Billie Jean Osborne's Kentucky Opry, Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, tour buses and the Arm Drop Drags were among the topics discussed at the Prestonsburg Tourism Commission's meeting on July 21.
The meeting was the first for new Prestonsburg Tourism Executive Director Brooke LeMonds, who most recently served in a similar position in Paintsville before accepting her new job. Commission Chairman Jim Ousley welcomed LeMonds to her first meeting.
"As you all know, I've only been here for about two weeks, and last week I was pretty much out of town the entire week," LeMonds said. "I went to director's college last week in Elizabethtown, which was put on by KACVB (Kentucky Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus). They had people that have been in the tourism industry. Directors that had been in it for a long time facilitated the classes. It was a plethora of knowledge. I thought I knew a lot about tourism. I thought I was in a comfy spot, and I learned stuff that I didn't even know, didn't even know that I needed to know. So I think it was a great experience to go down and do that. I haven't got to do a whole lot just yet."
Ousley said director's training is "very important," noting that tourism commissions were created by state statutes to collect and oversee the spending of restaurant and hotel tax revenue.
"The money that is collected here is voted in advise and consent from this commission," he said. "This commission has total control of that money. It doesn't matter what it says anywhere else."
Mountain Arts Center Executive Director Joe Campbell told the commission during the public comments portion of the meeting that the Kentucky Opry's summer season has been good.
"I just ran some loose numbers yesterday," he said. "It's probably been the best financially we've had in three years. Looks like new blood has helped. I actually hired a marketing person just for the Kentucky Opry. I got overrun with it and wasn't doing a very good job; I'll go ahead and admit. So, I've hired a marketing person just for the Opry. He's changed a lot of things, some fresh ideas. Looks like it's helped. We've had a pretty good Opry summer season, probably the best in about three years."
Ousley thanked Campbell for working with the tour buses that come through Prestonsburg.
"Tour buses are a huge driver for tourism in Eastern Kentucky," Ousley said. "I know people really don't know how much it does. A small bus will do about $5,000 a day in the local economy that wouldn't be here otherwise. Pure tourism. If they stay the night, it's optimal tourism. That means they do it twice. Minimal, they spend up to $15,000 a bus per day in our local economy ... They're here to spend money, and they want to spend money. One thing that I found out over the last 30 years of doing this, we're damn good at it. I mean, we are good at it."
Ousley asked Campbell if the MAC's tracking of visitors is going well, and Campbell said they have "a good system."
"We track the geo area from where the guests come from that come here, so we can target certain areas with marketing," Ousley said. "If we see an influx of people coming from Canada or Providence in Michigan or whatever in Louisiana, we can actually target that area. They're coming here for a reason."
Ousley said Prestonsburg Tourism's goal is that "for every dollar we spend, we try to get seven in return."
Gina Rose, president and board chair of the Kent Rose Foundation, addressed commission members about the upcoming Arm Drop Dragz, which she said will be Oct. 23-24 at Combs Airport, which is located in Johnson County but jointly owned by the cities of Prestonsburg and Paintsville.
"First, I want to thank you for the continued support," Rose told the commission. "Since the Arm Drop Dragz was brought back in 2023, Prestonsburg Tourism has become more than a sponsor. You have been a true partner in helping us promote our community, welcome visitors and grow an event that has become one of the nation's most sought-after no-prep drag race events. As we continue to build this event, our goal remains the same -- to create an experience that attracts visitors, supports local businesses, showcases our region and gives back to our community."
Nearly 5,000 spectators and 240 racers attended last year's event, Rose said. adding that more than 200 hotel and motel rooms were booked for the event. Butch Patrick, who played Eddie Munster on the 1960s television series "The Munsters," was a special guest at last year's event, she said.
Rose said the Prestonsburg commission normally gives the event $15,000, but she "consistently" requests $25,000. Ousley said the commission would review the request and take action at the August meeting.
Also addressing the commission was Jenny Wiley State Resort Park manager Tracy Garland, who gave an update on the various construction projects at the park.
"Things are still move along at the park," Garland said. "We still anticipate the lodge hopefully opening in May of '27. The campground should be done in December, but it will not be opening until March or April. The marina -- have you been by lately? -- is looking great down there. We're excited. The new marina store is going to have food and other things that it hasn't had in the past, and we're looking at it being done in December, hopefully."
Garland said renovations are still planned at the Wilkinson-Stumbo Convention Center.
"We're supposed to be getting an all-new interior, new audio/visual equipment, new flooring, new furniture," she said. "It's going to be super great."