Page 52 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County

CHAPTER 3: THE WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM SECTOR

Washington County’s What about Weddings?
Rural Tourism Mix: As indicated by the comparison chart series in Figure 3.4, 52 of 127
Findings of Note rural sites researched host celebratory and corporate gatherings. Of
Based on the county’s analysis, these 52 sites, 41 or almost 80 percent offer their sites for weddings
as indicated in Figure 3.4:
(more than 30 percent of all sites researched). Figure 3.5 shows the
• The on-site farm stand share of wedding sites by sector/subsector. Sites within the “Farms
or store is by far the ru- & Nurseries” and “Wine, Beer, Sake, Spirits” sectors/subsectors are
ral tourism practice most the majority and about equal in share, but recreational sites also
utilized by site operators (91 make up a sizable portion of wedding sites (including golf courses,
out of 127 sites), especially public and private parks, and even a zip line operation). Within the
at farms/nurseries and "Historic/Cultural" subsector, many sites are historic churches,
vineyards/wineries. where weddings would be expected.

• Overnight stays are the
least offered or least pub-
licized option, indicated on Figure 3.5: Sites Offering Weddings in Rural Washington County
only eight of the 127 sites.
Despite the small niche,
however, research results
indicate that overnight
stays are offered in five
sectors/subsectors of the
seven.

• Culinary experiences are
the one type of rural tour-
ism activity clearly of-
fered in all seven sectors/
subsectors, regardless of
primary property use.

• Culinary experiences,
celebratory and corporate
gatherings, and educational
opportunities appear to be
widely offered mainstays –
each hosted by 50 or more 41 Surveyed Sites Host Weddings
of the 127 sites analyzed,
and in almost all of the

seven sectors/subsectors.

48 WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY