Every road in this county
leads somewhere worth stopping.
Six pillars. One county. A documented case for why rural tourism investment pays back — in visitors, in dollars, and in communities that stay alive.
$2.3M
Local Economic Impact
Generated annually by county tourism
87,000
Annual Visitors
Tracked by lodging & attraction data
340+
Local Jobs Supported
Across hospitality, retail, and services
0
Visitors last year
Tracked across 23 lodging properties and 6 major attractions
$0.0M
Economic impact
Dollars circulated in local businesses, not exported to chains
0
Miles of maintained trail
Requiring $41,000/year in upkeep — currently underfunded by 28%
Behind every number,
a neighbor who noticed.
The data is real. So are the people it represents.
2×
Weekday lunch traffic
"Weekday lunch used to be three tables. Now I turn people away by 11:30. The trail map listing changed everything."
Margaret Holloway
Holloway's Diner, Millbrook Township
+6
Extra weeks open per season
"We used to close October 1st. Last year we stayed open through November 15th. Six extra weeks of revenue."
Dave & Connie Prater
Clearwater Hollow Campground
140
University students visited
"The mural trail brought 140 art students from State in one semester. They ate here, bought supplies here, stayed here."
Tanya Okafor
Riverton Arts Co-op
+34%
County hotel occupancy
"Hotel occupancy in the county is up 34% since the Waypoint guide launched. Every property benefits."
Robert & Susan Kimball
The Fieldstone Inn
Plan Your Weekend
Ten minutes away.
You just didn't know it yet.
Ridgeline Loop Trail
Best fall color in the county — peak week is mid-October
Millstone Covered Bridge
One of 3 remaining covered bridges in the state
Clearwater River Paddle
Shuttle service runs May–October, no car shuttle needed
Millbrook Saturday Market
The county's most-photographed Instagram location
Barn Quilt Trail
Designed by local quilters — every pattern has a family story
Waypoint Harvest Festival
Draws 12,000 visitors — book lodging 8 weeks out
This county is ten minutes from forgotten.
The infrastructure that makes Waypoint County worth the drive doesn't maintain itself. Here's what's underfunded, what's expiring, and what disappears without action.
127 Miles of Trail
⚠ 36 miles underfundedWithout maintenance funding, 36 miles close to hikers and cyclists by spring — removing the county's most-searched attraction from every tourism platform.
Visitor Guide Distribution
⚠ 12,000 guides unfundedThe printed guide is still the #1 conversion tool for families at rest stops and state welcome centers. Without funding, 12,000 copies don't get printed for the 2027 season.
Heritage Site Markers
⚠ 7 markers need replacementSeven markers on the National Register sites are weather-damaged beyond legibility. Without them, grant reviewers cannot verify site status — jeopardizing $180,000 in federal preservation funding.
Digital Presence & SEO
⚠ Platform listings expiringAnnual subscriptions to TripAdvisor, Google Travel, and state tourism portals expire in Q2. Letting them lapse removes Waypoint County from 4 million annual search impressions.
Active Grant Applications
For grant reviewers: current application status as of February 2026
$153,500
Total under review
| Grant Source | Amount | Status | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Rural Tourism Fund | $45,000 | Under Review | Mar 15, 2026 |
| Heritage Preservation Grant | $28,500 | Application Open | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Trails & Recreation Fund | $62,000 | Submitted | Feb 28, 2026 |
| Arts & Culture Initiative | $18,000 | Awarded | Confirmed |
Your $75 maintains a mile of trail
that 3,200 people walked last year.
Every dollar goes directly to the programs documented on this page. No administrative overhead. No middlemen. Audited annually.
Secure processing · Tax-deductible · 501(c)(3) registered
Download the Impact Report
28-page PDF · 2025 data · Board-ready format
100%
Program spending
8 yrs
In operation
$0
Admin overhead
Common Questions
Yes. Waypoint County Tourism is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. You'll receive a receipt for tax purposes immediately after donating.
Every donation is allocated to the program you select. We publish a quarterly spending report at waypointcounty.org/transparency. The Impact Report you can download here shows prior-year allocations in full.
Absolutely. Contact our grants coordinator at grants@waypointcounty.org to discuss multi-year commitments, naming opportunities, and partnership agreements.