Photo by Ken Odor
Wayne Dementi and Aynsley Fisher lead the discussion of the 35-Mile Drive Association last week at the Edible Garden on River Road.

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The 35-Mile Drive Association met again last week, this time at the Edible Garden on River Road, one of the first stops in the envisioned road trip through the county along River Road out to Columbia, which the group hopes to promote in bringing tourist dollars to the county.
About 15 local business owners and others heard a report on the association’s progress. The big news was that a local TV station recently called the group to do an interview about the concept. The interview on Channel 6 aired a few days later.

“I was so nervous,” said Aynsley Fisher, who led the meeting along with Wayne Dementi. The interview with Fisher was taped at the Edible Garden and the piece also included a stop at Brookview Farm.

“It painted a good picture of Goochland,” said Fisher. “Now we can shape a pitch to other stations,” she said.

The original story of the 35-mile drive is on currently on view in 18 framed pages on the walls of the Edible Garden restaurant, with plans to move the photo and story essay to other of the interested business locations in the near future.

The budding association has held several meetings, mostly brainstorming on how to capitalize on the scenic and historic assets of Goochland County and ways to promote tourism in the county which well bring dollars to local businesses.

At a meeting in April, Dementi noted that the time was ripe to promote “a getaway strategy” that focuses on day trips as inexpensive excursion opportunities.

He also reported that $2,000 of a $6,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Tourism to the Goochland Chamber of Commerce was available to help the new group promote Goochland tourism.

“Good things are happening,” said Dementi, commenting on the Channel 6 interview.

Now the group is focusing on putting together some “getaway package trips.

Lisa Dearden of the Center for Rural Culture reported that members of the Friends of the Farmers Market are eligible for raffle tickets for getaway packages each month.

Before the meeting began, the members had a wine and cheese reception prepared by Molly Harris, who along with Lisa Goldstein owns the Edible Garden.
Harris, a life-long Goochland resident, said the 35-mile drive concept is “right on target.”

The members discussed new ideas to promote their vision, including hosting a reception for travel representative reception and possible bus tour with presenters.

Fisher said the association needs to think about a Web site to promote its plan.

But the organization is still in the formative stages at this time.

“We don’t even have a bank account,” said Dementi.

Nonetheless, the group tentatively agreed to meet again on the third Wednesday in July.

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