FIND. PICTURE. CHOOSE.

We make small towns easy to find, easy to picture, and easy to choose.

100
towns scored, one score each
Score yours
Salem 91·Park City 90·Leavenworth 89·St. George 84·Alexandria 80·Bozeman 79·New Glarus 77·Billings 75·Medora 74·Detroit Lakes 73·Bentonville 71·Cedar City 67·Mackinac 66·Pella 64·Glenwood 60·Anoka 49·Salem 91·Park City 90·Leavenworth 89·St. George 84·Alexandria 80·Bozeman 79·New Glarus 77·Billings 75·Medora 74·Detroit Lakes 73·Bentonville 71·Cedar City 67·Mackinac 66·Pella 64·Glenwood 60·Anoka 49·
Found. Pictured. Chosen.

A quiet town is rarely the worse town. It is the harder one to find.

Two towns an hour apart, same size, same kind of lake or main street. One is booked solid, the other is empty. That difference is almost never luck.

01 Found

Can they discover it

When a traveler asks search or AI for things to do nearby, does your town come up at all.

02 Pictured

Can they imagine it

Photos, video, and a clear story that let a traveler see the trip before they book.

03 Chosen

Is there a reason

Reviews, an anchor experience, and an only here factor that turns a maybe into a weekend.

Towns that found their reason
The Visitor Impact Score, live

One number. One standout strength. From 0 to 100.

Towns scored
0
Avg online VIS
0
Destination Leaders
0
Overlooked
0
Category scores, VIS v1.0
W / Website and Story
A / Anchor Activity
D / Downtown Density
C / Community Capacity
R / Reviews and Reputation

Sample town
0

On the Map

Online tier, provisional until field audit

The distribution

Where every town falls.

One hundred towns, plotted on the curve by their Visitor Impact Score. Most sit in the middle. A few are overlooked, a few are leaders, and the distance between them is the opportunity.

The scoreboard

Every town gets a card.

0/100

Alexandria, MN

On the Map

Strength: Big Ole and the Kensington Runestone.
0/100

Detroit Lakes, MN

On the Map

Strength: Thomas Dambo’s giant trolls.
0/100

New Glarus, WI

On the Map

Strength: America’s Little Switzerland.
0/100

Bentonville, AR

On the Map

Strength: World-class mountain biking and Crystal Bridges.
0/100

Lanesboro, MN

Emerging

Strength: Root River bluffs and the bike trail.
0/100

Rhinelander, WI

Emerging

Strength: The one and only Hodag.
Proof story

How a town of 1,400 draws six figures.

Amana Colonies, Iowa

100k+ tourists
a year to a German themed town of 1,400 residents. We break down exactly why it works, and how to borrow it.
See the playbook

From the field

Towns we have profiled.

0/100

New Glarus, WI

On the Map

Strength: America’s Little Switzerland.
0/100

Detroit Lakes, MN

On the Map

Strength: Thomas Dambo’s giant trolls.
0/100

Bentonville, AR

On the Map

Strength: World-class mountain biking and Crystal Bridges.
0/100

Lanesboro, MN

Emerging

Strength: Root River bluffs and the bike trail.
0/100

Alexandria, MN

On the Map

Strength: Big Ole and the Kensington Runestone.
0/100

Rhinelander, WI

Emerging

Strength: The one and only Hodag.
Coming soon

100 Towns Worth Finding

A coffee table book scoring one hundred small towns from Buffalo, North Dakota to St. George, Utah. Each town gets its score, its band, and the one thing that would change everything.

Nominate your town

Creative City Developments
100 Towns Worth Finding
Buffalo, ND to St. George, UT
Watch

The story, on film.

We tell each town’s story the way a traveler would feel it. Browse the films, one town at a time.

Good to know

The short version.

What is the Visitor Impact Score

A 0 to 100 read of how a town shows up to travelers, online and in AI search, with the one standout strength worth building on.

How is it measured

Across search, AI answers, imagery, reviews, lodging, and more. We share the score and the standout strength. The method stays ours.

Who is it for

Town leaders, chambers, CVBs, and economic development offices that want more visits and more nights booked.

What does it cost

The online score is the starting point. The on-site audit is a paid engagement. Reach out and we will find the right fit.

TL;DR

  • Two towns an hour apart, one booked solid, one quiet.
  • The gap is visibility, not luck.
  • We score it, then hand you the one move that matters.
  • 100 towns scored from ND to UT, your town can be next.

Who is behind it

A traveler’s eye, pointed at your town.

I am Matthew Pfeifer, founder of Creative City Developments. I have spent more than fifteen years building growth systems for hospitality and service brands, and I have visited 47 countries and over 200 cities. I know what makes a person stop, stay an extra night, and tell three friends.

47countries
200+cities profiled
15+years in growth

Towns we have profiled

Stillwater, Detroit Lakes, Battle Lake, New Glarus, Bentonville, Amana Colonies, and more. Amana draws about 1.5 million visitors a year. WE Fest turns Detroit Lakes into a 72 million dollar summer. Your town has a version of that story. It is probably just hiding.

Find out where your town stands.

The towns that win the next decade are the ones that get serious about their story now.

Request your Visitor Impact Score