When the COVID-19 pandemic first began, it greatly impacted everyone’s lives and their livelihood. 

Now that the pandemic has reduced from its height of last year, one organization in Greene County has also seen a shift in how people are choosing to visit the area. Pat Richards is the Co-Chair of the Tourism Team with Jefferson Matters: A Main Street and Chamber Community and she says gone are the days of tourists mainly coming by way of a large group.

“Bus tours and organized groups has evolved into day-trippers and overnight-trippers, including groups of 2-4 (people), families, bicyclers of all kinds, and those just looking to take the road less traveled. And they have heard that those roads less traveled oftentimes can lead to Jefferson.”

Richards believes that some of this shift is due to the regional publicity the Tourism Team has established to reach a wider audience and because of the personal investment to travel to Jefferson, Richards feels these visitors are genuinely interested in the amenities that Jefferson and Greene County has to offer. Additionally, the Bell Tower Community Foundation reported that it hit its goal of 6,000 visitors at the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower, which is a record.