Brown County Sees Busiest Tourist Season In Years

Brown County businesses say this fall was their busiest tourist season in years. Thousands of people flocked to the area to see the changing leaves.

The lines in Nashville this fall were a welcome sight to business owners. Fall is peak tourism season, and Artists Colony Inn owner Bibianna Stutsman says she saw more visitors this year than anytime over the past decade.

"It was pretty exciting actually for us to see that," Stutsman said. "It kind of gives us hope that the economy is turning around and that people are more comfortable coming out and spending money."

Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Jill Ellis says new businesses and events are helping to draw more people to town.

"We have some new things on site, you know the brown county playhouse has their shows up and running … they’ve moved to a year-round schedule," Ellis said. "We’ve got some new businesses like Big Woods Brewing company. Also the leaf sculpture."

Ellis says the fall season accounts for about 30 percent of local businesses’ revenues for the entire year.