November 2014 Volume 14, Issue 11 A publication of the Manhattan Convention & Visitors Bureau
Country Stampede Wins Governor’s Tourism Award
This year at the 2014 Kansas Tourism Conference, Country Stampede was awarded the prestigious Governor’s Tourism Award for their contributions to the tourism industry in Kansas. The Country Stampede Music Festival has been held annually at Tuttle Creek State Park for the past 19 years and Wayne Rouse has served as the General Manager all 19 years. Country Stampede is the largest country music festival in Kansas, with attendance exceeding 40,000 people over the four day period. The large attendance is a tribute to the top notch performers that are brought to the stage each year. Past performers include Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift and MANY more. Blake Shelton and Florida Georgia Line are set to headline the 2015 event.
Economic impact on Manhattan businesses has been tremendous with this event. Average out-of-
town spending on lodging, retail and food/beverage is over $1.3 million per year. Campers spend over $4.8 million per year on camping, retail and food/beverage. The local market on average spends over $3.0 million on retail and food/beverage per year. All other single day retail and food/beverage expenses total nearly $1.0 million. Overall, this has an annual economic impact of nearly $10 million on the Manhattan market.
The Governor’s Tourism Award was established in 1983 to recognize a Kansan for outstanding contributions to the travel and tourism industry in Kansas and to encourage
others, in the tourism industry, to strive for excellence in their respective endeavors. Country Stampede is very deserving of this recognition, and Manhattan is proud to be home of this signature event.
Picture left to right: Linda Craghead -Asst. Sec. of KDWPT, Adrienne Hayes, Wayne Rouse, Marla & Jeff Copper- Country Stampede, and Karen HibbardManhattan Convention & Visitors Bureau Director