Efforts to restore and conserve five important natural and historic sites in Virginia, Florida, Texas, Oregon and Maine were recognized with Phoenix Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) at their annual convention in Guadalajara, Mexico on October 12, 2009.
The annual awards, given since 1969, are to recognize individuals or organizations actively involved in conservation, preservation, beautification and anti-pollution campaigns that further the growth and appeal of North American travel destinations.
Journey Through Hallowed Ground, Waterford, Virginia
This program created awareness of the 179-mile corridor "Where America Happened,” by working with the National Park Service and Congress to establish Route 15/20 from Gettysburg in Pennsylvania to Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia, as a National Scenic Byway.
The program launched a national awareness of the four-state region by designating one of the 11 most endangered places in the United States by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Congress passed legislation that designated the Journey Through Hallowed Ground the 38th National Heritage Area; President Bush signed the bill into law May 8, 2008.
The purpose of this was to educate people how the consequences of wrong decisions can affect the economics of heritage tourism. Several thousand acres of private lands have been put into conservation easements. The entire 179-mile corridor (of 10 counties and more than 15 townships) have been named State Scenic Byways.
Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Ft. Myers, Florida
The Edison & Ford Winter Estates are among the top ten most visited historic homes in the nation with more than 200,000 visitors a year. Mrs. Thomas Edison deeded the property to the City of Fort Myers more than 60 years ago in memory of her husband. Since 1947 the Estates have been open to the public and are considered one of Florida’s premier heritage tourism attractions.
Over the years, millions of visitors and the Florida climate compromised the site. In 2003 the Estates began a six-year restoration effort to return the site back to the 1929 period. The success of the project has brought the site back to life. Restoration of the Estates included the Edison main house, Edison guest house, Edison caretaker’s house, Ford home, Moonlight Garden, Rose Garden, seawall and the historic landscape of the site.
Today visitors from around the world visit the Estates and return to a bygone era as they discover two of the greatest American inventors through the Estates unique historical, scientific, botanical and cultural experiences.
World Birding Center, McAllen, Texas
The Lower Rio Grande Valley on the southern edge of Texas is a migratory “bird funnel of the flyways” of international significance. Its location along the Texas-Mexico border is a critical stopover habitat for millions of birds.
More than 500 documented species that migrate between North, South and Central America have been documented in the Valley. Dozens of the birds that have been sighted here cannot be seen anywhere else in the United States.
Unfortunately, at the beginning of the 20th century, farmers and developers began large-scale clearing of the land, eliminating 95 percent of the original native brush and riparian woodlands. The World Birding Center, a network of nine sites spread along 120 miles of river road from Roma down to South Padre Island, is a global model for conservation and ecotourism. It is restoring the area with lush native vegetation, while making “green” choices in its approach.
The first site, Edinburg Scenic Wetland, opened in 2003 and the final one, South Padre Island, will open near the end of this year after being delayed by a direct hit from Hurricane Dolly last year.
Three sites are state parks, while the other six are city operated. The World Birding Center, which opens up more than 10,000 acres – some for the first time – for prime viewing, provides a solution to both the local habitat, as well as local residents. The McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau reports that birding and other nature tourism activities generate at least $125 million and provide 2,500 jobs a year in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV). One rare bird spotting alone can generate $100,000 in economic benefits for the local community.
Not only are the WBC sites saving and restoring critical wildlife habitat, but its interpretive programs educate thousands of schoolchildren about the importance of the environment so they can help protect it and in turn, birds and other wildlife will continue to enrich this area for years to come.
Gerding Theater at the Armory, Portland, Oregon
The Gerding Theater at the Armory is a performing arts space that was created from Portland's historic 1891 Armory building, whose beautiful turrets and faux parapets give the structure a castle-like appearance. Sitting unused, and in dire need of repair, the Armory looked as though it might face razing.
A renovation project by the City of Portland (Portland Development Commission) and Portland Center Stage theatrical company, however, transformed the historic building into a state-of-the-art performing arts space (holding both a 600-seat main theater and 200-seat smaller venue) that entertains more than 100,000 visitors and residents each year.
The Gerding Theater is a fantastic illustration of Portland's reputation for sustainability, a trait that visitors to the area often seek out. The very first building on the National Register of Historic Places to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum status, the theater is the highlight of walking tours showcasing Portland's many green elements. The Gerding is also the first performing arts center in the U.S. to be awarded LEED Platinum status.
Maine Huts & Trails, Kingfield, Maine
Maine Huts & Trails (MH&T) began with a vision to preserve public access to natural and scenic areas in western Maine and bring sustainable economic development to the region. Now, operating more than 30 miles of trails and two full-service, backcountry lodges (huts), MH&T is drawing more than 3,000 people a year to the region to take part in accessible, healthy, outdoor recreation.
By the year 2012, MH&T expects to attract more than 10,000 visitors per year to the state to travel along a 180-mile corridor, staying in one of 12 huts. Each of the huts operates off-the-grid and is powered by a combination of green energy sources. The Maine State Office of Tourism has been looking to bring more visitors inland away from the increasingly crowded coastline. MH&T has been a catalyst for branding inland Maine as a world-class, nature-based tourism region.
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) is a non-profit professional association that works to promote responsible travel journalism and to provide professional support for its members, including travel journalists, photographers, editors, electronic media, film lecturers, television and film producers, and public relations representatives from the travel industry.
For more information on the Society of American Travel Writers, visit: www.satw.org.
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