St. Charles tourism agency to promote Elburn

The St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau is eager to send visitors Elburn way - and hopes that Elburnites will spend some of their leisure time over in St. Charles.

The Village of Elburn joined the bureau this month after bureau officials noted that its service area already included a corner of the town, according to Amy Egolf, director of the bureau.

The St. Charles nonprofit, a state-certified tourism bureau, was already assigned to cover Campton Hills and Campton Township. Part of Elburn falls in to that township, but the rest is in Blackberry Township, an area not assigned to any convention and visitors bureau.

Elburn businesses and events likely to attract out-of-the-area visitors for pleasure and business will be advertised in materials put out by the bureau, as well as the state tourism agency.

And if those visitors need a hotel room, St. Charles is a likely choice, as Elburn does not have a motel or hotel.

The cost to the village? Nothing, Egolf said, unless a hotel or motel opens in town.

What would nonlocals visit in Elburn? "There are several things," Egolf said. She mentioned "a really nice antiques store," the St. Charles Sportsmen's Club, the Great Lakes Leadership conference center (which caters to religious groups) and the Heritage Prairie Farm and market.

The latter "could be a significant draw for the international market," as state tourism officials are promoting agricultural tourism, she said. Heritage Prairie is a community-supported operation focusing on growing organic produce and flowers, making honey, and developing a market for locally-grown food. It has a store, and it also has special activities, such as themed gourmet dinners using local products.

"The bottom line is, we are delighted to do what we can for those towns and amenities," Egolf said.

The St. Charles visitors bureau is supported by the state and by a local sales tax collected on hotel and motel stays.

Its Web site is visitstcharles.com.