St. George Lighthouse Association Receives Tourism Grant from VISIT FLORIDA
The St. George Lighthouse Association, in partnership with the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association, the St. Marks Refuge Association, and the St. Joseph Historical Society, has been awarded a Cultural Heritage and Nature Tourism grant by VISIT FLORIDA. The announcement of the award, in the amount of $5000, came during the Commission’s June 18 meeting in St. Augustine.
The grant funds, along with contributions from the lighthouse associations, will be used to produce a brochure that details a self-directed driving tour of lighthouses along the coast comprising Wakulla, Franklin, and Gulf Counties. Lighthouses on the tour will include the Cape St. George Light, the St. Marks Lighthouse, the Crooked River Lighthouse, and the Cape San Blas Lighthouse. The brochures will display a map of the drive between the four lighthouses, and with each lighthouse will include a history and description, contact information, a picture, the days and hours when the lighthouse can be viewed, and mention any amenities such as parks, museums, playgrounds, or visitor centers.
The brochures will be on display at the five Florida welcome centers, the welcome centers of neighboring states, the Tallahassee Airport, visitor centers, chambers of commerce, other lighthouses, and other locales frequented by tourists and visitors. Press releases describing the tour will be distributed to national publications of interest to lighthouse buffs, maritime enthusiasts, and history fans. The tour will provide another attraction of the type that emphasizes the family and eco-fun theme currently being promoted by the involved counties.
“We were pleased that VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida Commission on Tourism selected us from among a large number of grant applicants, during their most competitive grant cycle to date,” said Dennis Barnell, president of the St. George Lighthouse Association. “These funds will be used to make more people aware of the maritime history of our area and show off the outcome of the many hours and great efforts that have resulted in restoration and reconstruction of several lighthouses in our region.”
The grant was written by Elaine Rosenthal , director of the St. George Island Visitor Center, with planning and review by Terry Kemp of the St. George Lighthouse Association, Robin Will of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Arlene Oehler of the Crooked River Lighthouse Association, Sheila Hauser and Suzanne Zimmerman of the Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce, and Charlotte Pierce with the St. Joseph Historical Society. A long weekend with special events at each of the lighthouses is planned for early spring.
“The purpose of these grants is to help non-profit entities and local governments stretch their tourism marketing dollars in an effort to expand cultural heritage and nature tourism activities in Florida,” said Kerri Post, Vice President of New Product Development for VISIT FLORIDA. VISIT FLORIDA, a private/public partnership, is the Florida Commission on Tourism’s day-to-day operating corporation and the state’s official source for travel planning.
Lighthouses in the picture, from left to right: the St. Marks Lighthouse, the Crooked River Lighthouse, Cape St. George Light, and the Cape San Blas Lighthouse
For more info, contact: Elaine Rosenthal 927-7744 or 850-323-1008 sgilight@fairpoint.net