WILLOW CREEK — For the first time in the town’s history, a professional travel writer has visited Willow Creek for the express purpose of reviewing it as a tourism destination, and the early returns suggest the town has made a favorable impression.
Margaret Sutter, a freelance travel writer based in Portland whose work has appeared in Down East magazine, the Boston Globe and Yankee Magazine, spent four days in Willow Creek in early August as a guest of the tourism committee. Her visit — the first of what the committee hopes will be an annual press trip — included guided paddling on the Willow River, a tour of the hardwood mill, dinners at the Dry Dock, a birdwatching walk with Doris Kim and a sunrise photography session at Homan’s Pond with Iris Beaumont.
Sutter’s article is scheduled for publication in the October issue of Down East, with an estimated readership of 75,000. An online version will run on the magazine’s website in September.
“She came as a skeptic,” said Dean Moreau, who hosted Sutter for dinner and coordinated the itinerary. “She told me on the first night that she had driven through Willow Creek twice before without stopping. By the third day, she was asking about real estate prices.”
The tourism committee spent $1,800 on Sutter’s visit, covering lodging at the Pine Cone Motel, meals and a guided paddling trip. The committee considers the expense a marketing investment.
“One article in Down East reaches more potential visitors than our entire website has in three years,” said Selectwoman Eleanor Vance. “This is the most cost-effective marketing we will ever do.”
Sutter declined to preview her review, but she told the Gazette she was particularly struck by the Mattawamkeag River Trail and the Dry Dock.
“There are towns in Maine that have beautiful scenery and nothing to eat,” Sutter said. “There are towns that have a great restaurant but nothing to do during the day. Willow Creek has both, and it has a story to tell about why that combination exists. That is rare.”
The tourism committee plans to invite two additional travel writers for the 2016 season, one focused on outdoor recreation and one on culinary travel.