Fort Scott Chamber looks to find the Eight Wonders of Bourbon County

By Rayma Silvers

The Fort Scott Tribune

Throughout the world, people are constantly amazed by the beauty and grandeur of the Seven Wonders of the World, which includes the magnificent Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge in all its vastness.

Although many area residents may not be able to witness the splendor of these amazing structures and landscapes in person, they can, on a regular basis, witness the beauty that lies within Bourbon County.

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee has begun a quest to discover the Eight Wonders of Bourbon County. In its attempt to do so, the committee is conducting an Eight Wonders of Bourbon County contest, which begins Aug. 1 and continues through Aug. 31. According to committee chairperson Martha Scott, one purpose of the contest, to promote tourism in the local area.

"The committee's goal is to identify the Eight Wonders of Bourbon County to be used in the marketing of Bourbon County to the tourism industry. Each individual who enters a 'wonder' will be eligible for a drawing to be held Sept. 5 when the committee will draw eight names for prizes including tickets to Taste of Fort Scott, Taste of Home and Dolly the Trolley tickets," Scott said.

According to a press release, a 'wonder' can be man-made or a natural substance. It should be of interest to not only local residents, but also tourists. The nominated entry can be residential or commercial, agricultural or conservation related, unique, outstanding or significant in any way.

Anyone interested in entering the contest should record his or her submission on a piece of 8 1/2 X 11 inch paper, making sure to include his or her name, address and phone number. Entrants can submit as many wonders as they want. However, it is requested that each entry be recorded on separate entries. Entries can be submitted at the Chamber office, 231 E. Wall, e-mailed at fschamber.com or faxed to (620) 223-3574. All entries should be to the attention of Eight Wonders, the press release said.

Picking only eight wonders in the local area will be a challenge since Bourbon County has much to offer residents and out-of town guests. This being the case, Scott said the committee will also choose several honorable mentions as well.

The names of the winners of the Eight Wonders of Bourbon County will appear on the Chamber's Web site at www.fortscott.com. For more information about the contest, contact the Chamber of Commerce.