ROWLAND — Halifax County tourism is not only alive and well, but also continuing to grow as new businesses open their doors and established attractions add to their drawing power.

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That was the message being broadcast loud and clear yesterday by representatives from area businesses and the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau during the National Tourism Day celebration at the North Carolina Welcome Center.

As motorists from Interstate-95 wandered through the display tables set under a large tent, Steve Swan, vice-president of development with Riverside Mill in Weldon, talked with visitors about the success of the recently opened antique mall and artisan’s gallery. “We’re doing great,” said Swan. “The local people are starting to find us and we’re getting a lot of business off Interstate-95 as well. We’re signing up two to three new dealers a week and the rooms downstairs are completely leased. Our goal right now is to make sure people are aware of where we are and what we have to offer.”

Swan said travelers could expect to see further development at the mill site, including a picnic area close to the river and a recently purchased area adjacent to the main building to be used for outdoor events, such as car shows and music entertainment.

 According to Swan, Riverside Mill will hold a grand opening celebration the first weekend in June. The event will feature a front porch jamboree, an antique auto show and a gospel concert.

A few tables down, Alex McLennan III, of Ventosa Plantation Vineyard and Winery in Scotland Neck, handed out business cards and urged travelers to stop by his family owned company for a wine tasting and free tour. “We have  six producing acres right now,”  he explained, “we’ll add four more next year and another six in three years. We produce semi-sweet wine that’s refreshing and easy to drink.”

McLennan said the soil in the area was highly conducive to wine producing, giving the vineyard an average yield of 6 to 7 tons per acre, adding up to approximately 1,000 cases of wine a year. “It’s amazing how well the wine expresses the character of the vineyard,” he stated, adding that his family was looking to expand the business by including river tours in the near future.

Sitting beside McLennan, Carla Taylor, education director for Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and Eco-Center, spoke about the park’s new projects as an orange corn snake coiled around her arm. “The new treehouse project should be finished by fall,” she said. “We also have a new baby flamingo exhibit and our education department just got an alligator.”

 Taylor said the park is planning more family-oriented projects, including a summer camp for grades K-5 beginning in June.

Standing beside his two hydro-powered boats, F.E. Collier spoke with excitement about the upcoming Roanoke Rapids Hydro Power Race. The race will take place June 27-28 at the Roanoke Rapids Lake Park and will feature boats competing at speeds up to 165 mph around a 1 1/4 mile track. “This is going to be the most exciting thing a lot of folks have ever seen around here,” said Collier.

Not all of the day’s participants were from Halifax County. Sam Rogers, publisher of Field Trip Magazine, made the drive from Matthews, to gather ideas from local businesses. When asked about the effect of the economy on state tourism, Rogers responded, “I think everybody is marketing closer to home. People aren’t traveling as far they used to because of the economy. In North Carolina you have the mountains, you have the coast, you have amusement parks; it’s a variety vacation land. It’s not as expensive as traveling to DC or Florida.”

 Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Lori Medlin was on hand for the event and spoke about the area’s growing tourism profile. Medlin stated travel in Halifax County grew about 2 percent in 2008, while visitors spent over $70 million. She said she saw the numbers as positive signs, especially when taking into account the state of the economy.

Medlin had high praise for the Valley’s tourism workers, stating “Today’s event gives us the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to the travel counselors who work at the busiest welcome center in the state. These counselors work tirelessly to promote the state of North Carolina to our visitors.”

Listing a number of attractions such as the Roanoke Rapids Theatre and the Atlantic One Amphitheater, Medlin said she has high hopes for the future of tourism in Halifax County. “We encourage all our tourism partners to join with us as we continue to promote our county as the perfect stop over point while traveling Interstate-95, as well as North Carolina’s newest destination for music and entertainment.”