FEBRUARY 3, 2025|
Photo – Town of Hanna, WY – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Carbon County Visitors Council is asking residents to develop ways to attract tourists and businesses to their areas.
Last year, the visitor’s council, also known as Discover Carbon County, created a tourism survey asking residents what, if any, changes were needed to increase visitors to our area.
The Visitors Council hired Saratoga business, Visions In Progress Marketing, owned and operated by Cindy Loose. VIP Marketing will meet with officials and residents from every municipality in the county and develop a strategy to improve economic opportunities through tourism.
Using data collected from her online survey, Loose created a community assessment for every town in Carbon County. The assessments contain a “comprehensive evaluation of each community’s image, assets, experiences, and reputation.”
Residents were then given an opportunity to be part of an interest group, tasked with brainstorming ways to use various state and federal grants to meet the goals set out by the community assessments.
On Thursday night, Cindy Loose and Carbon County Visitors Council Chief Executive Officer Leslie Jefferson met with about 20 Hanna residents to review the findings of the community assessment survey. Loose explained to the community members that the meeting was designed to figure out how to attract more tourists and businesses to Hanna without fundamentally altering the character of the town.
Loose said that since 2020, every municipality in Carbon County has lost population, except for Saratoga, which saw a 4.3% increase. Loose said changes are needed to attract people to our area. To do that, Carbon County must attract more tourism and tourism-related businesses.
As an example, Loose explained that before deciding to visit Hanna, a person may see an advertisement from the Carbon County Visitors Council. Afterwards, that person will do their own research on the available attractions and amenities.
Loose said that tourists will be drawn to Hanna because of its unique attractions, such as its mining history and open skies. However, tourists may avoid Hanna due to its remote location and lack of lodging.
The Carbon County Visitors Council completed tourism assessments on every municipality in the county. Each town is said to offer natural beauty and a small-town atmosphere. Unsurprisingly, the Visitors Council study found that most towns in Carbon County have limited dining and lodging options, as well as few in-town activities.
Speaking at Thursday’s meeting, Development Specialist Cindy Loose explained that Hanna is no different.
Loose specifically mentioned that the closure of the Hanna Recreation Center has contributed to the lack of activities for young people.
The development specialist said the completed tourism assessment is phase one of a larger project to rebrand Carbon County as a tourist destination.
The next step, said Loose, is for the community to work together to determine what can be done to improve economic opportunities in Hanna.
Community members attending Thursday’s meeting suggested improved signage directing motorists on Interstate 80 to Hanna’s fuel station and grocery store, even though the town is situated off the interstate corridor. Others pushed to reopen the town’s shuttered recreation center and indoor pool using grant money. Others expressed a desire for the town to lean into its coal mining heritage and develop interactive exhibits on coal mining and recreations of former mine entrances.
Carbon County Visitors Council CEO Leslie Jefferson explained that her organization can provide money to purchase signs. However, the Wyoming Department of Transportation has very strict regulations on the types of signs that can be installed along the interstate.
Development Director Loose encouraged the attendees to form their own boards to write grants and oversee the improvements they want to see.
A future tourism assessment meeting has been scheduled for February 24th in the Hanna town hall.
A link to the tourism assessments will be included with this story when it is posted to the Bigfoot99 website later today.
Carbon County Tourism Assessments: Community Assessments
