Carol Johnson | Southern Indiana Business Report
DAVIESS CO. – The Daviess County Visitors Center is inviting anyone with a sweet tooth to hop in the car and journey to the 14 stops on the Sweet Treat Trail.
It’s the county’s first ever culinary trail. The trail highlights locally owned businesses in Washington, Odon and Montgomery.
Debbie Goodwin, who stepped into the role of executive director of Daviess County Visitors Center in January, said her goal for the trail is to encourage residents of Daviess County to explore the entire county and to provide information to non-local visitors who are always looking for places to explore.
“Right now I’m centered on educating people about what we have in Daviess County. People get in the habit of shopping in one spot, and don’t get out of their community,” she said. “Daviess County has a lot of hidden gems. The Sweet Treat Trail is to get people out and roaming around.”
The Sweet Treat Trail includes coffee and ice cream shops, bakeries and restaurants known for their desserts and baked goods.
Those who visit the businesses on the trail are encouraged to post a photo of their visit, which will enter them to win a swag bag. In the future, visitors can pick up a trail passport that participating businesses will stamp. Those with completed passports will be entered to win a grand prize.
Goodwin said she chose a food theme for the initial trail offering to appeal to a general audience.
“Maybe you don’t fish or golf, but who doesn’t like ice cream or coffee?” she said. “It’s relatable for everybody.”
Goodwin said there’s been a good response to the trail on social media. The Sweet Treat Trail, along with other tourism activities, is generating new interest in visiting Daviess County’s attractions such as The Gasthof in Montgomery, West Boggs Park, Glendale Fish & Wildlife Area, and The Commons, a downtown Washington pavilion that will host First Fridays, featuring live music and food trucks on the first Friday of the month starting May 1.
Goodwin has increased the Visit Daviess county social media presence – she made over 100 posts in 30 days – and revived the “Where’s Davie” mystery, which drops hints to find the county’s Bison-tennial nicknamed “Davie” as it’s moved around the county.
“People really react to visual stimulation through pictures and videos. We’ve gained about 400 followers in the last two months,” she said. “We’re also promoting our America 250 events that are coming up.”
Stay up to date on Daviess County
A new 15-page Daviess County visitors guide that will be distributed throughout the county is another new project. Goodwin said the Visitors Bureau is also highlighting the county’s Amish businesses, since many of those businesses don’t have an online presence.
“We have become a music and food truck hub. Look up our events calendar at visitdaviesscounty.com for all the latest or follow us on Facebook,” she said. “My hope is that when people are scrolling through the page, it appeals like a magazine of information. And really paints the picture of who we are.
“I’ve had several comments from locals, that “I had never heard of that event before. I think people take for granted what they have when they live here. Daviess County has amazing things, we’re just trying to wake that back up.”
If you go – the Sweet Treat Trail
Businesses featured on the Sweet Treat Trail include:
- Knepp’s Amish County Corner, Washington
- Zax Creamery & Coffee, Montgomery
- Scoops, Washington
- The Bakery House, Washington
- Ginger’s Home Bakery
- Let It Snow Creamery, Odon
- The Gathering Table, Odon
- Gallo’s Mexican Bakery, Washington
- Theresa’s Small Town Treats, Washington
- Cherry Ghost CoffeeHouse, Washington
- The Open Shelf, Washington
- Sprinkled with Sweetness, Washington
- Dutch Pantry, Odon
- The Gasthof, Montgomery