How Graham Hancock’s “Ancient Apocalypse” Sparked a $44 Million Tourism Boom

Creative City Developments | {{TOWN}}, {{ST}} CREATIVE CITYDEVELOPMENTS TownsReportsMethodBookConsultingGet your score ☰ Salem 78·Park City 90·Leavenworth 72·St. George 71·Alexandria 61·Bozeman

January 5, 2025 No Comments
Creative City Development, Heritage, Wonder

Detroit Lakes, Minnesota: the town that caught lightning in a wooden bottle | Creative City Developments

In Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, five giant Thomas Dambo trolls turned a recycled-wood treasure hunt into a free, TIME-honored draw pulling visitors from across the country.

June 25, 2024 No Comments
Creative City Development

Mount Dora, Florida: the New England of the South | Creative City Developments

Mount Dora, Florida turned New England charm, Lake Dora, and 200,000-visitor festivals into a small-town tourism juggernaut 30 miles from Orlando.

June 19, 2024 No Comments
Creative City Development

Mitchell, South Dakota: a city that turned corn into gold | Creative City Developments

Mitchell, South Dakota built the World’s Only Corn Palace, a free I-90 landmark redecorated yearly in real corn that draws half a million visitors.

September 6, 2023 No Comments
Creative City Development

Alexandria, Minnesota: a town that bet on a Viking | Creative City Developments

Alexandria, Minnesota built its identity on Big Ole, America’s tallest Viking, and the Kensington Runestone. A look at the anchor, the numbers, and the gap.

June 26, 2023 No Comments
Creative City Development

Roswell, New Mexico: a crash heard around the galaxy | Creative City Developments

Roswell, New Mexico turned a 1947 UFO crash into a tourism empire of alien museums, festivals, and even a flying-saucer McDonald’s.

June 14, 2023 No Comments
Creative City Development

Saugatuck, Michigan: from sawdust to sea breeze | Creative City Developments

Saugatuck, Michigan traded its lumber mills for art galleries, becoming a Lake Michigan resort town where painters, beaches, and an 1857 chain ferry draw crowds.

June 9, 2023 No Comments
Creative City Development
Road America SCCA National Championship Runoffs - GT Lite starting grid

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin: a village that refused to coast | Creative City Developments

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin: a 941-person Victorian resort village that turned 1950s street races into Road America, a track drawing 800,000 fans a year.

February 14, 2023 No Comments
Creative City Development

New Glarus, Wisconsin: the town that decided to stay Swiss | Creative City Developments

How New Glarus, Wisconsin became Little Switzerland, home of Spotted Cow beer you can only buy in-state. A small town’s heritage bet, by the numbers.

February 9, 2023 No Comments
Creative City Development

Ashland, Oregon: a logging town that bet on Shakespeare | Creative City Developments

Ashland, Oregon turned a roofless 1935 stage into the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the anchor that still makes this 21,000-person town a national theater destination.

January 26, 2023 No Comments
Creative City Development