Jamestown  (CSi)  While visitation at Frontier Village is down from a year ago, Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund says, the attendance is not down significantly so far this summer.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Searle said the attendance was off by about 35-percent, which he said was not a bad figure, given the COVID-19 pandemic still limiting traveling this summer.

He said more buildings and stores have reopened recently at the Village.  He pointed out that the inventory of items in the buildings is about three-quarters completed, to determine ownership, and those who have donated items the owners still have possession of.

He pointed out that the greeters are now located at the saloon building, which has become the Visitors Center, that also has information for visitors.

He added that the pandemic has had a downturn in restaurant and lodging taxes, but now up to about 50-percent, of anticipated revenue, which has somewhat of an effect on dollars available to be distributed for grant requests.  He said, about $60,000 remains in the fund for this calendar year.  He added that some of the traditional summer events had been cancelled due to safety issues with the pandemic.

He said the downtown Arts Market at Hansen Arts Park will be back this summer, in July and August beginning July 9 at 5:30 pm to 8:30-p.m., in the Hansen Arts Park, through August.

Searle said the new Tourism web site will be launched within the next week or so, and will contain improvements in the how visitors to the web site will be better informed about the tourism experience in Jamestown.

The Tourism office is operating at normal hours, just outside the entrance to Frontier Village.