Gage County Tourism honors annual award recipients
BEATRICE – An Odell woman is the Gage County Tourism Friend of Tourism Award winner this year. Gwen Vitosh oversees the Rice Lodge and Conference Center….a former hospital converted to its new use several years ago.
Visitors Committee member and local history expert, Laureen Riedesul co-emceed an annual tourism awards presentation Tuesday night with Gage County Tourism Director Dakota Hurley….held at The Barn at the Poolearosa….near Cortland.
Riedesul said the Rice Lodge was a community backed project that complimented the Old West Trails Center, a refurbished limestone bank building.
"The individual rooms are named for families and decorated with their antiques and things that make it so special. It's been a wonderful compliment to the Trails Center. It's the kind of attraction that people wantn to go to the Rice Lodge.....send their friends to stay at the Rice Lodge. It's just a special and unique experience. It really works because Gwen..and of course, there's other volunteers...but she's really the one behind the scenes to just keep the wheels going."
Named as Outstanding Attraction in Gage County tourism was the Johnson Cabin Museum in Blue Springs…..a relocated and renovated cabin dating back to 1855….believed the second oldest structure of its kind in the state.
"They have probably the most extreme improvement I can think of...they actually moved the entire cabin to a safer, better location. Using the visitors improvement fund and with other matching helpful funds...they are on a new foundation with some improvements and repairs that were needed. And, a sidewalk with handicap access to the front door. That made the structure more sound...it's actually closer to where people can see it...and being safer for the guests who go."
The award for the Most Outstanding Event for the past year was presented to the Once in a Blue Moon Fall Festival in Cortland…a farmers and bakers’ market, with music and a chili cook-off. Lindsey Oelling operates Paper Moon Pastries in Cortland.
"I think it was 22 vendors last year....and the goal is to add fifteen more. I want to get some food trucks out. We already have four bands signed up to come out...bluegrass, country, a blues-jazz band and an accordionist. Everything is free....the chili cook-off is free. Everybody gets to try free food....you can get a cinnamon roll, for free."
The award for Outstanding Marketing Campaign was presented to Kristen Jensen of the Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce, for the Faces Behind the Places series of stories featuring individuals and attractions. Riesedul says the series has a good reach.
"It's been so successful and well-received that we continue this marketing campaign today. She started interviewing and photographing people at some of our local tourist attractions and tourist-related businesses...and sharing them on social media. They always get a lot of attention. Other people in the community love to see it....their family and friends are sending this around, like crazy."
This year’s Gage County Tourism award honorees are now also eligible for Nebraska State Tourism Awards.