Photo courtesy of The Shelby County Chamber.
Members of the Shelby County Commission, along with County Manager Chad Scroggins, accept their award for Tourism Advocate of the Year.
The Shelby County Chamber held its fourth annual Tourism & Recreation All-Star Awards luncheon on Oct. 5 at Columbiana's Grande Hall in Old Mill Square.
Six business groups, including Calera Main Street, Chelsea Business Alliance, Columbiana Main Street, Discover Shelby, Montevallo Chamber of Commerce and The Shelby County Chamber, recognized tourism and recreation businesses who make the area a more attractive destination for tourists and visitors.
The 30 nominees were divided into five categories: Lodging, Event/Festival, Restaurant, Recreation/Attractions and Advocate.
The winners were:
- Attraction of the Year: Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum (Calera)
- Event of the Year: Liberty Day Festival (Columbiana)
- Lodging Facility of the Year: Fairfield Inn & Suites – Pelham (Pelham)
- Restaurant of the Year: Oak House (Mt Laurel / 280 corridor)
- Tourism Advocate of the Year: Shelby County Commission
Matthew Capps, deputy parks director for the Alabama State Parks Department, talked about the positive impact and vital role that state parks play in tourism and recreation throughout the state and communities.
The 2023 award nominees included:
- Adventurer’s Coffee & Café
- American Village
- Birmingham South RV Park
- Buck Creek Coffee
- Bump N Grind (hosted by Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers)
- Calera Trunk or Treat (Collectivus Church / Calera on Main)
- Chelsea Community Center
- Columbiana Main Street (farmers market, Music on Main and farm-to-table events)
- Discover Shelby Fest (Shelby County Arts Council)
- Eagle Sports Complex
- Fairfield Inn & Suites — Pelham
- The Farm Company
- Full Moon Bar-B-Que of Pelham
- Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
- Holidays at the Movies Ice Show (Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena)
- Just a Tish, Wine & More
- Liberty Day Festival (City of Columbiana)
- Main Street Tavern
- Mama Coco Cantina
- Montevallo Arts Collaborative
- Oak House
- Oak Mountain State Park
- Orr Park (City of Montevallo)
- Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena
- Pelham Racquet Club
- Rolling Hills Conference Center & RV Park
- Shelby County Commission
- Slice Pizza & Brew
- Tinglewood Festival
