This week is National Tourism week and although tourism for Morgan County isn’t at its peak during this period, Visit Morgan County’s Executive Director Tosha Daugherty said it’s just the beginning of the tourism season in Morgan County.
“It’s a week to celebrate the industry. Tourism is the 10th biggest industry in the state,” Daugherty said.
According to a recent Visit Morgan County news release, visitors spend about $23 million each year in Morgan County and support more than 430 local jobs and $9.3 million in total wages and proprietor income. The local tourism industry grew at a rate of five percent between 2013 and 2014. That makes Morgan County number six out of all 92 Indiana counties in tourism spending growth. Tourism is currently the tenth largest industry in Morgan County, not including government.
“Morgan County has several different kinds of tourism — leisure, business and visiting friends and family,” Daugherty said. “Recent research says that a lot of our tourism is based on people visiting family or friends, maybe coming home to visit.”
She said a lot of tourists in Morgan County come from Indianapolis or Bloomington to take weekend or day trips.
“We get a lot of camping, outdoorsy things,” Daugherty said, adding that the Morgan-Monroe State Forest is a significant attraction for nature lovers.
Hunter’s Honey Farm is another great attraction, she said.
“They offer lots of tours and group things,” Daugherty said. “A lot of families go out there.”
In the fall, attractions like apple orchards, corn, and pumpkin patches are popular, Daugherty said.
“Right now, we’ve got a lot of people out there looking for spring flowers and morel mushrooms,” Daugherty said. She said Willowfield Lavender Farm is another popular attraction. The farm is located just north of Martinsville. Another popular location in the area is the Art Sanctuary and other local art studios.
“Morgan County has a lot of small towns that have that friendly feel,” Daugherty said. “It feels like you can walk around on your own and discover things.”
More popoular attractions in the area include Grandpa Jeff’s Trail Rides in Morgantown, Anderson Orchard in the fall, Cedar Creek Winery and Brew Co., local antique shops, link Observatory Space Science Center and the local restaurants. Festivals and events are popular destinations for travelers in the area. The Morgan County Farmers Market, Artie Fest, Fall Foliage Festival, Colonel Vawter Day, the Monrovia Festival, Eminence Harvest Days and Paragon Homecoming Festival draw big crowds.