RMNP visitation up almost three percent

Park officials reported to the Local Marketing District (LMD) at last week`s meeting that park visitation to date was up 2.98 percent over last year, with 2,863,799 tourists getting the real Rocky experience.

Looking at the numbers counted coming through the gates, LMD treasurer Scott Webermeier said a total of 2,475,358 were recorded and questioned how the other 388,441 were getting in.

"Are they coming over the border? Is there more action at Lily Lake?" he asked.

October`s visitor numbers for Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) were down about 19.34 percent from October of 2008. Park officials say that may be because of wintry weather throughout much of that month, including Columbus Day weekend. The last day Trail Ridge was open to through traffic was Oct. 3. It was closed the rest of October, and officially closed for the season on Oct. 21.

Also, Timber Creek campground, normally open year-round, closed for the season on Sept. 28, for beetle mitigation work. It is scheduled to reopen in May of 2010.

LMD members said town sales figures reflect the trending down of traffic in the park in the month. Webermeier called the slippage a "nosebleed," while board member Elizabeth Blanchard said she has noticed a slight downturn, but not much.

Peter Marsh of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) marketing department said that they have run out of 2009 Visitors Guides to mail and that Visitors Guides downloads continue to run 40 percent ahead of 2008.

He informed the LMD that Gourmet Magazine, a "good performer," is no longer with us. "We have always had success with Gourmet, and will miss its contribution to our lead generation and brand-building program."

Gourmet represented a "significant part of our magazine buy," at $17,000 and was a good partner, Marsh said. The marketing committee suggested replacing it with digital display advertising, rather than going to another magazine.

"This approach represents a further shift to a digital version of display advertising rather than print alone," Marsh said. "It is important to remember that we need to use display advertising to drive traffic to the Web site."

LMD director Peggy Campbell said she continues to work on adjusting the budget for 2010 and will have a draft for the board`s review in a couple of weeks. Campbell said she will provide the town with a memo of understanding concerning accounting. Webermeier will continue to manage the incoming LMD funds, she said.

Join ClimbingLife Guides for winter activities including backcountry skiing and avalanche seminars.

Blanchard said plans for the Winter Festival in January are coming together. At the recent Halloween festivities downtown, the festival committee distributed 800 mini-flyers (similar to the colorful posters hanging in shops windows downtown).

"We`re excited," she said. "We`re marketing it toward locals, too. That will make it a much more successful event."

The event will include a sanctioned chili cook-off on Saturday, Jan. 16, and a local chili cookoff on Sunday, Jan. 17. To complement the food, the event organizers and the wine association are arranging for permits to serve beer and wine in Bond Park. Blanchard hopes to be able to sell keepsake glasses with the beverages. Other food will be available at vendor tents in the park.

The town will be helping to haul in snow for the snowman-making contest in the park. A Winter Festival banner will be placed in town before the festival, and there will be one advertising it at the Catch the Glow parade. There will be ads for the festival on Estes Park Channel 12, at the Reel Mountain Theater and in an insert in the paper.

The LMD will have a work session on November 24 at the CVB, and its next regular meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the Municipal Building.