The Turkey River Recreational Corridor was awarded the 2022 Iowa Tourism Award for Outstanding Niche Marketing Initiative (Rural) for its 360º virtual tour of the Turkey River Water Trail.
The award was presented during the 2022 Iowa Tourism Conference, held April 19-20th in Des Moines. Iowa Tourism Awards are presented by the Iowa Tourism Office to recognize excellence in the tourism industry.
The virtual tour provides paddlers with on-the-water videos and photos covering the entire water trail—including access points and parking areas—as well as an interactive map with directions and information about river levels.
“This virtual tour will not only help attract new paddlers to the Turkey River by showcasing its stunning beauty, but will help all paddlers plan for an enjoyable experience,” says Mallory Hanson, Northeast Iowa RC&D staff member and director of the Turkey River Recreational Corridor.
The virtual tour was made possible through support of partners including the Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation, Fayette County Conservation, Clayton County Conservation, Fayette County Economic Development & Tourism, and the Clayton County Development Group. Northeast Iowa RC&D staff members provided project coordination, videography, and mapping services.
The Turkey River Water Trail is 98-mile stretch of the Little Turkey and Turkey Rivers in Northeast Iowa connected through signs, maps, and river access points that provides an enjoyable, scenic, and educational experience for recreational users. The 98-mile water trail begins on the Little Turkey River at Gouldsburg Park and flows southeast through Fayette and Clayton Counties toward the Mississippi River. The Water Trail features beautiful scenery, diverse wildlife species, and numerous historic landmarks.
Learn more about the Turkey River Recreational Corridor at https://turkeyrivercorridor.com/.