|
214 East Main is home to three organizations promoting area |
|
|
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
During the past decade a number of businesses have left the downtown Caledonia district to relocate along the Highway 44/76 business corridor. The reasons for the business relocations are numerous…larger lots to construct new buildings, more room for larger parking lots, more visibility and potential customer traffic because of the highway.
While Caledonia hasn’t lost a massive amount of businesses, as many small rural communities have, the exodus from the downtown district to the highway has left many storefronts empty. This gives visitors the perception the community is on the decline.
Activity at the wood-framed building at 214 East Main Street, which is home to the Caledonia Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Houston County Fair Board continues to increase. Earlier this year the Historic Bluff Country Board of Directors agreed to open a second tourism office, and chose to locate it in Caledonia at 214 East Main.
“Having Bluff Country here is a big boost for Caledonia and all of Houston County,” Chamber President Mike Werner recently said. “Historic Bluff Country conducts the majority of the tourism promotion for the area, and Caledonia’s name will now be on every promotional piece they send out.”
According to Executive Director Brady Bergey, HBC recently printed up close to 900,000 promotional pieces, and the two addresses on each piece are the original Harmony address and the address in Caledonia.
The Caledonia office will help the regional tourism association to better partner with Houston County communities and businesses with their celebrations and promotions.
“The tourism industry is continuing to grow in Southeast Minnesota. And most of the growth potential is here in Houston County,” Bergey said last week, while working at the Caledonia office. “The people in the Caledonia area are very enthusiastic about the growing tourism industry. Caledonia is a very good fit for HBC.”
Bergey pointed out Houston County has so many outdoor activities to offer, including fishing, hunting, hiking, snowmobiling, canoeing, biking, camping, and boating. With the Root River Trail extending into Houston County several years ago, and plans to have it connecting with the Wisconsin Trails System in the near future, the area is getting to be a prime destination for bikers and hikers.
Houston County also has a large number of campgrounds, including four public and private campgrounds within 15 minutes of Caledonia. The campgrounds, area bed and breakfasts, and hotels and motels are also very big tourist draws and are being promoted, as is the fact the Mississippi River is just 15 minutes from Caledonia.
The area is also home to an ever-growing artisan group. HBC hopes to promote existing art tours, and will help the various communities in the area to develop future arts festivals.
“This area has so much to offer,” Bergey noted. “Because this corner of the state was settled first, there is much history…many historic buildings and sites. And Caledonia’s niche with hot air balloons is another area I feel can be further developed. It’s another possible draw.
“HBC agreed to establish a second office in Caledonia because the Caledonia Area Chamber of Commerce asked us to locate here,” Bergey continued. “I’m sure other communities in the county are wondering why Caledonia. Number one, because we were asked, and secondly, it’s the county seat and centrally located in an area where we feel we can continue to develop this industry.
“Caledonia is really embracing the tourism idea. People keep coming up with more promotions,” Bergey said. “The barn quilt idea is something I feel could become a very big draw to the area. I think the Scottish Heritage is another event that is unique to Caledonia. And as tourism continues to be developed here, I think you will see more specialty shops opening up in the downtown area. Caledonia has a great downtown area. There are many beautiful, historic buildings. They are a perfect fit for the specialty shops.”
At the present time, Bergey is spending one day a week (Wednesday) at the Caledonia location. The multi-use office located at 214 East Main is staffed 8 to 12 Monday through Friday by Chamber Secretary Lori Klug. Some afternoon hours are being staffed by volunteers, but more volunteers are always welcomed. And during the summer months preceding the county fair, the office is a flurry of activity with the Houston County Board staff preparing for the late-August event.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 |
