FROM THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Henderson County’s 72 new wayfinding signs, designed to help visitors and tourists find key points of interest in Henderson County, will be officially dedicated at a ceremony on Tuesday, June 12 at 2:00 p.m.
During the brief ceremony, the sign located at the parking lot of Home Trust Bank in downtown Hendersonville will be unveiled for a crowd of city and county officials, tourism industry representatives and business leaders.
The new signage is the culmination of a three-year process led by the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority (TDA). Several hundred stakeholders—including city and town officials, tourism industry leaders and representatives from local businesses and attractions—participated in planning for this major project. The large vehicle-level signs feature key information to help visitors and residents navigate to various destinations and attractions. Signs have been installed in Hendersonville, Mills River, Flat Rock, Fletcher, Laurel Park and other areas of the county.
Lew Holloway, the downtown economic development director and a former TDA board member, served as
project manager for the wayfinding program. He will be a featured speaker at the dedication event, as will
Mark Warwick, current chair of the TDA board.
Holloway says, “Recognizing the increased visitor presence in our
community, the TDA, in partnership with local municipalities and the
county, initiated this multiyear project to capitalize on the untapped
economic impact of quality wayfinding signage in Henderson County. We
worked diligently to develop a thoughtful signage system that will guide
visitors and residents as they explore the incredible destinations found
throughout our community, while also showcasing our identity through
design elements that reflect our mountain heritage.”
Following an RFP process that resulted in nine proposals for the wayfinding
master plan, MERJE design group was selected to lead the project, with
ColorAd doing the design, manufacturing and installation. The total cost of
the project, including design, sign fabrication and installation, was $473,000.
Major funding was provided by the TDA. The cities of Hendersonville, Mills River, Fletcher and Laurel Park
also contributed limited municipal funds in order for specific destinations to be included.
Beth Carden, executive director of the TDA, says, “The TDA is very proud that, together with our tourism
partners, we were able to generate enough revenue to invest back into the community through the wayfinding
program. It’s important to note that all of the funds provided by the TDA—around $420,000—were
generated by room taxes that are collected from overnight visitors who stay in Henderson County
accommodations.”
Based on the experiences of other cities and counties that have instituted wayfinding programs, the TDA
anticipates the wayfinding project will:
• Expand awareness of Henderson County destinations, historic sites and attractions, driving economic
benefits for the area
• Help brand our area destinations with attractive signage that provides a consistent and distinctive visual
communication system
• Increase overnight stays at area accommodations
• Increase both day trips and overnight trips, with visits to area tourism attractions and local businesses
• Encourage repeat visits by promoting awareness of the scope of Henderson County destinations,
increasing the connectivity of community assets
• Develop an enhanced sense of place, with the identification of unique neighborhood and institutional
districts
• Help people navigate more safely and comfortably through the county and encourage exploration of the
region by tourists
Parking for the Wayfinding Dedication Ceremony will be available at the Home Trust Bank parking lot in downtown
Hendersonville at the corner of King Street and U.S. 64, across from City Hall. The ceremony will be brief (less than 30
minutes), so attendees are encouraged to arrive on time.
http://www.whkp.com/news/5383-new-wayfinding-signs-to-be-dedicated-on-june-12.html
