ENID — More than 40 tour leaders from across the state came to Enid Tuesday to experience all the city has to offer.
And at least one of them knows for sure she will be bringing tours to Enid in the near future.
“Yes, I will,” said Edmond resident and First Christian Church member Ellen Chitwood. “Absolutely no question about it.”
Enid Convention and Visitors Bureau organized the tour Tuesday that brought tour directors from across the state to Enid. The stop at Enid actually was a surprise, said Glenda Carr, who represented Friends International Tours of Oklahoma City.
Once they got to Enid, the tour directors were given a city tour, followed by a visit to Champlin Mansion and lunch at Simpson’s Old Time Museum. After lunch, the group went to Enid Symphony Center, followed by Railroad Museum of Oklahoma and Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center.
The tour concluded with dinner at Callahan’s Pub & Grille and a series of mini-shows at Gaslight Theatre.
Of all the places they went on tour, the favorite seemed to be Champlin Mansion.
“It was wonderful,” Carr said. “It really was very impressive.”
On the tour group’s agenda, the event listed for 11 a.m. was a “Historical Home Tour, not just any home ... .”
The surprise, which ended up being the mansion, definitely was worth it for Chitwood.
“I would say that was the biggest surprise,” she said. “That was really special.”
Marcy Jarrett, Enid Convention and Visitors Bureau director, said lunch also was a big hit with the group.
A live band performed for the group while members dined at the saloon inside Simpson’s Old Time Museum, and Cactus Jack, aka Errol Wofford, came by to entertain the guests.
Ruth Kennedy, of Watonga Travelers, said she loved visiting Simpson’s.
“I had been to Simpson’s when it was the western store many years ago,” she said.
Jarrett is hoping the people who came to Enid will bring their own tours to the city and also spread the word to other tour groups about what there is in Enid.
“It was momentous,” Jarrett said. “Being able to take them through Champlin Mansion this morning made me so proud of Enid.”
Jarrett said if even three or four groups return, the cost of Tuesday’s tour will be returned to the city.
[Read More...]