Park visitation stays strong (Cumberland Island)

Local News

3/12/2012

By GORDON JACKSON The Brunswick News

 

Despite the struggling economy and rising gasoline prices, tourism remains strong at Cumberland Island National Seashore.

The National Park Service reported Friday that nearly 92,000 people visited the visitor center and other facilities in St. Marys in 2011. More than 37,000 of them took the ferry to Cumberland for a day trip or to camp for at least one day on the island.

 

The financial impact to St. Marys, Kingsland and Camden County is estimated at more than $6.1 million, according to the report.

Superintendent Fred Boyles said he wasn't surprised by the report's conclusion.  "In my mind, it confirmed the impact Cumberland Island has in the county," he said. "We've always known that sites like this have a positive effect on tourism."  Boyles said tourism this year has been strong, despite rising gas prices.

"I know it's very perplexing, but the spring has been very strong for us," he said.  According to the report, 52 percent of tourism dollars are for lodging, food and beverages. Retail accounts for another 29 percent, followed by 10 percent for entertainment, 7 percent for gas and transportation and 2 percent for groceries.

The spending supported 97 jobs in the area, the study concluded.

 

"The people and the business owners in our gateway communities near Cumberland Island National Seashore have always known the economic value," Boyles said.

Gaila Brandon, co-owner of the Riverview Hotel in downtown St. Marys, said the report did not surprise her because many of the customers staying at her hotel and eating at her restaurant are tourists planning a visit to or returning from the national seashore.  "It's vital to our business," Brandon said. "When the ferry doesn't run every day during the offseason, our business drops off considerably."

Brandon said high gas prices don't concern her, based on how her business was impacted in 2008 when motorists were paying $4 a gallon.   "It impacted us in a positive way," she said. "The drive market worked to our advantage. I don't expect gas prices to affect us negatively." Boyles said nearly 83,000 people visited the park service's facilities in St. Marys or went to the island in 2008.

A good number of visitors drove from the Atlanta area, but many of those staying at the hotel were from areas closer to St. Marys, she said.   "We got a lot of the drive market from nearby," she said. "People weren't taking those long trips."

 

Other factors that may help tourism is the mild spring weather and motorized tours to the north end of the island that Boyles said are popular among visitors.

Christine Daniel, executive director of the Camden County Chamber of Commerce, said the report shows the importance of Cumberland's tourism to the local economy.

"I'm not surprised as we've always known that Cumberland Island is a jewel to our county, both in the economic sense and as a barrier island that has protected us many times in the past during hurricane season," she said. "Cumberland Island provides our community with quality jobs and it is a great place for locals and visitors alike to visit, explore and enjoy."   Daniel said the chamber plays an active role marketing Cumberland and providing information about the national seashore on a daily basis.  As for gas prices, Daniel said they shouldn't impact Cumberland tourism much.

"High gas prices will impact everyone, not just tourism," she said. "I think people are going to go regardless."

Cumberland Island National Seashore News Release: Visitors, Money, and Jobs for the Local Economy

March 9, 2012
For Immediate Release
Maggie Tyler 912-882-4336 ext. 257
Cumberland Island National Seashore = Visitors, Money and Jobs for Local Economy

St Marys, GA – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 91,996 visitors to both the Cumberland Island National Seashore mainland and island visitor facilities in 2010 spent just over $6.1 million dollars in the local area including St Marys, Kingsland and Camden County. That spending supported 97 jobs in the local area.

"The people and the business owners in our gateway communities near Cumberland Island National Seashore have always known the economic value,"
said park superintendent Fred Boyles.

Most of the spending/jobs are related to lodging, food, and beverage service (52 percent) followed by other retail (29 percent), entertainment/amusements (10 percent), gas and local transportation (7
percent) and groceries (2 percent).

The figures are based on $12 billion of direct spending by 281 million visitors in 394 national parks and nearby communities and are included in an annual, peer-reviewed, visitor spending analysis conducted by Dr. Daniel Stynes of Michigan State University for the National Park Service.

Across the U.S, local visitor spending added a total of $31 billion to the national economy and supported more than 258,000 jobs, an increase of $689 million and 11,500 jobs over 2009.

To download the report visit
http://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/products.cfm#MGM and click on Economic Benefits to Local Communities from National Park Visitation and Payroll, 2010.

The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.

Cumberland Island is the largest barrier island off the coast of Georgia, encompassing more than 36,000 acres of maritime forests, salt marsh and beaches. The island is also home to over 9,800 acres of Congressionally designated Wilderness. The island's natural and cultural resources provide a rich and diverse habitat for wildlife and offer a glimpse into the long history of coastal Georgia. The Seashore is accessible by foot-only, passenger ferry from the historic community of St. Marys, Georgia and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

For more information on how the NPS is working in Georgia, go to www.nps.gov/Georgia

###

The Pirates Have Landed!

 

Annual River Cleanup - March 17, 2012

St. Marys EarthKeepers  Annual River Cleanup takes place on Saturday, March 17.  The check-in point is the St. Marys Waterfront Park at 8:00 a.m.   A clean up of downtown St. Marys will be included. Afterward, there will be a celebration picnic (around noon) at Traders Hill in Folkston (off Hwy 121 going south out of Folkston). We hope you’ll help make a difference and take part in this annual event. Wear comfortable clothing; bring bug spray (for yourself) and drinking water. We will have bags and gloves. Respond to Barbara@stmarysmagazine.com if you plan to attend.

 

 

ROYAL PAINS TO FILM IN ST. MARYS, GEORGIA

MEDIA CONTACT: BARBARA RYAN 912-729-1103 barbara@coastalgeorgiafilm.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…

Coastal Georgia Film Alliance Announces Filming of USA Network’s “Royal Pains” in St. Marys

ST. MARYS, GA—A production crew of 35 were in St. Marys this past Monday finalizing the plans for the filming of “Royal Pains” to take place March 19-25. The popular TV series is in its third season on the USA Network and centers around a doctor who makes house calls to the rich and famous residents of The Hamptons.

Though some people are surprised to learn that St. Marys, Georgia, will be a stand-in for The Hamptons, those who have visited The Hamptons see the similarities in the beauty of both communities’ park-like settings and charming waterfronts. St. Marys City Manager Steve Crowell sees the filming of “Royal Palms” as another opportunity to show the world what a great quality of life the city has to offer.

“We are fortunate and excited about having the filming of a segment of the ‘Royal Pains’ series in St. Marys,” Crowell said. “The filming of ‘Royal Pains’ is an excellent opportunity to showcase St. Marys and share our quality of life.”

Crowell went on to say that securing a filming of this caliber requires a lot of efforts from a lot of people.

“We are thankful for the efforts of our Tourism Board, the Coastal Georgia Film Alliance, Cinemagical Locations, and other citizens who helped bring this event to St. Marys,” Crowell continued.

The filming of “Royal Pains” in St. Marys gives the city an opportunity to not only enjoy the immediate effect of a large influx of visitors who will stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurants, and shop in our shops, but the residual benefits of “movie and TV-induced tourism” have proven to make a significant impact on local economies according to Coastal Georgia Film Alliance Chair Doug Vaught.

“There is an entire segment of the travel industry that targets destinations featured in films and television programs,” Vaught said. “’Royal Pains’ will make a significant contribution to putting St. Marys on that target list. We’re fortunate to be a ‘Camera-Ready’ Community with film-friendly city leadership who have been an important factor in securing topnotch film and TV projects.”

Stars of the show will be in St. Marys during the week of filming.

The Coastal Georgia Film Alliance has put a call out to fill the roles of hundreds of paid extras that will be needed during the filming.

“’Royal Pains’ casting directors are looking for people who represent the population of The Hamptons,” Barbara Ryan, Vice Chair of the Film Alliance, said. “They need people who are 20-50 years old who are fit and can dress in ‘upscale’ fashion.”

Ryan said anyone who matches that description should email their photo and contact info to royalpainsga@gmail.com. For more information, email barbara@coastalgeorgiafilm.org. See overview below.

The Royal Pains production crew also has plans to film on Jekyll Island as well.

Overview of Royal Pains:

Hank Lawson (played by Mark Feuerstein) was a rising star in the New York City medical community, until he loses everything fighting for the life of a patient. With his career stalled and his personal life in shambles, Hank is in need of a new beginning. That's where his younger brother Evan (Paulo Costanzo) steps in. Fed up with Hank's personal pity-party, he convinces Hank to join him on a last-minute trip to the Hamptons for Memorial Day weekend. When the brothers crash a party at the home of a Hamptons billionaire and a guest falls critically ill, Hank saves the day. His dramatic medical rescue draws attention from the crowd, and soon Hank's phone starts ringing off the hook with patients demanding house calls.

Inadvertently, Hank has become the hot new "concierge doctor" in town.

Though Hank is initially reluctant to embrace this new career, with encouragement from Evan and an ambitious young woman who volunteers to be his physician assistant he decides to stay in town for the summer. Once again solving medical crises and helping those in need, Hank is back to doing what he does best. And now he's reinvented himself as the Hamptons' hottest new doctor-in-demand.

Royal Pains also stars Reshma Shetty and Jill Flint with Christine Ebersole and Campbell Scott (who also starred in “Eye of the Hurricane” that was filmed in St. Marys.

####

 

Chocolate for Charities Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Billie Love

jibilove@hotmail.com

912-673-1214

Contact: June Fischer

junefischer@tds.net

 

ST. MARYS CELEBRATES 2nd Annual

CHOCOLATE FOR CHARITIES

 

The City of St. Marys Economic Development and Osprey Cove Women’s Club will partner a fundraiser to benefit Camden County Charities on Saturday, March 31^st from 1-5 pm at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, in historic St. Marys. Homemade chocolate desserts and a variety of chocolate delicacies along with craft items will be available to purchase.

 

The charities that have applied to The Osprey Cove Women’s Club for funding include: Caring Hearts, CASA, Humane Society, Camden House, Juvenile Diabetes, the Methodist Home for Boys, Missions for Camden, Lighthouse Learning Center, and New Freedom Learning Center.  Last year, the Humane Society of Camden County, Caring Hearts, Camden House, and CASA received funds from the event.

 

Tickets for the event are $3 and available at the door on the day of the event. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling Billie Love at 912-673-1214.  “From children in need of an advocate to families without a home; from abandoned animals needing care and a home to residents in need of medical and/or mental health care; Camden County has so many in need,” said Judy Galligan, President of the Osprey Cove Women’s Club. “The Women’s Club enjoys a long history of fundraising to support our local charities,” she continued.  The City of St. Marys and the Osprey Cove Women’s Club look forward to this fun chocolate celebration.

 

Picture: Billie Love, Diane Habich, Judy Galligan

 

Extras for TV Series "Royal Pains"

The USA Network Series, Royal Pains, will be filming here from March 19-25. We will need several hundred extras. They are looking for people 20-50 years of age who are fit. You will also need to wear nice clothes (as the setting is The Hamptons). If this description applies to you, please send your photo and bio ASAP to royalpainsga@gmail.com.