Lee board preps for the county’s visitors

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

BISHOPVILLE -Lee County’s efforts to attract tourism now has organization and structure.

The Lee County Tourism Board held its first formal meeting on Wednesday at the Lee County Chamber of Commerce Office.

Organized by chamber officials, the newly established organization is made up of chamber members and Lee County representatives of the Pee Dee Regional Tourism Board of Directors.

Spokesman Larry Vaughn, who is the owner of RadioShack of Bishopville, said the chamber has already been assisting travel agencies and tour services when they ask about coming to visit one of the area attractions - usually Pearl Fryar Gardens.

“We have to market ourselves,” Vaughn said. “You know, those of us who live here don’t realize what we have that is of interest to other people.”

Chamber Executive Director Pam Kelley said the county is fortunate to have a number of attractions and places of interest.

“Pearl Fryar’s garden is our number one attraction,” Kelley said. “People call to say I’m coming to see Pearl, ‘What else do you have?’”

Kelley is quick to identify the South Carolina Cotton Museum, the James House, the Button Museum, the Mary McLeod Bethune Park, Whitehaven Stables, Emmit Acres Alpaca Farm and the Opera House.

Millie Scott, one of the eight members of the tourism board, said the county has a great opportunity to generate tourism revenue.

“Pearl Fryar is bringing people into this county and when they come they want to know what else can they do,” Scott said.

Kelley and chamber officials will be the focal point for setting up tours by working directly with tour bus companies such as Capitol Tours of Columbia, Vaughn said.

“We have already been doing some of this,” he said. “But we’re going to work to establish some packages. It’s going to be easier for the bus companies and their customers. They’ll pay one fee to the chamber and we’ll distribute the money to the various attractions.”

Vaughn said members of the tourism board recognize they are taking on a “big undertaking.”

“Everybody is excited about it,” Vaughn said. “I like to remember and quote what the late Ray Butters would say all the time when he was talking about the airport. You get people to come to Bishopville and they might buy a hot dog while they’re here.”

In fact, Vaughn said the tourism board wants to have a meeting of business owners representing tourist attractions, restaurants, motels and other businesses to brainstorm about ways to promote the town.

“We could have a downtown walking tour where people could go to the cotton museum, the James House, the Opera House, the Artists’ View (art gallery and frame shop), the Iron Gallery, and have lunch at one of our restaurants,” he said.

Vaughn said the board is also interested in securing local volunteers who would be willing to accompany tour groups as they visit the various attractions.

“This would be someone familiar with local history and would be able to tell stories about our county and its people,” he said. “I think we have a number of people who would be interested in doing this.”

Anyone interested in serving as a tour volunteer or sharing ideas on how to promote Lee County tourism should call the chamber office at (803) 484-5145.

Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533.

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