places in the area have information on points of interest. However, Wells said there is a possibility her organization might set up an information kiosk.

Welcoming visitors is only a small part of the council’s operations.

“Our main mission is to market the community,” Wells said.

A large part of the council’s budget is earmarked for social media, which is used to promote local activities and attractions. In addition to inquiries from visitors, the council receives inquiries on social media from people who are moving into the area.

The new location has a meeting room, something that was lacking in the old building. That meeting room will be available for other community organizations to use.

The council has a three-year lease on the building.

Wells said developing trends in the tourism industry could determine any future moves.