Discovery Park of America

??? NEW PODCAST ALERT ??? Josh Collins is the founder and CEO of Main Street Mentor, a purpose-built organization serving the critical yet underserved Main Street, Chamber and tourism economies of America’s most beloved places. In this episode, you’ll discover his inspiration for starting a small business, tips and tricks for those who want to make things happen in their industries and ways destinations in rural communities can grow. This episode is sponsored by Excel Boat Company, LLC.

??? NEW PODCAST ALERT ??? Berkley Bryant, the reigning Miss South Carolina Volunteer, captured the prestigious title of Miss Volunteer America 2025 earlier this year. Bryant was selected because she embodies and exemplifies the organization's values of service, compassion and leadership. In this episode, she shares her inspiration for entering the competition and what she has discovered along the way. ... This episode is sponsored by Excel Boats.

Thanks to our amazing partner, Magnolia Place, children 17 and under can once again enjoy free admission to Discovery Park of America throughout January 2025. There are many events, experiences and programs to look forward to in the new year, including the return of the popular exhibition, Real Bodies. Learn more from the link below.

NEW PODCAST ALERT Ross Houghton is the marketing manager for Visit Brownsville TN, the destination marketing organization that promotes Haywood County, Tennessee. In this episode, Houghton shares how a little boy from Bulgaria grew up in West Tennessee, how travel and tourism inspired him to take on his current role and more. This episode is sponsored by Excel Boats.

Last week, Discovery Park had the honor of being the venue for the 2024 Al-Tn-Ms Rural Tourism Conference, held right here in Obion County. We welcomed passionate leaders, innovators and community members who are dedicated to building and promoting tourism in rural areas. A heartfelt thank you to Gov. Bill Lee, TDTD Industry Commissioner Mark Ezell, Discover Reelfoot, the Obion County Chamber of Commerce, NWTN Tourism, along with all the sponsors, partners, vendors, speakers and attendees for their commitment to strengthening tourism in our communities.

Get ready to light up the holiday season at Discovery Park. The 2024 "Let it Glow" walk-thru and drive-thru opens on Friday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m., kicking off the light shows with a special ceremony. Join us for a magical evening featuring holiday favorites performed by internationally acclaimed soprano Sabrina Warren, an ensemble from The Jackson Symphony - Jackson, TN , the Voices of Union City Elementary student choir and a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Opening night is free for Discovery Park members. Admission to the walk-thru is $5 for all other guests with ages three and under free. The drive-thru is $10 per vehicle, but will also be free for members on November 15 only.

??? NEW PODCAST ALERT ??? Cole Bizwell, a fourth-generation towboater from Rives, Tennessee, is carrying on a family legacy on the Mississippi River as a senior deckhand with Ingram Barge Company. In this episode, Cole reflects on following in the footsteps of his grandfather and great-grandfather and shares how he’s using social media to document his experiences on the river. This episode is sponsored by Jarred Mayo: Allstate Insurance. https://lnkd.in/e9QM7xhu

??? NEW PODCAST ALERT ??? Tennessee’s regional library system is composed of nine multi-county regions. Jenny Gillihan is the executive director of our area’s Obion River Regional Library which serves nine counties in Northwest Tennessee. In this episode, sponsored by Jarred Mayo: All State Insurance, Gillihan shares more about her path to the library, her passion for sharing a love of reading and the rewards of living and working in rural communities.

??? New Podcast Alert ??? Brooke Simmons is an “agtrepreneur” from Hickman, Kentucky who helps operate First Love Farms, a you-pick experience featuring fresh flowers and pumpkins. In this episode, she shares information about starting a new business and more. We’d also like to thank Brooke for being a part of Pumpkin Village. First Love Farms is one of the 10 businesses that have put together a great fall-themed photo op spot in Discovery Park’s 1800s frontier settlement. This episode is brought to you by the Hatchie River Conservancy. This podcast episode is available on?Soundcloud,?Castbox,?Apple Podcasts,?YouTube,?Spotify,?and other popular podcast platforms and apps.

The Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee Rural Tourism Conference has announced the schedule and special guests for the annual conference to be held October 21-23, 2024 in Union City, Tennessee. Making a special appearance to meet attendees to Northwest Tennessee will be country music singer-songwriter Darryl Worley. Worley’s six albums have produced 18 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including three number ones. The conference, hosted by Obion County Tourism, will meet primarily at Discovery Park of America. The three-day event is for rural tourism and travel professionals throughout the southeast and includes programs, tours, evening events and networking opportunities. The complete schedule is available at almstnruraltourism.com.