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White Deer--White Deer City Council voted recently to join the Wind Power Trail--the nation's first interstate tourism project devoted to alternative energy and historic vintage windmill collections. The trail, developed by a consortium of communities and tourism agencies, goes from Lawton, Okla., to Lubbock, and includes numerous small communities along the way. Visitors will be able to visit some of the largest wind turbines in America as well as the nation's foremost collections of vintage windmills. Designed to get travelers off the main highways and into rural communities, the project consists of trail maps, an audio CD, and a website (www.windpowertrail.com). Texas communities along the trail include Speaman, White Deer, Canyon, Plainview and Lubbock. Amarillo is notably absent from the trail despite the project's regional flavor, interstate partnerships, and leadership from the Lubbock COnvention and VIsitors Bureau. Seth Davidson, tourism project developer from Miami, believes that "this is a classic case of small and large communities working together to achieve the common goal fo publicity, economic development, and tourism. Having strong support from communities like WHite Deer, Lubbock, and out-of-state entities like the Oklahoma Department of Tourism makes all the difference." White Deer provides the only commercial wind farm venue on the Texas side of the trail—visitors will be able to enjoy the scenic lineup of the Panhandle's most noticeable landmark: giant wind turbines turning in the wind. The project will give travelers a chance to experience and learn about the machinery that produces renewable energy, about the potential for wind power, and about the historic importance of traditional windmills. Trail publicity will include promotion at the June, 2004 International Windmill Trade Fair in Shattuck, and a publicity booth at the 2004 Route 66 Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Many Route 66 tourists will likely detour from the “Mother Road” in order to see the wind turbines and experience the Main Street, USA ambiance of White Deer and other towns on the trail. PO Box 481, Miami, Texas, 79059 |