-Press Release, Vance County Tourism Development Authority
The much anticipated annual Show, Shine, Shag & Dine, and East Coast DragtimesHall of Fame & Reunion scheduled for October 16 and 17, 2020, in Henderson will not take place this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Vance County Tourism Development Authority had remained extremely positive that the show would go on until the recent extension of Governor Roy Cooper’s Safer at Home Phase 2 mandate regarding large gatherings that is in effect until September 11, 2020.
After continued monitoring of NC COVID cases, apprehensions concerning COVID-19, observing other large scale crowd closures, day-use areas and public facilities at State Parks remaining closed, and the unknown state and/or local mandates that may still be in place at that time, the Vance County Tourism Development Authority Board of Directors made the extremely difficult decision to cancel the 19th Annual Show, Shine, Shag & Dine, and East Coast Dragtimes Hall of Fame & Reunion scheduled for October 16 and 17, 2020.
At this time, there will be no rescheduling of the event for 2020, but we are looking forward to seeing everyone on October 15 and 16, 2021 for what we hope will be the biggest Show, Shine, Shag & Dine, and East Coast Dragtimes Hall of Fame & Reunion ever.
The extended Safer at Home Phase 2 mandate has also made it necessary for Vance County Tourism to cancel the fireworks that had been moved from July 4, 2020, to Sunday, September 6 (Labor Day weekend).
Hopefully, COVID numbers will continue to go down and we can get events and activities scheduled again. We look forward to seeing everyone next year!
Pam Hester, Executive Director
Vance County Tourism Development Authority
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0116_tourism1.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-08-17 12:03:142020-08-17 12:03:14Vance County Tourism Announces the Cancellation of Fireworks, Annual Car Show
-Information courtesy Vance County Tourism Development Authority
Due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the Independence Day fireworks event was postponed from July 4 and has tentatively been rescheduled for Sunday, September 6, 2020. The ability to hold the event will depend entirely on local and state mandates and guidelines in place at that time.
The Labor Day Weekend Celebration will include fireworks over the water at Satterwhite Point at Kerr Lake in Henderson, NC. Events will be held from 3 until 10 p.m.
This family-friendly event will feature a DJ providing a wide variety of music, Boho the Clown, bounce houses and other activities for kids.
The NC State Parks 2020 interpretive theme is “The Year of the Fire.” Kids can learn about fire safety from Smokey the Bear.
Food vendors will be on-site, and t-shirts and glow sticks will be sold. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and a flashlight.
Enjoy music, food and fireworks under the stars! Come by boat or by car.
$7 per car gate fee charged by NC State Parks. Use of bounce house included in gate fee.
NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED!
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/wizs_0002_Layer-2.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-06-01 10:42:582020-06-01 10:42:58Kerr Lake Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration Moved to Labor Day Weekend
Vance County Tourism Development Authority’s Pam Hester and Norman Dickerson appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.
While seemingly a bit early in the year to discuss the Fourth of July Fireworks at Kerr Lake and the fall car show, Hester explained that the planning of these events is a “year-long process.”
The 19th Annual Show, Shine, Shag & Dine Classic Car Show will be held in downtown Henderson on Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17.
“We are up to our eyeballs with car show and fireworks,” said Hester. “We are hoping to make the car show even bigger and better than it was last year if that is at all possible.”
New for 2020, Southern Classic Cars will hold an additional cruise-in event on Sunday, October 18, giving car show enthusiasts another day of entertainment and providing local businesses such as hotels and restaurants another day of visitor revenue.
Located at 117 Horner Street in Henderson, Founder and CEO Charles Bowman and staff plan to hold a cruise-in the third Sunday of every month beginning in March, according to Hester.
“This will get people used to coming to car shows in Henderson and give our annual car show visitors a reason to stay one more night,” Hester said.
For the fireworks show scheduled for Saturday, July 4, with activities planned from 3 until 10 p.m., Hester and Dickerson said it takes multiple agencies and volunteers working together to make everyone’s Independence Day fun, and more importantly, safe.
“Between 14-16 agencies are involved in the fireworks show – governmental, state, other regulatory and volunteers” explained Dickerson. “It takes a good coordination of all these organizations to make the 20 minutes of kaboom happen.”
Events such as the car show and fireworks display aren’t possible without collaboration between organizations and between counties, Hester said. “Everybody in the five-county area has a unique, individual thing to offer and each of the five counties can benefit from the uniqueness of the other four counties if we all work together.”
Giving an example, Hester said Henderson does not have enough hotel rooms to accommodate all of the visitors to the annual car show. As a result, guests spill over into neighboring counties that enjoy the economic boost from hotel room rentals, restaurant meals consumed, gas purchased, etc.
“Norman and I can’t do what we do on our own,” Hester said. “We have to have collaboration, and I feel like we have formed some very valuable partnerships with other agencies and people in this county. That’s what makes us successful.”
For more information on Vance County Tourism events, please visit www.kerrlake-nc.com.
To hear the interview with Hester and Dickerson in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0116_tourism1.png.png265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2020-02-27 17:00:072020-02-27 17:00:07Town Talk 02/27/20: Planning Underway for Kerr Lake Fireworks, Henderson Car Show
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
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The 18th Annual Show, Shine, Shag & Dine event held in downtown Henderson this past Friday and Saturday featured over 450 cars, 20 Corbitt vehicles, two cruise-ins, four bands, two DJs, 44 vendors and an estimated 25,000 visitors, according to Vance County Tourism Director Pam Hester.
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington said, “This was another positive, progressive day for Henderson and a testament of teamwork at its best. For the streets of downtown to be full of thousands of people shows what we truly have to offer and we are looking forward to many more days like this in the future.”
Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess said, “It was just a great day to be in Vance County on Friday and Saturday. Our Chamber was busy leading up to the event answering phone calls from folks wanting to know names of hotels, hours of operation, if dogs were allowed and other similar type questions. For the first time, our Chamber and presenting sponsor Boyd Chevrolet helped to sponsor a band on the main stage at Breckenridge Street from 3 – 6 p.m. It was well-received, but the late afternoon cool temperatures and drizzle probably sent a few home early.
I personally met and talked with visitors from Mebane, NC, Richmond and Charlottesville, VA, and Darlington, SC who drove in to visit our town. Vance County Tourism had the event well organized and there were plenty of local volunteers who stepped up to help. It was just a fun day to enjoy meeting up with local neighbors and meeting new visitors.”
The Corbitt Preservation Association’s Tom Burleson told our Susan Rose of WIZS that 39 visitors came to the old Bennett Perry house at Church and Chestnut Street to visit the Corbitt Museum, a record for a single day.
In addition to a Corbitt car, which is the only one of its kind known of at this point, the association also had a rare Corbitt fire truck on display in front of NC’s oldest operating fire station in downtown Henderson.
You can join the Corbitt Preservation Association and see lots more by typing Corbitt into the search box on Facebook.
In a Facebook conversation between WIZS and listener Rosemarie Renn, Renn said, “It was a great day and a great event. Pam Hester, Norman Dickerson and everyone involved did a fantastic job. In fact, it was the best in 18 years because there were a variety of food vendors and other vendors, something for everyone instead of just car stuff like it was in the past.”
The 18th Annual Show, Shine, Shag & Dine event held in downtown Henderson featured over 450 cars, 20 Corbitt vehicles, two cruise-ins, four bands, two DJs, 44 vendors and an estimated 25,000 visitors. (WIZS photo)
The Corbitt Preservation Association displayed a rare Corbitt fire truck in front of NC’s oldest operating fire station in downtown Henderson. (WIZS photo)
The Corbitt Preservation Association displayed the body of a Corbitt automobile, recently found in Greensboro, NC, which is the only known one of its kind. (WIZS photo)
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Show-Shine-2019.png265504John C. Rosehttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngJohn C. Rose2019-10-22 16:55:532019-11-06 11:43:06Annual Show, Shine Event Draws Estimated 25,000 Visitors to Henderson
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Information courtesy the Vance County Tourism Development Authority
Don’t miss the 18th Annual Show, Shine, Shag & Dine on Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19, 2019, in downtown Henderson. 1988 and older antique cars, classic cars, nostalgia drag cars, muscle cars, street rods, rat rods and trucks will cover a ten-block area of Garnett Street in Historic Downtown Henderson.
The weekend festivities include car judging, live entertainment, food vendors, miscellaneous vendors and much more.
The Corbitt Preservation Association will also host their annual Corbitt Truck Show and Reunion on Saturday, October 19 in downtown Henderson from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The association will have its newest find, a rare 1911-1912 Corbitt Automobile body, on display.
Additionally, the Corbitt Museum will be open to visitors on Saturday. The museum is located at 180 Church Street, Henderson.
This world-class car show is one of the largest tourism draws and economic boosts to Vance County each year. Local hotels, gas stations, restaurants, stores and places of entertainment all benefit from the dollars spent over the weekend.
2019 Show, Shine, Shag & Dine Schedule:
Friday, October 18
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. ~ Pre-show Cruise-in and BBQ cookout for $12 per plate. Meal served 12 – 2:30 p.m. Open to all makes and models 1988 and older and all spectators. Location: Satterwhite Point Park, Kerr Lake, I-85 – Exit 217.
5 – 9 p.m. ~ Southern Classic Cruise-in will be held at 117 Horner Street in downtown Henderson. A DJ will be spinning your favorite tunes from the past and Chick-fil-A will be on site. Cruise-in parking will be located in the 700 block of S. Garnett St. Watch for signs.
Saturday, October 19
7:30 – 11 a.m. ~ Car registration – enter from W. Winder Street. Open to all makes and models 1988 and older. Antique cars, classic cars, nostalgia drag cars, muscle cars, street rods, rat rods and trucks. Judged cars $25; other vehicles $20. Dash plaques to the first 400 cars.
7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. ~ MAIN EVENT – 18th Annual Show, Shine, Shag & Dine Car Show and East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame. Live entertainment, kids entertainment, DJ, food, vendors, judging and award presentations on Garnett St. in downtown Henderson.
For more information, please visit www.kerrlake-nc.com or call 1-866-438-4565.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2019-Show-Shine.png265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2019-09-19 16:59:092019-09-19 16:59:09Downtown’s 18th Annual ‘Show, Shine, Shag & Dine’ Set for Oct. 18-19
“I fished flooded bushes and trees, mid-lake, along an approximately 20-mile stretch,” said Walser, who logged his 12th career win in BFL competition – tied for second most all-time. “I used a spinnerbait early, and then I flipped.”
Walser said he used a ½-ounce white-colored Rush Lures double-willow-bladed spinnerbait with a chartreuse and silver glitter Zoom Split Tail trailer on 20-pound-test Berkley Big Game line. He flipped a green-pumpkin Zoom Baby Brush Hog with a 3/0-sized Berkley Fusion 19 EWG hook and a 3/8-ounce Eco Pro tungsten flipping weight. For flipping, he opted for 20-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100-percent fluorocarbon line.
Boater Robert Walser of Lexington, North Carolina, brought five bass to the weigh-in stage totaling 15 pounds, 10 ounces, to win Saturday’s T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) North Carolina Division tournament on Kerr Lake. For his efforts, Walser took home $5,718. (Photo courtesy FLW)
“I caught more than 30 keepers. It was hard initially, but after it warmed up it got easier,” said Walser. “We had a severe cold front come through Friday afternoon and the temperatures dropped rapidly – maybe 20 degrees in 30 minutes. It rained following the temperature change, so we had a few hours of cold rain. I think it had an effect on the fish I was targeting, but after noontime I caught four or five limits.”
Walser said he ended up weighing one off the spinnerbait, and the rest from the Brush Hog.
“Some of those spinnerbait fish in the morning were at those deeper bushes, and my Garmin Panoptix showed me the submerged bushes I couldn’t see, which really helped me out,” said Walser.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Robert Walser, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 15-10, $3,718 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
2nd: Dustin Clontz, Albemarle, N.C., five bass, 14-8, $1,909
3rd: Jake Frye, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 14-0, $1,388
4th: Scott Beattie, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 13-10, $898
5th: Scott Hamrick, Denver, N.C., five bass, 13-8, $655
5th: Randy Childers, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 13-8, $805
7th: Jason Wilson, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 13-6, $990
8th: Carson Orellana, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 13-0, $513
9th: Michael Stephens, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 12-8, $456
10th: Ryan Deal, Indian Trail, N.C., five bass, 12-7, $399
Wilson caught a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $420.
Jeff Scism of Shelby, North Carolina, won the Co-angler Division and $1,709 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 12 pounds, 5 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Jeff Scism, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 12-5, $1,709
2nd: Larry Freeman Jr., La Crosse, Va., five bass, 12-3, $1,105
3rd: Wayne Smelser, Rural Retreat, Va., five bass, 11-1, $620
4th: Charles Wood, Thomasville, N.C., four bass, 10-15, $609
5th: Maverick Canipe, Kings Mountain, N.C., five bass, 10-1, $342
6th: Dwayne Parton, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 9-13, $413
7th: Mark Murphy, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 9-12, $285
8th: Barry Burford, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 9-11, $256
9th: Grant McPeters, Marion, N.C., four bass, 9-10, $228
10th: John Cook, Matthews, N.C., five bass, 9-9, $199
Wood caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 4 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $210.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina, presented by Navionics. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518L with a 200-horsepower outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518L with a 200-horsepower outboard.
The T-H Marine FLW BFL North Carolina Division tournament on Kerr Lake was hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority.
The 2019 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
The 2019 BFL All-American will be held May 30-June 1 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland, and is hosted by the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism and the Commissioners of Charles County. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Robert-Walser.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-05-01 16:57:162019-05-01 16:57:16Walser Wins T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing Tournament at Kerr Lake
Boater R.J. DeGrandcourt of Clarksville, Virginia, caught five bass Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Shenandoah Division opener on Kerr Lake. For his catch, DeGrandcourt took home $2,585.
According to post-tournament reports, DeGrandcourt caught his bass fishing flats on the upper end of the lake with a Bomber Speed Shad crankbait.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: R.J. DeGrandcourt, Clarksville, Va., five bass, 18-7, $2,585
2nd: Ben Dalton, Keeling, Va., five bass, 16-5, $1,175
3rd: Travis Lugar, McGaheysville, Va., five bass, 15-9, $784
4th: Jack Dice, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 15-0, $759
4th: Thomas Svec, Chesapeake, Va., five bass, 15-0, $509
6th: Curtis Talbott, Forest, Va., five bass, 14-15, $631
7th: Michael Delvisco, Dandridge, Tenn., five bass, 14-1, $392
8th: Derik Hudson, Concord, Va., five bass, 13-11, $752
9th: Rick Hawkins, Roanoke, Va., five bass, 13-10, $313
10th: Craig Wright, Rustburg, Va., four bass, 13-1, $150
DeGrandcourt also caught a 6-pound, 9-ounce bass – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $235.
Kyle Richardt of Raleigh, North Carolina, won the Co-angler Division and $1,175 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 12 pounds, 7 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Kyle Richardt, Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 12-7, $1,175
2nd: Trey Grow, Mechanicsville, Va., five bass, 11-6, $587
3rd: Louis Britos, Disputanta, Va., five bass, 10-10, $393
4th: Jamie Newton, Falls Church, Va., four bass, 10-9, $254
4th: Timothy Kinder, Manassas, Va., five bass, 10-9, $354
6th: Brandt Thompson , Richmond, Va., five bass, 10-7, $215
7th: Gregory Chuhta, Germantown, Md., five bass, 10-5, $196
8th: Danny Crickenberger, Charlottesville, Va., four bass, 10-0, $293
9th: Billy Brown, Dahlgren, Va., five bass, 9-13, $157
10th: Al Berkley, Madison Heights, Va., five bass, 9-12, $50
Crickenberger caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $117.
The tournament was hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority.
Boater R.J. DeGrandcourt of Clarksville, Virginia, caught five bass Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Shenandoah Division opener on Kerr Lake. For his catch, DeGrandcourt took home $2,585. (Photo courtesy FLW Fishing)
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina, presented by Navionics. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518L with a 200-horsepower outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518L with a 200-horsepower outboard.
The 2019 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
The 2019 BFL All-American will be held May 30-June 1 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland, and is hosted by the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism and the Commissioners of Charles County. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/R.J.-DeGrandcourt-Fishing-Tournament-Winner.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-04-10 17:00:302019-04-10 17:00:30DeGrandcourt Wins T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League Opener on Kerr Lake
The FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) tournament season will continue Saturday, April 6, with the T-H Marine FLW BFL Shenandoah Division tournament on Kerr Lake. Up to 400 boaters and co-anglers will be competing for top awards of up to $8,000 and $3,000 respectively in the one-day tournament.
WHEN:
Saturday, April 6, 2019
Takeoff: 7 a.m. EDT. Weigh-In: 3 p.m.
Nutbush North
115 Jack Wade Farm Rd
Henderson, N.C.
Hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority
Kerr Lake is set to host a great day of bass fishing for Shenandoah Division competitors. According to recent local fishing reports, quality bass are being taken on crankbaits on main-lake points. The area of the lake between Clarksville and Eastland Creek is said to be fishing strong. If your boat needs repairs, then you have to get it to a repair shop (you can check it out).
In past BFL events held on Kerr Lake this time of year, spinnerbaits on main-lake points near Nutbush Creek, flipping bushes for spawning bass and running bushes with a crankbait has produced winning bites. Working a Carolina-rig for bass on deeper points could be a good choice as well. A five-bass limit nearing 19 pounds should be enough to take the grand prize at this early-April BFL derby.
The 2019 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
The 2019 BFL All-American will be held May 30 – June 1 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland, and is hosted by the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism and the Commissioners of Charles County. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For complete details and updated information, visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsresize_0000s_0078_vance-tourism-lake-sun.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-03-27 17:08:102020-09-22 06:31:38Kerr Lake Set for T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League Opener
Pam Hester and Norman Dickerson, director and assistant director, respectively, with the Vance County Tourism Development Authority, were on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the importance of tourism dollars.
With warmer temperatures and spring weather on the horizon, the tourism office has turned their attention to upcoming fishing tournaments on Kerr Lake. With 10 tournaments already booked for this year, the tourism development authority is well on their way to matching or topping the 16 tournaments they were involved in for 2018.
“Those 16 tournaments brought in $1.1 million to Vance County last year, so we think fishing tournaments are extremely important to our local economy,” Hester said.
Norman Dickerson (left) and Pam Hester (right) with the Vance County Tourism Development Authority talk with WIZS about upcoming tourism events. (WIZS photo)
According to Hester, the average visitor spent $115 a night on a hotel room and $156 a day when traveling from out-of-town to fish on Kerr Lake in 2018.
Hester said she and Dickerson are also in the early stages of bringing a regional fishing tournament to the area for October 2020 and a national tournament to the lake by April 2021.
With potential prize draws such as $50,000 cash, boats and vehicles, the goal is to attract fishermen from other states who would stay longer, and thus spend more tourism dollars in Vance County.
Recently, Kerr Lake added to its reputation as a must-experience fishing destination with its inclusion on Fishing University, an internationally televised, Emmy-nominated television show. Hosted by Charlie Ingram and Ray Brazier, the 30-minute episode filmed on the lake and in various locations around Vance County first aired January 7-13, 2019.
“After the first quarter segment aired, Vance County Tourism received a mailing list from Fishing University with 38 different organizations or people, from 17 different states, who had requested information about Kerr Lake. We consider that a success,” Hester explained.
According to a previous press release issued by Fishing University, the Vance County episode will air 10 times in each quarter of 2019. WIZS will update our listeners and viewers when specific broadcast dates are released.
In addition to fishing, Hester said Kerr Lake offers camping, boating, water/jet skiing and so much more. “Vance County has a goldmine with the body of water that we have,” said Hester.
In addition to fishing tournaments, Fourth of July fireworks and the Show, Shine, Shag & Dine Car Show held in downtown Henderson each fall, Hester and Dickerson are looking into new ways to increase tourism spending.
Tourism dollars are especially important when one considers the money they save Vance County taxpayers. “For 2017, the most recent year figures are available, vendor spending reached over $50 million,” Hester said. “According to the NC Dept. of Commerce, that saved every taxpayer $100.”
In the meantime, Hester reminded listeners that Vance County has a lot to offer residents and visitors alike by way of “entertainment venues, great, locally-owned restaurants, historic museums and, of course, Kerr Lake.”
The Internationally televised, Emmy-nominated television show, Fishing University, that filmed here in the early Fall, will air the episode featuring Kerr Lake and Vance County this week. The show features not only the lake but local dining, activities and attractions.
Fishing University holds a viewership of more than 63 million households, airing in all 50 states as well as in 51 additional countries. The Vance County Tourism Department played host to the crew taking them to sites that had the potential to draw in visitors to enjoy what we have to offer here in Vance County. When the offer to film the show came, the Tourism Department viewed it as a strategic marketing opportunity to reach a target audience of potential guests seeking an outdoor travel destination.
Within each 30-minute episode of the show, a 90-second promotional spot will be included. The spots will be created to mirror the marketing efforts of the Tourism Department. Hosts Charlie Ingram and Ray Brazier will also include numerous mentions of their location during each show.
In addition to filming promotional spots and fishing, the hosts and film crew also presented a one-hour program at Vance County High School and shared with them the importance of attaining an education and the outdoor career options available to them. The school will also be featured during the show.
The Vance County episode will air 10 times in each quarter all year.
Codes for Channels: Outdoor Channel = ODC; Sportsman Channel = SPM; WFN=WFN
The air days and times for the 1st quarter of 2019 are:
Mon., Jan. 7 9 a.m. ODC; 10:30 a.m. SPM
Wed., Jan. 9 3 a.m. WFN; 6 a.m. ODC; 9 p.m. WFN
Fri., Jan. 11 4 p.m. WFN
Sat., Jan. 12 8 a.m. ODC; 11 a.m. SPM
Sun., Jan. 13 4:30 a.m. SPM; 10 a.m. WFN
As one of the longest-running Outdoor TV shows, Fishing University is celebrating 33 years of bringing quality fishing programming to avid viewers. Each week they hit the water accompanied by friends and professionals in the industry, as viewers are engaged in a competitive show that is packed full of ‘how to tips’. Not only is the show exciting, but it also lets people in on ‘tricks of the trade’ from some of the very best in the outdoor industry. Fishing University can be seen on the Outdoor Channel, World Fishing Network and The Sportsman Channel in all 50 states and 51 other countries. To see the entire schedule, go to www.fishingu.com, and be sure to visit Fishing University on Facebook.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Fishing-University.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-01-07 16:58:232019-01-07 16:58:23TV Show Featuring Vance County to Debut This Week!
