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By VIKKI BROUGHTON HODGES
The Dispatch
Aiming to drive more visitors to their respective businesses, the Bob Timberlake Gallery and Childress Vineyards are launching a new shuttle service between the two attractions Saturday.
The joint venture has been discussed by Timberlake and Richard Childress since the winery opened nearly a year ago. Timberlake and Childress, two of the county's best-known entrepreneurs, both hope to help further build the local tourism industry.
"We've got Lexington covered - Childress Vineyards on the west and the gallery on the east," Timberlake said, referring to the gallery's location on East Center Street Extension and the winery across town at the intersection of Highway 64 West and Highway 52.
"We want to make it easy for folks to visit both places," he said. "Depending on the response, we may also add a stop in uptown Lexington as well."
A 15-passenger van with the gallery and winery logos on its sides will leave from the Bob Timberlake Gallery on the hour between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., with riders leaving from the winery back to the gallery on the half hour, with the last shuttle of the day leaving the winery at 3:30 p.m.
Layne McCarn, public relations director at the Bob Timberlake Gallery, said the new shuttle service will be offered only on Saturdays and is expected to run through the holiday season.
"With gas prices being what they are, it will all depend on the response we get," she said, adding that the bus riders will also be eligible for drawings for special gifts, such as the new Bob Timberlake CD by Allen Denny called "Reflections" and Timberlake calendars.
Tom Tussey, Bob Timberlake Gallery manager, said Timberlake and Childress felt the shuttle could help make it easier for visitors to spend more time - and money - in town.
"We're constantly hearing (visitors) here say they're going to the winery for lunch," he said, noting that the winery's bistro is a popular draw for people looking to make a day of their trip to town.
"So they decided to join together in a way to help keep people here all day," Tussey said. "And we'd like to stop at the Square eventually. But first, we need to make sure we have things running smoothly between the two sites. I feel like this can be really good for Lexington."
Kathleen Watson, who handles marketing and public relations for Childress Vineyards, said both local tourist attractions have been promoting each other by the placement of informational easel boards on the other attraction in their business.
"The shuttle is something Bob and Richard have talked about since the winery opened," Watson said. "I think it's a good way to give people a chance to see what else Lexington has to offer."
Robin Bivens, chairwoman of the Lexington Tourism Authority and a part-time employee of the gallery, said the shuttle is just the beginning of some cooperative efforts by the gallery and winery to promote local tourism.
Bivens noted that there will be a person on the van Saturday who will point out other attractions in the area as the van shuttles visitors across town.
"They'll talk to the folks about places to eat and other things to do in town," she said. "I think it's going to be good for the entire community."
Vikki Broughton Hodges can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 214, or at vikki.hodges@the-dispatch.com.
Copyright 2005 The Dispatch
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