Chilhowie Community Christmas Tour
On Sunday, December 2, 2007, from 2:00p.m. until 8:00p.m., the Chilhowie Organization for Art, Community, and History (COACH), will host the 2007 Christmas in the Valley of Many Deer, A Chilhowie Community Tour.

Homes and businesses featured and decorated for the season include the Bell home, the Simpson home, Custom Solutions Realty, H.L. Bonham Regional Development and Tourism Center, and Pretty Girl Station at The Cottages. Tickets are $10.00 and may be purchased at The Art Place, Pretty Girl Station, Greevers Drug Store, the H.L. Bonham Regional Development and Tourism Center, and Berry Home Centers in Chilhowie, at Framing Unlimited and Berry Home Centers in Marion, from COACH members, and from homeowners. Proceeds will be used to benefit the new Chilhowie Walking Trail.

Chilhowie residents and businesses are encouraged again this year to decorate their homes and businesses with deer decorations in keeping with the "Valley of Many Deer" theme. Call 646-5258 for more information. Visit www.visivirginiamountains.com/christmas_tour.html.

New Visit Virginia Mountains Video
As part of a class project for Dr. Teresa Keller's class, Emory and Henry student, Robbie Tullock created a promotional video for the tourism center and the Virginia Mountains. The three minute video showcases Smyth County's rich history and attractions and the place to learn about them- the H.L. Bonham Regional Development & Tourism Center. The video can be viewed by visiting www.VisitVirginiaMountains.com/video.html

Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale
The H.L. Bonham Regional Development & Tourism Center will be hosting its second annual Hometown Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale. The sale will feature wonderfully unique and handmade items from local citizens. It will take place during the busy shopping season, Friday November 23, 2007 to December 31, 2007. If you are interested in participating, please call (276) 646-3306 for more information.

Emory and Henry Students perform work at tourism center
On September 22, 2007, Emory and Henry students, faculty and staff worked at the tourism center restoring the iron fence as part of an inaugural day of service. The group got a tour of the center and learned about Smyth County's history and attractions. The staff and volunteers would like to say Thank you to all those individuals and businesses who helped make this project possible. To read more about the Inaugural day of service, visit www.visitvirginiamountains.com/day_of_service.html

ARC Grant - Update
In June 2007, The Smyth County Tourism Association was awarded a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission who partnered with the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant, called the Appalachian Gateway Initiative: Natural and Cultural Heritage Tourism Development, is part of ARC’s effort to promote asset-based economic development in Appalachia. The initiative emphasizes the inclusion of the arts in tourism development projects. Seven organizations and communities, including Smyth County, were awarded the grant out of a total of thirty-six applications. Smyth County is the only Virginia community awarded this grant.

The ARC has hired the The Conservation Fund (TCF) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) to conduct the assessment that the tourism association has been awarded. One representative from each organization will be visiting December 5-7, 2007 to tour the area and meet with a mix of folks from tourism related attractions, natural & outdoor recreational resources and history/heritage sites. Please call (276) 646-3306 for more information.

Hollywood visits the Virginia Mountains
Watch video previews of the movie Grizzly Park, which was filmed in the Virginia Mountains. Hear the actors describe the natural beauty of the area. Locations in the movie include Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area and Hungry Mother State Park. www.grizzlypark.com/video5.html

Backpack to Virginia's Highest Peak
Check out this hike listed in the Southeast Edition of Backpacker magazine, by visiting Backpacker.com