Economic Development & Tourism

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PRESS RELEASES

To find the latest Tourism news, check out this collection of press releases.

• Local Hotel Tax Revenue Up 8% in FY04
• 2004 Economic Impact Figures
• $1.25 Million Wal-Mart FLW Chevy Open Potomac River Bass Tournament Comes to Charles County
• Regional Tourism Effort Wins Award at 2005 Governor's Conference

STORY IDEAS

Charles County has been writing its own story for nearly 350 years and we'd love it if you would share it with your readers and viewers. The following items may give you some story ideas for the project you've been assigned to do.

• Traveling the Road to Religious Freedom
  The quest for religious freedom and the struggle to establish and maintain religious tolerance is illustrated by the number of historic churches that dot the Charles County countryside. Come explore these churches, some of which are the oldest in the nation.
• Bring your Appetite
  When it comes to food, Charles County is the epicenter of Maryland barbecue and the rib shack. Enjoy the tastes that Southern Maryland is famous for — hot steamed crabs, broiled fish, stuffed ham and barbecue chicken and ribs! From upscale dining to relaxed barbecue establishments to restaurants with a waterfront view and our infamous crab houses, we have it all!
• Birdwatching at its Best: Over 322 Bird Species Live in Charles County
  Get a bird's eye view of a unique variety of resident and migratory birds, nestled within a rural setting. A total of 322 bird species can be found here, including the second largest bald eagle population in the state of Maryland. With 150 miles of Potomac shoreline and an abundance of undeveloped forested areas, Charles County is a haven for birds and bird watchers alike.
• A Valentine's Day Story
  For nearly 50 years, nearly 2,500 great blue herons have made a dramatic return to the Nanjemoy Creek area during the week of Valentine's Day to pair up, reinforce their nests and lay and incubate a clutch of three to five eggs. By July, the young will be fledged and the colony will leave for the summer and fall breeding grounds and only the nests remain in the treetops as a silent reminder of the springtime clamor.
• Embroidered Kneeler Panels Provide Mass Attendees Comfort and a Look at Maryland Life
  At St. Ignatius Church in Chapel Point, over 40 different panels were stitched by a team of volunteers. Designed by a local needle point artist, these unique panels not only provide comfort for those kneeling during mass but they convey different themes including history, theology, architecture, landscape and human interest that reflect Maryland's historical, cultural and natural resources.
• Spies and Smugglers!
  The Southern Maryland area was a hot bed of intrigue during the Civil War. Stories of spies and smugglers abound as Southern sympathizers engaged in espionage. One of the most colorful spies residing in Charles County was Olivia Floyd, a sharp-minded, hunchback woman, who conducted covert activities from her Port Tobacco home, Rose Hill.
• Mallows Bay
  Located on the western border of Charles County, within the confines of a forgotten corner of Maryland in the Potomac River, lies a one-mile long natural embayment known as Mallows Bay. Here lies one of the largest "graveyard of ships" in North America. Vessels dating from the Revolutionary War to World War I were brought to this area to be salvaged — a task never completed. Today, many of those vessels have become islands with their own min-ecosystems. The result: a wonderful and unique place to kayak and fish.

IMAGE GALLERY ( order images )
We have a variety of images to choose from — both in print and in digital format and we're happy to lend out our materials to the travel media free of charge. We only ask that the following crdit line is included with the image in the finished product: "Courtesy of the Charles County Economic Development and Tourism Department"