James November-December 2024 web - Flipbook - Page 19
a bus while savoring locally-owned
Country’s Barbecue, or opt for a meal
at the newly renovated Columbus
Millhouse, which offers stunning views
of the Chattahoochee River,” Rice said.
“For a picturesque evening or afternoon, the Eighteen 85 Rooftop Bar +
Kitchen provides a beautiful setting
to unwind while enjoying the scenic
Chattahoochee River. Beyond these
options, the downtown area features
endless culinary choices, catering to
every palate, whether you’re in the
mood for casual eats or fine dining.”
Other new developments include
MidCity Yards and Highside Market whose highlights include Nonic
Rooftop Bar, Scofflaw Brewery, Parlour
Donuts, It’s Tamale Time, and Ray’s
Quick Stop. In Midtown, popular local
spots include Parker’s Pantry, Jarfly
and Midtown Coffee House. Out in
North Columbus? Try Charred Oak
Kitchen and Morton’s at Old Town.
thusiasts who love to raft and zip line
across the river. With the large investments made from the city, the business community, and individuals, it is
so nice to see this success. It is also
thrilling to see the river come back
to good health. The river is clean, the
wildlife flourishes, and we now have
spider lilies coming back in full bloom
each summer. We knew we had great
whitewater when we opened. What
we found out later is that we have a
wave that is considered in the top five
waves for kayakers in the World! This
is one reason we have hosted two
National Championships, two World
Cups, and the World Championships.
One of the best things about Columbus is the leaders are always looking
at the next possibility. We are currently
working on new steps in the outdoors
that will continue to make this the
place to be for families wanting to
enjoy the outdoors.”
The Chattahoochee River
Tourism success & a bright future
In addition to investing in the arts,
leaders also turned to the city’s location on the Chattahoochee River where
they saw a tremendous opportunity to
capitalize on the environmental and
economic benefits of developing a section of the river into the longest urban
whitewater course in the world.
Thanks to large investments from
the public and private sectors and
individuals, a major renovation took
place in the early 2000s to remove the
dam and restore the river’s natural
waterflow. Then, the riverbed was
transformed to create the now internationally famous whitewater course.
Besides creating a massive draw to
the city for outdoor enthusiasts, the
transformation returned the river’s ecosystem back to its natural equilibrium
and inspired exponential development
along the river’s banks.
“We love how the river has brought
additional life to the city,” said Dan
Gilbert, owner of Whitewater Express.
“We currently bring about 50,000 tourists to town each year to experience
great whitewater rafting. We have become a big destination for outdoor en-
The many developments Columbus has made over the last several
decades have produced a city whose
tourism industry is thriving. “Tourism
is big business in Columbus, Georgia,”
said Peter Bowden, CEO of VisitColumbusGA. “The city is constantly reinventing itself, especially when it comes
to tourism-producing developments.
We have two national museums, the
state theatre of Georgia, a world class
performing arts center, over 30 miles of
walking and biking trails, the longest
urban whitewater course in the world,
the largest museum (outside Atlanta)
in the Southeast, and that’s just the tip
of the iceberg. Our research shows us
we’re an ideal multi-generational destination with experiences that appeal to
almost everyone.
Bowden notes “we’ve developed
four buckets for marketing purposes—
Adventure, Food, Arts and Culture, and
Entertainment— and our messaging
almost always includes two or more
of those elements. It’s safe to say that
when a visitor comes to Columbus, for
a weekend getaway, it’s impossible to
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