Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
Daviess County recently released its annual tourism report for 2025 and the results show that you don’t need resorts, iconic landmarks or commercial attractions to bring visitors to your doorstep.
Flavorful food, authentic Amish experiences, shopping and outdoor recreation are among Daviess County’s most popular places to visit.
In 2025, the county recorded nearly 1 million out-of-market visitors and 5.6 million non-resident visits.
Out-of-market visitors are people who visit the area but do not live or work in it. Visitors who pass through the market but do not stop, are excluded from this count.
Non-resident visits are the number of visits by out-of-market visitors and inbound commuters (employees). Visits are counted only once per day.
Innkeepers tax revenue
Revenue from the county’s innkeepers tax supports the promotion of tourism. Data from 2025 shows revenue from that tax climbing from about $25,000 per month in the winter to over $40,000 a month in April. Innkeepers tax revenue remained strong throughout the summer months and reached $50,000 in the month of October. Total innkeepers tax revenue in 2025 was $475,077 an increase of about $75,000 from the previous year when the revenue totaled $401,861.
Of the five most-visited locations in Daviess County, the Gasthof Amish Village in Montgomery was No. 1 with 163,500 visits.
With an on-site hotel, Amish barn, bakery, gift shops, event space and restaurant serving made-from-scratch dishes, the Gasthof has become a major tourism draw.
“One of the biggest takeaways for us this year is how clearly the data reinforces that tourism in Daviess County is being driven by authentic, experience-based destinations rather than traditional “attractions” alone,” said Amber Warden, executive director of the Daviess County Visitors Bureau. “We are seeing strong evidence that food, heritage, and community-centered experiences are playing a growing role in drawing visitors from outside the county.”
As the Gasthof has grown its footprint, its visitor numbers have increased.
“What we’re seeing now is growth tied to expanded offerings and special events. Experiences like the Chandelier Barn Market have helped transform a single visit into a planned day trip, particularly for visitors coming from outside the county,” Warden said. “That dynamic may evolve, however, as future Chandelier Barn Market events are relocating to Washington.”
Restaurants in Odon and Washington also drew visitors.
Other top locations identified in the annual report:
- Odon Locker Inc. (Odon) – 67.7K visits
- Dutch Pantry (Odon) – 32K visits
- American Table (Washington) – 31.9K visits
- Bill and Betty Bobes Pizza (Washington) – 29.5K visits
Not a restaurant, but the Odon Locker was No. 2 on the list of most visited. A meat lover’s paradise, Odon Locker is an old-fashioned butcher shop where customers can order fresh meat and cheeses. On busy days, it’s not unusual to see a line of customers outside the business waiting to get in.
Warden said the Odon Locker, which also offers meat processing, is a great example of the shift to community-centered experiences.
“The Odon Locker may not be a business people immediately associate with tourism, the report shows it functioning as a regional draw,” Warden said. “Customers routinely travel from well beyond Daviess County to shop there, and many of those trips include additional spending at gas stations, restaurants, and other local businesses. It’s a reminder that agritourism and food-based destinations can be powerful, if sometimes unexpected, drivers of visitation.”
Tracking trends
To better track visitation patterns, the Visitors Bureau uses Placer.ai, a platform that uses location data to provide foot traffic analytics.
The appeal of places like the Gasthof is part of a travel trend, Warden said, that blends dining, shopping and seasonal experiences and reflects a preference by visitors to spend their time at places that feel distinctive rather than transactional.
Beyond measuring tourism data, the annual report also helps the visitors bureau be more strategic moving forward in the following areas:
- Identify which communities and experiences are organically attracting visitors
- Better support businesses that are already functioning as regional anchors
- Shape marketing efforts around real visitor behavior, not assumptions
“Ultimately, the data confirms that Daviess County’s strength lies in its authenticity — local food, heritage businesses, and experiences that feel rooted in place,” Warden said. “That insight will guide how we invest marketing dollars, develop partnerships, and tell our story to future visitors.”
Completed projects
The Visitors Bureau also introduced new initiatives, including a grant program to elevate events, billboard advertising in Terre Haute, Vincennes, Evansville and Jasper, and an awards program called the Best of Daviess County, which celebrated outstanding contributions across the tourism community.
Other projects included a redesign of the Daviess County Visitors Guide, creation of a countywide events calendar and a feasibility study for a potential Daviess County Event Center.
You can read the full report here.