ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County is proving a popular tourist destination with no shortage of events and attractions.

On Wednesday, Belmont County Tourism Director Jackee Pugh delivered a quarterly report covering summer and fall to the Belmont County Board of Commissioners. The motto “Small Towns, Big Communities” featured in her marketing strategy to promote the area.

“Belmont County is known for it’s small-town hospitality and friendly, laid-back atmosphere,” Pugh said, adding that her office is promoting the area’s historic character and connecting residents with visitors. “Our rich history and heritage have carried through and are celebrated at our events and festivals throughout the county.”

Pugh reviewed some of the recent activities such as the Run for the Wall, when 350 veteran motorcyclists from across the country stopped at the courthouse on Memorial Day. Pugh said the Run for the Wall will likely stop over in Belmont County again next year.

Other events during the quarter included the Barton Polka Festival and the 173rd Belmont County Fair. Pugh said the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival boasted 200,000 views and engagements on social media during the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off and parade.

Pugh also noted that Blame My Roots country music festival in July was also highly promoted and well attended by music lovers from more than 29 states. The festival will not be held in 2023, but plans are in the works for a 2024 concert.

In addition, the Great Stone Viaduct has unveiled a newly completed walking trail and plaza along the iconic 150-year-old viaduct in Bellaire.

Pugh said camping and outdoor activities also continue to attract people wishing to “unplug” and visit scenic sites.

“We have amazing weather this fall,” she said.

She said according to Oxford Economics, a global economic forecasting and econometric analysis company, tourism generated a total economic impact of $255 million in Belmont County in 2021 compared to $246 million in 2019, including $147 million in direct visitor spending and $35 million in total tax revenues.

“Visitor volume and spending, although (they) were significantly impacted during COVID, are now on the rebound,” Pugh said. “We are not back to pre-pandemic levels, but we’re getting close, and we’re excited about what the new numbers will show in the coming years.”

Another source of opportunity is the state’s $500 million investment in Ohio’s Appalachian counties. Pugh said this could add to the county’s attractions in many ways. Applications for planning fund dollars for feasibility analysis are open and due Dec. 9.

“The Tourism Office has been very involved with some of the planning,” she said, adding she has worked with the Belmont County Port Authority and community leaders. The Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association is also working with tourism directors from area counties to form a plan for a “tourism trail” to connect the region’s counties. Pugh said OMEGA will submit a grant application for a combined project among several tourism offices. Applications for project development will be submitted in October.

She pointed out developments such as an Intel chip plant in Franklin County and a World Heritage site in Licking County that likely will bring more people and travelers to the region.

“In Belmont County, I think we have a huge gem in the Underground Railroad Museum (in Flushing) and an opportunity to develop some of the known stops of the Underground Railroad. There are 35 known documented stops in Belmont County. I think there’s potential to build a tourism trail around those stops with some signage and some information and really embrace the heritage we have with the Quakers and how they played such a huge role,” she said, adding that while some of the stops are in houses that are currently being used, others are not on private land.

Pultney Township Trustee Frank Shaffer commended the tourism office for expanding.

“You had to go through the pandemic, which couldn’t have been easy,” Shaffer said. “Even through the pandemic you’ve made this county grow as far as tourism.”

Pugh credited prior tourism director Barb Ballint for “laying the groundwork” before she took the office a year ago.

“I’m blessed with the resources that they’ve built and I’ve inherited,” Pugh said.

There has also been an increase in lodging tax income, which provides funds for the Tourism Council to work with and allows it to provide grants to Belmont County museums and events.

“We’re not quite back to the level that we were in 2019 prior to the pandemic, but those numbers have seen an increase monthly,” she said.

Lodging tax income from January through October of this year is $430,000 compared to $300,000 in 2021, and about $300,000 in 2020. She noted the income for this past October was $57,000, about $30,000 higher than October of last year.

“That number is still shy of 2019 pre-pandemic numbers.”

There will be events through the weekend. Pugh said the Martins Ferry Winterfest begins at noon this Saturday, Dec. 3, and Christmas in the Ville in Barnesville continues Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3-4.

“Both of them are offering skating rinks for the public. They’ll have music, they both have 5K races,” Pugh said. “The more things that we can promote and do in the county to bring people in, the better it is for those lodging facilities.”

The Belmont County Tourism office’s website is visitbelmontcounty.com.