Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Visit Casper introduces new CEO, says county could access state wayfinding funds
Summary
Visit Casper introduced new chief executive Annette Pitts and told commissioners the organization has an allocation of state destination‑development funds that could help pay for mountain wayfinding signage if coordination with county parks proceeds.
Visit Casper’s board appointee to the county and Visit Casper board members introduced the organization’s new chief executive and briefed commissioners on a state destination‑development grant that could fund wayfinding signage for the mountain.
Renee Patton Jones, the county’s Visit Casper board member, introduced Annette Pitts as Visit Casper’s new CEO. Pitts, who moved from Washington state and described decades of experience in destination management, told commissioners she is “so profoundly happy to be here” and said she wants to prioritize communication with county leaders and jurisdictional partners.
Pitts said Visit Casper received a portion of Wyoming’s destination‑development allocation and that the county has about $600,000 a year for two years earmarked for destination development in the region; Visit Casper staff said the county’s portion could support mountain wayfinding signage if the county parks department and the city coordinate design and procurement. Pitts told the board the funds must be used by the end of 2026 and that Wyoming’s tourism office has signaled flexibility on proposed uses.
Parks Director Michael (surname not specified in the transcript) told commissioners a prior subcommittee developed sign content and received bids around $67,000 before the procurement lapsed; he recommended rebidding to capture current pricing and said installation was included in the original bid. Commissioners asked whether private camps and organizations on the mountain (camps, scout camp, science school) should be included on signs; parks staff said the subcommittee had earlier chosen not to include certain non‑public properties but that adding them could be possible by adjusting sign designs or adding panels.
Why it matters: State destination funds are time‑limited and could pay for infrastructure that improves visitor access and safety. Commissioners directed staff to explore procurement options, confirm installation and warranty details, and coordinate with Visit Casper and the Wyoming Office of Tourism.
Next steps: County staff agreed to coordinate with Visit Casper and parks staff to evaluate the prior bid packages, identify any design changes, and confirm whether the county needs a new RFP to include additional sites. Visit Casper said it will engage its executive committee before allocating funding set aside for the county.
