T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Belmont County Tourism Council Director Barb Ballint reports on the past three months’ tourism Wednesday.

By ROBERT A. DEFRANK

Times Leader Staff Writer

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County Tourism Council Director Barb Ballint reported on a busy tourism quarter from October through December on Wednesday and told county commissioners she has high hopes for 2020.

Major events in the past three months were the Rubberneck Tour in October, based in and around the community of Flushing; Powhatan Point’s Christmas in the Village in early November; and Winterfest in Martins Ferry in late November.

“Our Rubberneck Tour was probably the best Rubberneck Tour we’ve ever hosted,” she said, noting that about 400 people participated. “People in Flushing said they haven’t seen their streets that busy for years.”

Ballint said Christmas in the Village attracted hundreds of people from the local area and beyond, while Winterfest continues to grow every year.

“That could be a premiere event in Belmont County,” she said of the Martins Ferry festival.

The tourism council also created the Mattox Award for individuals who have encouraged tourism and promoted Belmont County’s attraction. The award is named in honor of the late John Mattox, a historian and community leader who died this past July. The inaugural award was presented to Mattox’s children, John Mattox Jr. and Suzanne Evans, at the tourism council’s Christmas Dinner. Together with a new board of directors, they are working to ensure continued operation of their parents’ Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing.

Ballint said the tourism council has invested in advertising county events and has seen attendance at fairs, festivals, attractions and events increase. She reported distributing 12,000 visitor guides locally, statewide and beyond. Local businesses may advertise in the visitor guides.

“We’re going to continue to market this way throughout 2020,” she said. “We’re probably around fourth now in the tourism industry in the state of Ohio as far as the number of followers we have coming to our social media platforms. I’m very proud of those numbers and just excited to see what 2020 brings.”

Ballint reported $26,500 spent on print advertising, $15,000 on digital marketing, $19,000 on outdoor advertising, $4,000 on trade shows and $17,000 on brochure printing and distribution.

Ballint reported Jamboree In The Hills remains on hiatus and she does not expect the longtime country music festival’s return, but she sees great potential in the new Blame My Roots festival, held the same weekend in July just across U.S. 40 from the JITH site.

“But I do feel confident the replacement on the same weekend will one day take the place of that, and it’s taking it back to the roots of what Jamboree In The Hills was,” she said.

She congratulated Deluxe Toy & Hobby, named among the best toy stores in the state by Ohio Magazine.

“It is a unique experience when you go through the doors of that toy store,” Ballint said. “We need more unique experiences in this area. That’s what going to bring people.”

Ballint said the construction of a Hampton Inn near the Ohio Valley Mall is another positive sign.

“There is a bright future. With Chick-fil-A and a hotel being built and other economic development … they are investing in the future,” she said.

“Tourism efforts and economic development efforts mesh together,” Belmont County Commissioner J.P. Dutton said.