Next-Level Destination Mountain Towns & Communities, with Eric Woolridge of Destination by Design

In this episode we sit down with Eric Woolridge, Appalachian State University Alumni & President of Destination by Design, which is an economic development firm comprised of local government planners, engineers, urban designers, and communication experts who collaborate to plan, develop, brand, and promote destination-quality recreation and tourism.

If you’ve traveled much in the Blue Ridge, Appalachian, or even the Great Smoky Mountains, you know there are many picturesque small mountain towns with historic main streets, but as beautiful as these towns are, some are struggling to reinvent themselves from an economic perspective. Destination by Design offers a wide range of downtown revitalization services but their heart is help breathe new life into downtown.

Eric and his team help these destinations elevate their profile and tap into the tourism economy. Whether promoting existing assets, or planning, funding, and implementing new tourism anchor products, they help these towns become a next-level destinations.

ALSO MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Greenways & Trails
Fonta Flora Trail
Mountains to Sea Trail
Northern Peaks Trail
Lenoir
Chimney Rock Village
Rutherford County Tourism
Spindale
Damascus, VA
Virginia Creeper Trail
Boone
Wayfinding & Signage