Commissioners hear tourism update

McCOOK, Neb. -- Carol Schlegel said she used to collect good tips in her parents' restaurant on pheasant season opener weekend back in the day, but the days of a large influx of hunters are long gone.

Experts blame the drought and declining habitat for fewer pheasants, but another bird has taken up the slack somewhat, according to Schlegel, who has been Red Willow County Visitors Bureau for the past 11 years after serving as a volunteer for many years before that. She said about 200 bird watchers come to McCook each year to observe the prairie chicken mating ritual.

During her annual report to the county commissioners -- two of them serving their first term -- Schlegel said "birders" are a desirable market to attract, many of them retired professionals like college professors or single women with disposable income they're willing to spend on travel and lodging in order to enjoy their hobby.

Local Chicken Dance Tour visits usually take two days, with a briefing the night before an early morning trip to the "lek" on land owned by Angus Garey south of town.

The privilege of observing the mating ritual costs $125 per person, which covers expenses, not counting the motel stay, the tax on which supports the Visitors Bureau.

Two other Chicken Dance Tour stops in Nebraska fell victim to the pandemic, Schlegel said, increasing McCook's share, but the Visitors Bureau's "Red Willow County Birding Challenge" has also meant that bird-watching opportunities have expanded from the few weeks covering prairie chicken mating to a year-round activity.

Local birding opportunities are also promoted to the thousands of visitors who flock to the Platte Valley to observe the annual Sandhill crane migration.

The bureau's entire budget comes from lodging taxes, starting at 1% in 1982, increasing to 2% in 1992 and boosted by another 2% by a local vote in 2013 which could be used for capital improvements, with the remainder designated for the promotion of tourism.

Visitors Bureau Chairman Dan Stramel emphasized that no local taxes go to support the program, and he commended Schlegel for her abilities to work with others in five local counties as well as her connections with the state.

Examples of local projects the Visitors Bureau has supported include the Buffalo Commons Storytelling and Music Festival, the McCook Art Guild second-floor HVAC project and the Heritage Hills Golf Course.

Asked by Commissioner Chairman Ted Gans about the Nebraska Passport state tourism program, Schlegel said it was "pretty competitive" and in the past, she had gone around to local businesses to encourage them to apply. Last year, "Sew Blessed" in McCook was one of the stops, but this year's stops have not been announced.

Commissioner Randy Dean encouraged Schlegel to contact Indianola about the annual ranch rodeo, and Gans asked her to come to the county board with any ideas that might require county support.