2017: A Success

This week marks my one-year anniversary with the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau. The role of the Abilene CVB is to market the community and provide services to tourists and groups visiting and convening in Abilene. We all measure success in different ways, from visibility and press mentions to sales, awards and pride. Regardless of how you define success, 2017 was a great year in Abilene.

Press Mentions:
From pitching story ideas to writers, hosting bloggers, sharing photos and responding to inquiries, managing websites and maintaining positive relationships, the Abilene CVB strives to bring attention to our community. In the last 12 months, Abilene's name has been included in dozens of newspaper, magazine and blog stories. By no means is this list exhaustive, but it provides a "sample" of Abilene's earned-media visibility:
Social Media:
In the last 12 months, the Visit Abilene Kansas Facebook page increased its page likes by 72% with an engagement (reactions, comments and shares) of nearly 50,000 and a reach of 1.4 million. Abilene, Kansas has more Facebook Likes than any town west of Topeka on I-70.

The Abilene CVB also filmed dozens of Facebook Live sessions showcasing our attractions and events to viewers around the country. If you watched the cattle loading the train during the CT 150 celebration, Abilene's Fourth of July Fireworks or sneak peek of the Seelye Mansion with Terry Tietjens, we were there behind the camera. 
 
E-Newsletter:
Each week we compile activities, events and positive stories to share with our readership. The Abilene Tourism Advocate, the CVB's weekly e-newsletter, was opened more than 57,000 times.
 
Booths:
From the Kansas State Fair to the Eisenhower Marathon, Trails, Rails and Tales, Kansas Sampler Festival, Fort Riley's "What's Outside of the Gate" and Apple Days, as well as the Reitz and Rust Vintage Markets, the Abilene CVB hosted booths promoting all there is to see and do in our community.
 
Visitors Guide:
With credit to long-time Abilene CVB director, Glenda Purkis, the Abilene CVB printed 50,000 copies of its 2017 Visitors Guide. The CVB not only distributes these guides in our community, but also pays for distribution at stops along I-70 and Wichita and partners with other state-designated visitors centers to carry our information. To date, we distributed nearly 40,000 of these guides. 
 
Room Sales:
Abilene's 2017 Transient Guest Tax collections totaled nearly $200,000, this equates to nearly $2.5 million in rooms sales. The TGT collections were nearly 25% more than in 2016. Case-in-point, visitors are staying in Abilene and spending money in Abilene.

Abilene Visitors Center Sales:
Sales in the Abilene CVB Visitor's Center are up more than $6,000 from 2016. Please stop in to check out our Abilene merchandise this holiday season. We still have Kirby House Cookbooks!

Awards:
In 2017, Abilene was named one of Smithsonian Magazine's "Best Small Towns to Visit" - a designation we carry proudly. Abilene's Eisenhower Presidential Library was also named the "Best Kansas Attraction" by USA Today. MSN.com recognized Abilene as the "Most Adorable Small Town in Kansas" and True West Magazine named Abilene the #3 Top True Western Town in the Country. These aren't insignificant accolades, these designations lend credibility to Abilene as a five-star destination.

As we wrap up 2017, we will share visitor data from our tourism partners. This data helps showcase the number of visitors to our five-star attractions and serves as a baseline from year-to-year. 

All of this being said, we can do better. We will do better. And I'm very excited about the future of tourism in Abilene.
 
Thank you to Abilene's previous tourism directors for laying a positive foundation to build from, as well as Abilene's tourism partners, community leaders, supporters and everyone who visited in 2017. Together, we can continue to grow Abilene's tourism industry.
 
#AbileneProud

 
Julie Roller
Abilene CVB Director


Abilene Welcomes New City Manager









Schedule compiled in partnership with the Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce, Abilene Parks & Recreation department and Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau.



*Schedule will be updated as activities are added. 

Holiday Homes Tour

A rich assortment of homes, from
quite small to positively generous, will be featured in the 2017 Homes for the Holidays tour,  Dec. 2 and 3 .

A beautifully preserved Craftsman style home owned by Lauren Baune and Sandra Bacon,  904 N. Kuney , was built in 1919 by T. Lester Welsh, an executive with Abilene Flour Mills. One of its features is quite uncommon - a walkway across the stairs leading to the second floor. The home was owned by immediate family members until 2014.

Another home with strong ties to Abilene's essential history is owned by Mark and Kathy Struss,  1106 N. Buckeye . It was 1955. Dwight D. Eisenhower, perhaps the most famous living general in the world, was now president of the United States, and the Eisenhower museum had just been completed. J. Earl Endacott, the museum's first director, built this home. Today, Kathy works for the presidential library.

One of the more memorable homes on the tour is owned by Connie Brunner, 305 N. Vine. Built in 1895 and modest from the outside, it is stuffed with extraordinary collectibles from around the world.
Another outstanding example of Craftsman style is the home owned by Mary Burtzloff,  702 N. Cedar . It was built by Henry Litts, mayor of Abilene from 1924-29, and today exhibits an appealing mix of original woodwork, period accessories and modern conveniences.

Homes that pass through many owners often reflect the individual tastes and preferences of the people who lived there. The house at 803 N. Cedar is a case in point. Built in 1886, it has been home to a hardware store owner, retired farmer, accountant, teacher and a railroad conductor. Today it houses the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, which provides a space for women to network and refresh.

Rounding out the line-up are the First United Methodist Church,  601 N. Cedar , and the Volkmann Cabin at the Dickinson County Historical Society. 412 S. Campbell. Both locations will offer refreshments.

Tickets for the tour, which will be from  4 to 8 pm  on  Saturday, Dec. 2 , and from  1 to 5 pm  on  Sunday, Dec. 3 , are $10 and will be available from the Abilene CVB and the historical society.

For more information, contact the Abilene CVB at  (785) 263-2231 , or  800-569-5915 .

Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad

Santa Train -- SOLD OUT -- 

Date: Saturday, December 9 
Depart Time: 1:00 p.m. 
Ticket Price: $10.00 (All Ages) 
Location: Abilene Smoky Valley Train Depot 200 S.E. 5th St., Abilene 

Buy your tickets early! Seats are limited. The Abilene Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a holiday train ride with the Abilene Smoky Valley Railroad Association. Santa always enjoys the ride with everyone. He also enjoys seeing old and new faces. The train ride is approximately 45 minutes long. It travels from the historic Abilene Depot to one mile west of Enterprise and back. 

The passengers will ride in the enclosed heated car with Santa. 

Ms. Cheryl from the Abilene Children's Library will be aboard. 

Santa will be available to listen to your Christmas wish list and you may have your picture taken with him. 

You must pre-register for this train ride. There will be no tickets sold the day of the train ride! No exceptions! Register by calling: (785) 263-7266.

Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home

Eisenhower Presidential Library Hosts Holiday Open House
Enjoy a band concert, refreshments, museum exhibits and holiday shopping.

The public is invited to the annual holiday open house at the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home on Sunday, Dec. 3. The Abilene Municipal Band will perform a free concert at 2 p.m. in the Visitors Center Auditorium followed by refreshments. 

Guests are invited to come early to shop and take advantage of a 20% discount on all in-store purchases! New and exciting inventory has been added offering a variety of holiday gift options.

"This open house has become a holiday tradition for families, and we welcome everyone to come and enjoy the afternoon," said Dawn Hammatt, Director. "This is also an opportune time to view two original exhibits, Chisholm Trail and the Cowtown that Raised a President, in the Museum and Eisenhower and the Great War, in the Library," she added. 

"This concert is just one component of many holiday activities to experience in Abilene during the weekend," states Allison Blake of the Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce. Some of these include Night of Christmas Magic, Seelye Mansion Tours, and Homes for the Holidays Tour, which features five historic homes, each delightfully decorated for the holidays. For tour tickets ($10) or more information on additional activities, contact the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau at 785.263.2231 or abilenekansas.org.

 
Chisholm Trail and the Cowtown that Raised a President
Exhibit in the Museum Temporary Gallery until May 2018

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail, which brought nearly two million cattle from Texas to the railhead in Abilene, Kansas, between 1867 and 1871. See rare artifacts and historic photographs. Learn about the square meal, the real McCoy, origins of the cowboy boot, and "the wickedest town in the West." Discover stories behind the legends of T.C. McInerney, Bear River Smith, and Wild Bill Hickok among others. Find out why Dwight Eisenhower developed a love for all things western in the Cowtown that raised a President!

Eisenhower and the Great War
Exhibit in the Upstairs Library Gallery until May 2018

War erupted in Europe in 1914 and soon involved nations around the globe. The Great War, as it became known, shocked the world with its massive scope and the industrial-like slaughter created by advances in military technology. The United States reluctantly joined the conflict in 1917 and began to build a large professional army from the ground up. One of the young officers who helped in this endeavor was a lieutenant by the name of Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower showed remarkable talent for organization and leadership during the years of American involvement in the war. Tasked with training thousands of inexperienced troops in the new and untested art of armored warfare, Eisenhower quickly built a strong and motivated group of soldiers while overcoming severe obstacles and setbacks. This exhibit tells the story of the Great War and its influence on Eisenhower's leadership abilities. World War I, as it would become known later in the century, proved critical to the making of this American Icon.

Seelye Mansion

Holiday Tours

Visit Abilene's iconic Seelye Mansion to view beautifully decorated Christmas Trees, more than 750 unique nutcrackers and a home full of rare antiques. 

Daily Tours:
Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
 
Calendar of Events

DATE
EVENT
LOCATION
DETAILS
Today - 12/31/2017 Seelye Mansion Christmas Tours Seelye Mansion Daily
12/1/2017 - 12/31/2017 Christmas Tree Lane

12/1/2017 - 12/10/2017 GPT Mainstage Production "Peter and the Starcatcher" Great Plains Theatre
12/2/2017 7th Annual Christmas Tea Party Abilene's Victorian Inn 1:30 p.m.
Call for reservations (785) 263-7774
12/2/2017 Night of Christmas Magic Downtown Abilene / Abilene Civic Center
12/3/2017 Abilene Municipal Band Holiday Concert Eisenhower Visitors Center 2:00 p.m.
12/2/2017 - 12/3/2017 Homes for the Holidays Tour

   
Stay in Abilene
Abilene Lodging Establishments

Abilene  is home to more than 200 rooms. Whether you're in town to visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum, enjoy a show at the Great Plains Theatre, attend the Central Kansas Free Fair, meet with greyhound industry leaders or take a ride on the  Abilene  & Smoky Valley Railroad, we invite you to extend your visit, spend the night and enjoy all  Abilene  has to offer.
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