The Wind River Visitors Council is excited to announce that fiscal year 2024 to 2025 finished strong for lodging tax collections in Fremont County. The year closed out at a record-breaking $1,061,267.78. For comparison, lodging tax collections in fiscal year 2023 to 2024 were $994,034.12. Following are some other updates.
Semiquincentennial County Committee
The Fremont County Commissioners recently formed a semiquincentennial committee. The Wind River Visitors Council is part of this committee, which has applied for an America 250 Grant in the amount of $10,000 to support an app-based historical scavenger hunt.
Continental Divide Trail (CDT) Awareness Week—August 24 to 30
The Wind River Visitors Council is partnering with South Pass City State Historic Site, the City of Lander, the Central Wyoming Climbers’ Alliance and local community members to host Continental Divide Trail Awareness Week. Highlights include community outreach, a special coupon for CDT thru-hikers redeemable at the Dance Hall/Gift Shop at South Pass City State Historic Site, a podcast promoting the CDT and a community hike on the CDT. Lander–South Pass City was designated as a CDT Gateway Community in 2022.
Resident Sentiment Survey
The Wind River Visitors Council worked in partnership with the University of Wyoming to release a resident sentiment survey for Wind River Country. This survey examines public perceptions of tourism, including economic development, environmental impacts, over-tourism, quality of life and other areas. The survey was launched during National Travel and Tourism Week, and the results should be available soon.
Podcast
Have you listened to the Wind River Visitors Council’s podcast, Wyoming’s Wind River Country: Yellowstone’s Unique Neighbor? The most recent episode visits with biologist John Mionczynski to discuss Sasquatch. July’s episode takes listeners to the Wind River Flywheeler Antique Tractor and Engine Show in Shoshoni. New episodes air on the fourth Thursday of every month.
Wayfinding Signage
This Destination Development Program project puts attractive signage throughout Dubois, Hudson, Lander, Riverton and Shoshoni. The signage will have a unified look while also representing each community’s unique personality. The Dubois, Lander and Riverton portions of the project will be finished this year, and the recently added Hudson and Shoshoni portions will be finished in 2026.
Conferences
Helen Wilson recently attended Destinations International’s Annual Convention. This premier gathering brought together destination marketing and tourism professionals from around the world for three days of learning, networking and inspiration. Helen is scheduled to attend the U.S. Travel Association’s Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) in August.
Events
Do you have events that you’d like posted to the Wind River Visitors Council’s website? Please send any events or packages to community@windriver.org. We can also get you Wind River Visitors Council publications (the Vacation Guide; 7 Self-Guided Driving Tours; the Self-Guided Map of the Wind River Indian Reservation; and the Wind River Indian Reservation and Discover Dubois self-guided mobile audio tour rack cards), as well as provide you with the Wind River Visitors Council’s calendar of events for distribution in your newsletter, publication, news source, etc.
Board Meeting
The next Wind River Visitors Council Board Meeting is Thursday, July 24, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Shoshoni Senior Center, 214 E Second Street, Shoshoni. Wind River Visitors Council meetings are open to the public.
About the Wind River Visitors Council
The Wind River Visitors Council, a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), is charged with the responsibility of investing lodging tax revenues to facilitate wider promotion and marketing of Fremont County and the Wind River Indian Reservation (branded as Wind River Country) as a tourist and visitor destination.
Tourism Asset Development (TAD) Program
The TAD program is a voluntary program that is unique to Wind River Country. The Wind River Visitors Council gives 25% of the local lodging tax back to the communities in the percentage that they contribute to the lodging tax. Depending on occupancy rates, these numbers are constantly changing. These funds are distributed by the Lander Chamber of Commerce; the City of Riverton; and the Towns of Dubois, Hudson and Shoshoni to market the communities. Marketing efforts may include events, grants, educational programs and more.
The Wind River Visitors Council’s mission is to stimulate tourism by increasing awareness of, and encouraging visitation to, the unique destinations, activities and events in Wind River Country.