Denison --  To emphasize the impact of tourism, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials and tourism experts from across the region greeted visitors to the Texas Travel Information Center in Denison May 10 on Travel Rally Day.

According to statistics released by TxDOT, travel and tourism is one of America’s largest employers, supporting 14.4 million jobs nationwide. In 2010, visitor spending in Grayson County resulted in $2,190,000 in local taxes, $11,990,000 in state taxes and generated $190,550,000 in total spending.

Approximately 300,000 visitors stop at  the Texas Travel Information Center in Denison every year to pick up brochures detailing attractions and events available all across the Lone Star State, from Red River to the Rio Grande, although the spotlight is on the Texoma region.

Travelers stopping by the Information Center last Friday were offered free hot dogs, ice cream and drinks and they also had a chance to visit with tourism professionals from Lake Texoma Association, Denison, Sherman, Bonham, Granbury, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, Pottsboro, The Sherman Museum, Texas Lakes Trail and Eisenhower Historic Birthplace.

Lake Texoma, with 89,000 acres of water, 580 miles of shoreline and National Wildlife Refuges near Pottsboro, Texas and Tishomingo, Oklahoma is the dominant geographical feature in the region.  Tourism experts estimate that approximately six million people visit Lake Texoma each year.  If each of those visitors spend $100 -- which is likely a modest estimate because that is slightly more than a tank of gas -- then Lake Texoma infuses a staggering $600 million a year into the regional economy.

In addition to ample recreational opportunities, this region is rich in history.

Bonham is proud to be known as the hometown of former U.S. Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, one of the key players in the creation of Lake Texoma.  No visit to Bonham is complete without a stop at the Sam Rayburn House Museum and the Sam Rayburn Library Museum. 

Denison is the birthplace of President Dwight Eisenhower and the annual Eisenhower Birthday Celebration is slated for Saturday, October 12, 2013. Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site is located at 609 South Lamar Avenue in Denison.

Perhaps you are well aware of these popular destinations, but have you ever been to the Texas Sculpture Garden in Frisco, Plano's Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival or an amazing concert at McKinney Performing Arts Center?

Fleetwood Mac lead guitarist Lindsey Buckingham performs in the Courtroom Theatre at McKinney Performing Arts Center. The Indigo Girls will perform in this intimate venue May 17. photo by Allen Rich

Texas Travel Information Center in Denison, open 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. daily, has a wealth of information about all this and much, much more.   

Emily Porter, Bonham Economic Development Corporation President, serves up some spicy Hell on the Red salsa to travelers.

Representatives from Denison

Representatives from Sherman

A traveler looks over brochures inside the Texas Travel Information Center.

Representatives from Granbury and Jill Campbell Jordan (right), Executive Director of Texas Heritage Trails Program, attended the tourism event.

Representatives of Sherman Community Players were on hand to promote the acting troupe's upcoming production of The Drowsy Chaperone. photo courtesy of Sherman Community Players

Skip Hill was there touting the amazing natural resources at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge.

John Akers told visitors about Eisenhower's Birthday Celebration coming up Saturday, October 12, 2013 in Eisenhower's birthplace, Denison, Texas.

Shelly Morgan, Executive Director of Lake Texoma Association

Dan Steelman, Executive Director of The Sherman Museum, displays a replica of a pawpawsaurus skull. Entries for The Sherman Museum's Dino Days Art Contest will be accepted until May 15. Winners will be announced June 1.

Texas Travel Information Center in Denison hosts approximately 300,000 visitors annually and stocks brochures for cities throughout Texas.

All photos by Allen Rich