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Local tourism offices report rising visitors, new exhibits and events as they prepare for 2025 season
Summary
Coffeyville and Independence tourism officials told commissioners about more than 10,000 visitors to the Old Condon Bank visitor center in 2024, major special exhibits and upcoming events tied to the World Cup and other regional draws.
Representatives from the Coffeyville tourism office and the Independence Chamber of Commerce presented quarterly reports to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, outlining visitor numbers, recent projects and upcoming events for 2025.
Wyatt (tourism director) said the Old Condon Bank Visitor Center saw more than 10,000 visitors in 2024 representing about a dozen countries, and the office’s 12‑month digital campaign produced roughly one million impressions. The tourism office highlighted two new downtown solar benches with charging ports and ADA access (installed in partnership with the Cherokee Nation), and it hosted traveling exhibits including a NASA exhibit and a Tuskegee Airmen/WASP exhibit in partnership with the Coffeyville Aviation Heritage Museum.
The office also reported an outreach program for second‑grade students from the Caney School District and a wayfinding signage project planned with the 2023 Leadership Coffeyville class, with installation targeted for summer or early fall 2025. Tourism staff said they are exploring additional regional advertising and preparing to capitalize on international visitors expected in the Kansas City region during the 2026 World Cup.
Candy Westbrook and Lisa Wilson briefed commissioners on related regional tourism work, noting ongoing partnerships with Southeast Kansas Tourism, Travel Industry Association of Kansas and the Southeast Kansas Museum Alliance. Independence’s report documented a long list of events and conferences that bring visitors — from Little House on the Prairie anniversaries and the Central Park Sports Complex tournaments to aviation events, outdoor sporting events and organized group visits — and it noted specific grant support for promotional materials and events.
Why this matters: tourism events and targeted advertising draw out‑of‑county and out‑of‑state visitors who use hotels, restaurants and local attractions, generating bed‑tax revenue and supporting downtown businesses.
Commissioners thanked the presenters and encouraged continued collaboration to capture visitors in the region; presenters asked to be informed if commissioners hear of regional advertising opportunities or group conferences that could be steered to local venues.
