Did you know that Greene County has a thriving tourism industry? Right now, you might be thinking to yourself, “What are you talking about? What tourism? Greene County doesn’t have tourism!” But it does – and tourism has been a significant financial source for Greene County organizations, events, and businesses. In 2019, it helped create 509 jobs with visitors spending $78.7 million in our county. Visitors to Greene come from all over the globe; in 2019, over 9,500 visitors were identified representing 46 states and 14 countries.
Our rural environment is a breath of fresh air to those traveling from elsewhere. In Greene County, you’ll find a unique mix of events and attractions from general stores, covered bridges and Mail Pouch barns to the high-intensity, action-packed sport of motocross at one of the premier tracks in the nation; our county is also steeped in heritage.
Tourism everywhere saw a drastic decline in 2020 due to the pandemic, and Greene County was no different. Now as travel is returning, Greene County offers the perfect place to visit. Thanks to our open spaces and wooden areas, travelers can enjoy a vacation, take in agritourism, and explore our history while being distanced from crowds.
A recent RV travel blogger traveling on I-79 decided to take a detour through Greene County after exploring the brochures at the Welcome Center. Sara with The Long Long Road, documented her overnight adventure through Greene County to her followers on Facebook and Instagram. Her photos of places such as Fruition Bowls & Brews and Rising Creek Bakery were a hit. Rain Day also showed up in her posts alongside the Scott Covered Bridge. She hopes to return in the future to spend more time exploring our county.
“It is so easy to forget how beautiful our home in Greene County,” says JoAnne Marshall, Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency director. “Through tourism, we have the opportunity to see Greene County through new eyes every day and share that experience to entice prospective visitors to enjoy the natural beauty, recreation and history opportunities.”
The tourism promotion agency consists of over 100 partners that work throughout the year to make Greene County attractive to day trippers and multi-day visitors through promotion and advertising. Their multifaceted campaigns are geared specifically to audiences outside of Greene County, to reach those that would be interested in traveling to Greene County for the recreation, history and traditions that we can offer in a rural and scenic area of Pennsylvania.
FMI on the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency, visit www.visitgreene.org.