Fredericksburg is a proud city. 40 beautiful blocks of downtown, ever growing neighborhoods, and the always bustling Central Park, define a locality that has witnessed a number of challenges, and even more successes, in the early 2020s. When talking with someone from Fredericksburg, they are always quick, and enthusiastic, to mention that they are from Fredericksburg. I am one of those people.
I came onto the team of Fredericksburg Economic Development & Tourism in the fall of 2021; it was certainly an eventful and consequential period to join a local government. The city was still in recovery from a lethal pandemic, a lengthy quarantine, and a 2020 summer of unrest, with protests downtown in an effort to further racial equality and justice. Fredericksburg was due for a reboot. And thanks to the tremendous work by the EDT team, led fearlessly by Bill Freehling, this city saw an incredible revamp and development that led to a substantially positive economic impact. As the Tourism Marketing Assistant, it is unlikely that I was a major contributor to this impact, but I certainly was a witness and documentarian. And I can accurately say that Fredericksburg should be more than proud of its accomplishments: this city should be, and is, revered as well.
On November 1st, 2021, my first day of work, I had lunch with my supervisor, Danelle Rose, who asked me what I wanted to focus on with this job. I had a simple, succinct answer: I wanted to write. Danelle took this wish to heart, and immediately assigned to me endless blog topics that would highlight local businesses and events. Soon, I was meeting with many, many Fredericksburg business owners to discuss their work and goals. I remember the first time I met and laughed with Adrian Silversmith, owner of Sprelly. I remember my curiosity as to how the local community would embrace a gourmet peanut butter and jelly shop, and was thrilled to see Sprelly become beloved in Fredericksburg. It is always nice to see people who deserve success receive it, and Adrian Silversmith is one of those people.
I met with Matt Haney and Matt Deaton, co-owners of Allman’s BBQ. Deaton explained to me “Virginia-style” barbecue, and Haney pointed out the bald eagle that was flying above Allman’s. Haney joked that the bald eagle was hopefully a symbol for good luck, and based on the accolades that Allman’s has received in the past three years, it may not have been a joke after all.
I met with Clint Novak, former general manager of Fun Land of Fredericksburg, who explained to me the process of installing a ropes course into the interior of the park. He was also kind enough to offer our office a sneak preview of the Sky Trail & Zipline; and by sneak preview, I mean we were the initial riders of the Sky Trail. While afraid of heights, I decided to give the Sky Trail a try…which resulted in photos of me mid-ropes course, featured in both the Fredericksburg Visitor Guide and on a poster at Virginia Credit Union Stadium, home of the Fredericksburg Nationals. Those photos, while less than flattering, remind me that a piece of Fredericksburg will never leave me, and that I will always be a part of this glorious city.
The blog and video of my experience at Fun Land was a part of Destination FXBG, a series that I, and our office’s video mastermind Jim Gaston, planned and implemented together. Destination FXBG highlights the entertaining activities in Fredericksburg, which I was fortunate enough to test out. I rode in an open-cockpit biplane above Fredericksburg, scaled the walls of Rapp Rocks Climbing Gym, and bounced around at Sky Zone Trampoline Park. And, naturally, I walked the streets of Fredericksburg in a blowup T-Rex costume to promote Jurassic Quest at the Fredericksburg Convention Center. I also enjoyed out the nightlife of Fredericksburg as part of the blog series FXBG After Dark. Poor me, right?
These series demonstrated the creative freedom that Danelle, Bill, and all of the EDT staff brought to the job, in an effort to further our goals to build Fredericksburg’s economic development and tourism. I was given the creative freedom to highlight areas of tourism that I felt would benefit the city. When I mentioned to Danelle that I felt Fredericksburg should tap into the market of rail enthusiasts, she had me drive down to Richmond Staples Mill Station, and take the Amtrak back up to Fredericksburg, in order to demonstrate the convenience of Fredericksburg Station. After I wrote the blog about my experience (which was, indeed, convenient), our office received calls from tourists who planned on taking the train to Fredericksburg. The results of my work were encouraging and exciting, feelings that I chased with each of my projects.
Bi-annually I would spearhead Fredericksburg Restaurant Week, and always made it my goal to increase our participants, both businesses and guests. It was essential to me that Restaurant Week consistently expanded and evolved, and I was always thrilled with our results. Out of Restaurant Week birthed the concept for Hops & Happy Hour (we call it ‘Triple H’), which we are currently running for the second time. These campaigns taught me more in my career than virtually any other project, and as I progress in my new opportunities, I am better, and more equipped, because of them.
The same could be said for all of my work in this position. I was given infinite opportunities to hone my craft, and even more importantly, to feature the happenings of Fredericksburg. Thanks to an incredible team of co-workers, and thanks to a local community that is proud to promote the city, I was excited to go to work every day. This job was not work. It was a consistent experience of excitement and opportunity.
I have witnessed so many incredible developments in Fredericksburg, economically and otherwise. I helped launch FXBG.com. I documented the re-zoning and additions to neighborhoods such as the Canal Quarter District. I established the Fredericksburg Film Incentives Program, and I was fortunate enough to highlight the openings of countless, incredible businesses in this wonderful city. It has been my true honor to tell so many of your stories. Fredericksburg will never leave me, and I am not just a better worker, but a better person, for knowing this city so well.
We always like to say that Fredericksburg is where it all comes together. For me, Fredericksburg is where I came together.
My best to all of you.