Turkish Medya

York, PA –
York County’s tourism is rooted in its manufacturing base and manifested through factory tours with stops such as Harley-Davidson and Martin’s Potato Chips.

Soon, the York County Convention Visitors Bureau will add one more tour to its portfolio, and this time, the stop will be just across the Susquehanna River bridge in Lancaster County.

This spring, the Turkey Hill Dairy will open its Turkey Hill Experience at the long-vacant, former Ashley Bailey Silk Mill in Columbia.

And, while the interactive tour promises to feature simulated exhibits rather than actual production, the Turkey Hill Experience fits the bureau’s local brand of “Factory Tour Capital of the World.”

“Turkey Hill is a positive brand that is connected to this region,” said Anne Druck, president of the bureau. “It’s to our region’s benefit to embrace the Turkey Hill Experience since it will help enhance the York County Community. It will bring more tourists into the area.”

The company expects 250,000 people to visit the Turkey Hill Experience each year.

By comparison, Hershey’s Chocolate World boasts an annual attendance of more than three million visitors.

Locally, an average of 10,000 to 12,000 people visited Utz in Hanover in 2010, said Amanda Latham, a spokeswoman for the bureau.

In addition, Snyder’s hosted 8,504 visitors last year.

However, working factories such as Utz and Snyder’s do not operate on the same schedule as a year-round tourist destinations such the Turkey Hill Experience.

Nearby, National Watch Clock Museum is working with Turkey Hill on how to encourage bus trips between the two attractions, said Steven Humphrey, executive director of the National Association of Watch Clock Collectors.

“If they can attract the type of numbers they are talking about and we can capture a percentage of that, that will be a plus for us and Columbia,” Humphrey said. “If just
2 percent comes over to the museum, that would mean 5,000 additional visitors.”

Last year, contractors went to work on the $7 million project — an interactive tour that will showcase the Turkey Hill brand, said Bob Adams, manager of the project.

Built in 1899, Ashley Bailey used the mill to support the growing demand for silk in the 19th and 20th centuries, according to Turkey Hill.

At one point, the mill employed many people from the community.

Throughout the years, the building changed hands and eventually closed.
The mill has been vacant for more than
25 years.

Once reopened, the building will employ 50 workers and feature 26,000 square feet of exhibits, dining areas and retail space.

While the building’s façade will appear not to change, the inside of the three-story brick structure is under heavy construction.

After entering through the front door, which is now little more than a hole covered by plastic tarps, visitors will walk up a quick flight of stairs and see three free exhibits, Adams said.

One of the first stops will educate visitors of the history of Turkey Hill and the Frey family — the dairy’s founders.

Next, tourists will use an interactive map to explore the cultural highlights of Lancaster County including the history of the lower Susquehanna River Valley and the farming community that surrounds Turkey Hill, Adams said.

The last of the three free exhibits will offer a tutorial on the dairy industry.

A few steps beyond this history of dairy is an archway that will lead to the paid exhibits of the self-guided walking tour.

The “Our story” section’s main attraction will include a four-bay barn, mechanical cows and a 1949 milk delivery truck, Adams said.

Visitors can milk the mechanical cow, he said.

To the left will be a section where, with help of some crafty computer software, people will answer questions and eventually learn which flavor of tea best matches their personality, he said.

Not big on tea?

The Turkey Hill Experience has an
exhibit in which a visitor first develops a flavor of ice cream.

“If someone wants to know how we make ice cream and ice tea, they will know at the end of the day,” he said.

In addition to the exhibits, the Turkey Hill Experience will feature a Minit Market and a 125-seat, first-floor creamery.

“We feel that our brand is strong,” Adams said. “We feel very comfortable that this will be a strong destination for people locally and out of town.”

sadkins@ydr.com; 771-2047

Article source: http://www.ydr.com/business/ci_17167810