Latest news with #KarenDyer
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Larry Bird Museum draws more than 12,000 visitors in first year
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— In the first year, the Larry Bird Museum in downtown Terre Haute has drawn more than 12,000 visitors from around the globe. Since its opening on May 30, 2024, the museum has drawn visitors from nearly every state and beyond to put Terre Haute on the map for basketball enthusiasts. In addition to in-person traffic, the website has had over 26,000 visitors, with traction continuing to grow. 'The success of the Larry Bird Museum is a success for our entire community,' said Karen Dyer, Executive Director of the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau. 'It celebrates the pride we feel in Larry's legacy and the way his story continues to inspire people of all ages. This museum has added momentum and a sense of thriving for our downtown and connected us with fans from far beyond Indiana.' The museum, which is contained inside the Terre Haute Convention Center, holds personal memorabilia, interactive exhibits, free-throw shooting areas, trivia challenges, exclusive video footage, a wingspan measuring wall, and historical storytelling chronicling Bird's journey from French Lick to the global stage. 'The museum represents the power of partnership,' said Chris Switzer, President of the Vigo County Capital Improvement Board. 'It took years of vision and community commitment to bring this to life, and now we get to see the payoff — not only in tourism numbers, but in what it means to our local pride and our identity.' The museum has also hosted multiple school tour groups. Tours for school and community groups can be scheduled in advance through the museum's website. To celebrate the anniversary of the museum's opening, guests during the month of June will receive a free mini commemorative basketball while supplies last. Due to the museum's success, local leaders are already planning enhancements to expand the experience next year and continue to grow the Hoops Heritage Trail. the museum is free and open to the public. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Terre Haute adding hotel rooms
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Tourism in Terre Haute has increased and in order to host all of its guests, the city is making some big moves. The Terre Haute City Council has recently approved the issuing of $6.9 million in bonds by the redevelopment commission. That money is a part of a $17 million public incentive package that will be used to expand tourism in the city. The package is made up of bonds, ARPA funds, and money from the state. Executive Director of the Terre Haute Visitors Bureau, Karen Dyer, said the money will be used to add a hotel in downtown Terre Haute. 'Terre Haute is growing', Dyer said. 'Our tourism grew 6.8% last year over the previous year. We don't quite have enough hotel rooms to meet the need for big functions, big sporting events, conferences, and trade shows that we would like to have, especially downtown.' The new hotel will add over 100 new rooms, across the street from the Hilton Garden Inn, just next to Indiana State University. Dyer said the universities play a big role in downtown visitors. 'We have sports tournaments and different things that go on throughout the year', Dyer said. 'We're a very heavy sports destination for our tourism, especially with our three colleges and our three college sports teams. We are hosting a lot of championships, national championships, regional championships, so we're using all of our hotel inventory a lot.' Dyer says the plan will be to build a connection between the new hotel and the Hilton Garden Inn, which is already connected to the Terre Haute Convention Center. General Manager of the Convention Center, Tennille Wanner, said that the most important aspect is walkable rooms. Guests will be able to enjoy an entire event without having to leave the building. 'Having an area where folks can park their car and be able to go to their room, go to a convention, go to their meetings', Wanner said. 'Then if they wanted to go back to their room, be able to quickly get back to their room and change, make phone calls, things like that. Then get back to their meetings. It's really important so they aren't leaving a conference.' Dyer said the hotel will be built for guests, but the money that will be spent downtown will have an effect on the entire city. 'The hospitality industry accounts for about 6% of our jobs locally, which is about 32,00 jobs and 58 cents of every dollar that a tourist spends here, stays here', Dyer said.' Dyer says the hotel will be a Courtyard. The city is hopeful it will be finished in time for Indiana State to host the 2026 Cross Country Nationals. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
