MEDIA CONTACT: BARBARA RYAN, barbara@stmarysmagazine.com, 912-729-1103
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
EXCURSION TRAIN FOR ST. MARYS IN THE PLANNING STAGES
ST. MARYS, GA—On Tuesday, executives from Boatright Industries, owner and operator of St. Marys Railroad, St. Marys Little Theatre, Theatre by the Trax, and St. Marys city officials met to discuss the creation of an excursion train to run out of St. Marys.
"Boatright Companies is known for its community involvement in the many markets they serve," said Barbara Ryan, Chair of St. Marys Little Theatre. "Shane Boatright (founder and CEO of Boatright Companies) has been a generous supporter of the St. Marys Little Theatre, and now his team has come up with a great idea to help foster economic development in St. Marys while adding to the assets of our community."
Preliminary plans are for the excursion train to run from Theatre by the Trax to just beyond the Borrell Creek Bridge and disembark passengers for an entertaining experience at the Boatright Companies-owned land there. Train experiences already in discussions include a Pumpkin Patch Ride, Polar Express, Wild West, and Peter Cottontail Express. Ultimately the planning group would like to produce "A Day Out with Thomas the Tank," an event that has drawn hundreds of thousands of people in other markets.
"The extent of a train ride experience is only limited by our imagination," said Ryan who will help develop the excursion experiences.
Boatright's consultant, Jim Garnett, President of the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera, Alabama, said it is important that the train ride go to a place that is not accessible by car. Doug Vaught, owner of Theatre by the Trax, agreed.
"Only six percent of the entire population have ever ridden a train," Vaught said. "The St. Marys Railroad excursion adventure will give everyone a chance to know what it's like to ride the rails, and at the end of the ride, there will always be a fun happening to enhance the whole experience."
The tentative arrangement is for St. Marys Railroad to provide the locomotive, driver, and passenger cars, and St. Marys Little Theatre will provide creative development and people for entertainment and event supervision.
According to Boatright, his staff will immediately go into the building and/or acquisition of open flat cars with metal seats and a cover that will hold about 50 passengers each. Two or three such rail cars will be readied before the first excursion which may be the Pumpkin Patch (in October), or even sooner if rail cars are readied before that time.
"Mr. Boatright is very community minded, and starting an excursion train in St. Marys is a win-win opportunity for the railroad and the community," said Paul Pleasant, General Manager of St. Marys Railroad.
The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum has had great financial success with its excursion train adventures, according to Garnett. With a Birmingham metro area population similar to Jacksonville's, St. Marys Railroad Excursion train planners project a similar success given that there is no other train experience within the "area of dominant influence" that defines the regional market.
"Adding this exciting attraction to our list of already impressive tourist draws for our region including Cumberland Island and Okefenokee Swamp will make St. Marys more competitive for the lucrative tourism dollars," Ryan concluded.
About Boatright Companies
Since 1989, Boatright Companies has proven itself as a dependable leader in the maintenance, manufacturing, repair, safety and ownership in the rail industry. Boatright Companies includes a wide range of companies servicing both Class 1 and short line railroads throughout the United States and internationally. The Boatright name is synonymous with excellence, and its subsidiary companies, located across the eastern United States, provide the highest-quality products and stand-out customer service in the industry. For additional information about Boatright Companies, visit www.boatrightcompanies.com.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
FW: Cumberland Island News Release: CUMBERLAND ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE ANNOUNCES ANNUAL HUNT REGISTRATION
Cumberland Island National Seashore 101 Wheeler Street St. Marys, Georgia 31558
June 25, 2013
For Immediate Release
Liz Yee 912-882-4336
CUMBERLAND ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE ANNOUNCES ANNUAL HUNT REGISTRATION
St. Marys, Georgia – On July 1, 2013, Cumberland Island National Seashore will begin accepting on-line registrations for the 2013-2014 Managed Hunts. The registration system will open at 8:00 a.m. on July 1, 2013, and continue until quotas have been reached for each hunt. The number of hunts one can register for is not limited.
The registration process is first come first serve through the website, www.pay.gov. The hunt fee is $35.00 per hunt per hunter except for the adult/child hunt where the fee is $35.00 per adult/child pair. Payment is required at the time of registration. The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. Hunters can register as individuals or as a group. A group consists of 5 members plus the group lead. Standby hunters are no longer being accepted. An e-mail will confirm your registration.
To register, go to www.pay.gov and type "Cumberland" in the search box located on the left hand side of the screen under the section entitled "Find Public Forms". From the search results, select "Cumberland Island Managed Hunt" and follow the screen instructions to complete registration. Cumberland Island National Seashore assimilates Georgia Department of Natural Resources hunting regulations.
Transportation to Cumberland Island is by passenger ferry or private boat. The passenger ferry departs from the National Park Service dock in St. Marys, Georgia at 10:00 a.m. on the hunt check-in day, typically Sunday. The return ferry departs from the Plum Orchard dock at 10:30 a.m. on close-out day, typically Thursday. The round trip fare is $30.00. Reservations for the ferry must be made when you receive your hunt confirmation. The reservation number is 877-860-6787 or 912-882-4335. Small boat charters are no longer available. No other charter or water taxi operators are authorized to operate to the Seashore.
Check-in for each hunt is mandatory and will be held at the Plum Orchard Hunt Camp and begins on the first day of each hunt, typically Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All hunters are required to present their hunting license, picture identification and hunt confirmation during this check in. Camping during the six designated hunting periods and in the designated hunting camping areas is for registered hunters only and non-hunters are prohibited from camping during these time periods.
Hunters may set up camp no earlier than 8:00 a.m. the day of hunt check-in. All hunters must depart by 12:00 p.m. the day of check-out. Camping during the hunt is restricted to registered hunters and all participants are required to camp at Plum Orchard Hunt Camp or Brickhill Campground. Plum Orchard Hunt Camp allows open fires in fire rings and also has bathrooms and showers. Brickhill Campground is located in designated Wilderness and has no amenities. There are no bathrooms, open fires are prohibited; propane stoves required. All trash, including toilet paper must be removed by the person-no trash receptacles available.
Private boaters must check-in at Plum Orchard Hunt Camp. Private boats must be beached or stream anchored. Private boats may use Plum Orchard dock to load/unload gear but are not allowed to dock overnight.
Hunting at Cumberland Island National Seashore is authorized by federal law and occurs in designated Wilderness areas only. A Georgia Big Game License is required for hunting deer and hog in addition to a regular Georgia Hunting License or a Primitive Weapons License (if using primitive weapons). Cumberland Island National Seashore follows Georgia Department of Natural Resources hunting regulations. Hunting on Cumberland Island is managed to benefit the island’s wildlife resources and to provide a quality experience for park visitors. In order to continue effective management of the resources you may be invited to complete a brief 10 minute questionnaire about your hunting experience. Completing the questionnaire is voluntary and confidential. Your participation is respected and greatly appreciated.
Go to www.nps.gov/cuis for further hunt information or www.gohuntgeorgia.com for license or weapon information. Additional information may be obtained by writing to: Hunts, Cumberland Island National Seashore, 101 Wheeler St, St Marys, GA 31558, phone 912-882-4336-253 or FAX 912-882-6284.
2013 – 2014 HUNTS DATES
Hunt Date # of Game Age
Hunters
Archery Hunt October 7, 8, 9 125 Hog and Deer 14 and over
Primitive Weapon November 4, 5, 6 100 Hog and Deer 14 and over
Primitive Weapon December 2, 3, 4 100 Hog and Deer 14 and over
Adult/Child December 15, 16, 17 50 Hog and Deer 12 - 16
Modern Weapons January 6, 7, 8 100 Hog only 14 and over
Modern Weapons January 20, 21, 22 100 Hog only 14 and over
Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by and be under direct adult supervision to hunt any game.
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.
#NPS#
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
EXTRAS WANTED for FILMING
MEDIA CONTACT: BARBARA RYAN, barbara@coastalgeorgiafilm.org, 912-729-1103
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
COASTAL GEORGIA FILM ALLIANCE CALLS FOR EXTRAS
Film Day: June 23 at 10 a.m. at the old paper mill site in St. Marys, Georgia
ST. MARYS, GA—If you’ve ever wanted to be in the movies, perhaps this is your chance.
The Coastal Georgia Film Alliance (CGFA) has put out a call for extras for the filming of “Preserve,” an apocalyptic story that takes place 170 years after a disaster has driven humanity underground. Survivors finally emerge to the surface and seek safe harbor in an unwelcoming world.
The Film Alliance is seeking adults between the ages of 18 and 55 who are physically fit as they will be playing roles that require running. According to CGFA talent coordinator and vice chair, Barbara Ryan, the scene calls for between 60-75 extras, all on a volunteer basis.
“Participants will be asked to wear their grungiest ‘survival clothes,’” Ryan said. “And on-site makeup artists will do the rest to bring the illusion to life.”
Ryan said the signup for extras will be on a first-respond, first-enrolled basis.
“This is the first movie we’ve coordinated where we’re encompassing the talents of our newly enrolled Alliance partners of Liberty, McIntosh, and Charlton Counties,” Ryan said. “Glynn County and northeast Florida residents are welcome as well, so we’re expecting a big response.”
“Preserve” was written by Wayne Degan and is being directed by Brandon Herron, both residents of Coastal Georgia.
Doug Vaught, CGFA chair, has been assisting the filming of “Preserve” for approximately six weeks, and has been impressed.
“Much of the film is being made in St. Marys on the old paper mill site—in fact, the site actually inspired the writing of the film,” Vaught said. “And scenes are being filmed in surrounding counties as well.”
Vaught went on to say that the Film Alliance and the movie producers are very grateful to the trustees of the paper mill property for allowing the film to be made without any compensation to the property.
“This is the kind of community spirit that will come back to us tenfold as we continue to pursue projects that ultimately can make a difference in economic development for our region,” said Vaught.
Anyone who would like to be considered for an extra on June 23, should email barbara@coastalgeorgiafilm.org to be pre-registered. Applicants can familiarize themselves with the film by going to www.facebook.com/preservemovie.
The film site is located at 1100 Osborne Road, St. Marys, Georgia. Call 912-729-1103 for additional information.
Coastal Georgia Film Alliance Partners include: Charlton County, Liberty County, McIntosh County, and St. Marys Downtown Merchants Association.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
BRAG is headed our way!
The St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to share that the wildly popular 34th Annual BRAG Ride will end its seven day bicycle in St. Marys on Saturday, June 8 bringing 800-1,100 people to town. The annual ride changes routes each year and, this year, began in Cordele on June 2 and will travel through and spend time in Tifton, Douglas, Waycross and Brunswick on its way to St. Marys. The End-of-the-Ride event will happen in the Howard Gilman Memorial Park and will include the rider’s end-of road meal, photo displays of the previous day’s rides, musical entertainment will be provided from 11am-1pm by the Unites States Navy rock band, “Pride” and a BRAG shower station will be set up for riders. Riders are expected to begin biking into downtown between 10am and 11am and continue arriving through 2pm.
Special Olympics Georgia hosts the rest stops during the BRAG ride. The three Camden County rest stop locations are the Satilla River Waterfront Park, Kingsland’s Maple Ford Park and the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Franklin Gate parking lot near the Bancroft Sail Display. Boy Scout Troop 318 is assisting SOGA but additional volunteers are welcome at the Kings Bay rest stop between 9am-1pm. Riders can enjoy drinks, sandwiches and an opportunity to interact with local residents.
All roads along the route are open to normal traffic, so we ask that drivers keep alert and use caution when sharing the road with the cyclists. We also ask locals to note that boat trailer parking at the Osborne Street boat ramp will be limited until after 3pm. The Meeting Street boat ramp may be a better option for the day. Many of the riders will be staying in town after the event and we encourage our residents to interact with and welcome the group with the southern charm our visitors have come to know us for.
The over 350 mile ride is not a race but a family-oriented adventure through some of the most scenic communities in Georgia. Riders say the ride is recreational, social and, in many ways educational. While this sojourn can be strenuous with the warm Georgia days and miles of pedaling each day it has been completed by all types of people including children, college students, military members, business professionals of all kinds and retired people from all walks of life.
BRAG (Bicycle Ride Across Georgia) is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to providing affordable, family-oriented, quality bicycle tours in and across Georgia, with an emphasis on bicycling fun, safety and education. For more information, or to volunteer, call the St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau at 912-882-4000 or info@stmaryswelcome.com.
Sincerely,
Angela Wigger, CMP -Director of Tourism
St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau
912.882.4000 Angela.wigger@stmaryswelcome.com
111 Osborne Street, St. Marys, GA 31558
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