A visual display featuring Siloam Springs has found a new home at the Arkansas Welcome Center on U.S. Highway 412.
The showcase, which features photos and descriptive text about Siloam Springs, was originally created for display at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in 2013, where it greeted travelers at the airport for two and a half years. It will now be welcoming Arkansas visitors who stop for coffee, information or maps as they cross the state line between Oklahoma and Arkansas.
The visual display was created through a collaborative effort between the City, Chamber of Commerce, Main Street and John Brown University, according to Sandy Luetjen, marketing manager for the City of Siloam Springs. The organizations originally had an agreement with the airport for the showcase to be on display for a year, but it was allowed to stay for much longer, she said.
It features three large print photos, including images of Downtown Siloam Springs, John Brown University and the Siloam Springs Dogwood Trail System. Descriptive text includes mention of several tourist attractions in town as well as the city's strong economy. It was hung on the west side of the visitors center wall last week.
Many travelers think of Siloam Springs as only the area along U.S. Highway 412, Luetjen said.
"We're thrilled to see this showcase's new installment at the Siloam Springs Welcome Center," she said. "One of our greatest marketing challenges has been directing the public to the heart of the city...our beautiful downtown area. We hope that visitors will visit the historic district and experience the unique beauty of Siloam Springs and all that it offers."
Betty Ross, manager of the Welcome Center, estimated that between 400 and 500 vehicles stop at the Welcome Center each week. Although the showcase has only been up for a week, Ross said she has already received a number of positive comments from visitors.
The Welcome Center represents the entire state, but Ross said she always tries to sell Siloam Springs. She gets lots of questions about the best places to go antiquing and many visitors don't know about downtown Siloam Springs, she said.
The photos for the display were shot and donated for use by Feyerabend Photoartists. Lightning Bolt Advertising manufactured and installed the final arrangement at both the airport and now at the Welcome Center. Both projects were fully funded by the City of Siloam Springs.
The showcase can be viewed at the Arkansas Welcome Center, located at 2000 U.S. Highway 412. The center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information about the Welcome Center is available by calling Betty Ross at 479-524-4445 or emailing [email protected].
General News on 08/26/2015