Tourism Council Minutes

March 28th, 2013, 8:00 a.m.

Sweet Tea Trolley Tour

Members attending,Mary Lovvorn(Holiday Inn Express Summerville),Diane Armstrong (Tudor Oaks B&B),Kelly Schlemann (HIE Charleston North), Jane Knight (Charleston Tea Plantation), , Debbie Maccario (Maggie Rose) Doyle Best(Town of Summerville Parks), Jane Knight( Charleston Tea Plantation),Dusty Rhodes(Summerville B&B),John Stauffer(South Carolina Fairtax), Warren Cobb(Middleton Place)

Staff attending: Rita Berry, Tori Burke- Koskela, Alisha Smith Tina Zimmerman

Meeting highlights:

Tina Zimmerman welcomed attendees to Middleton Plantation, update on Sweet Tea Trail

2013 April Visitor Center Stats
  • 2013 Visitor Center Stats-
  • 1,663 visitors
  • 861 tourist, 196 local, 222 meetings, 384 non registered
  • 51 foreign visitors
  • Top 3 States: NY,VA & NC
  • 878 visitor guides mailed/welcome centers/tour groups/weddings
  • 75 relocation pkg. mailed

Warren Cobb Marketing Director at Middleton welcomed us to a tour of the gardens. The tea plant (camellia sinensis) was introduced by a French Botanist named Michaux who planted the camelliasinensis at Middleton Place around 1799. Henry Augusta Middleton “HAM” leased 20 acres of Newington Plantation to the USDA for experiments in growing tea. Dr Shepard purchased 600 acres from HAM in 1888 and began his successful Pinehurst Tea Plantation. The history of tea from Middleton on the Ashley to Pinehurst Tea farm is great Dorchester County History.

  • Brochure Service Opportunity- businesses are invited to include their rack card into our mail outs to specific request for information on Summerville. This is a service provided by the Chamber cost is .25 cents per brochure to cover postage expense. Contact or more information.
  • The new Sweet Tea Rack Card is available at the visitor center. The goal of the Sweet Tea Trail is to lead tourists off I-26, through Azalea Square experiencing modern shopping, hotels and dining. Visitors will continue the trail to historic downtown Summerville filled with unique shops and restaurants leading them to beautiful Azalea Park and a self-guided walking tour of historic homes. The trail easily travels to Colonial Dorchester State Park for a one-of a-kind experience as well as scenic Hwy 61, Middleton Place (only 8 miles from downtown Summerville), Magnolia Gardens, Drayton Hall and continuing to Charleston and the CharlestonTea Plantation. Contact for more information.
  • Reminder! The Community Events Calendar is now online and can be very beneficial for avoiding the scheduling of an event on a date that already has an activity. To have your event added to the Community Event Calendar at ,please submit your request at

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  • Weekend Planner—is emailed each Thursday with events that are happening in Summerville or Dorchester County. Weekend Planner Article Submission: If you haveevents happening in Summerville or Dorchester County you wish to include, e-mail a brief paragraph (50 words or less)in the body of the message or as a MS Word attachment toJoann Brooks at .A flyer in pdf format that can be used as a link in the e-news may also be provided for more information. Photos should be no more than 600 pixels wide and in jpeg format.

Next meeting date: May 23rd 8:00 @ Summerville Visitor Center/Chamber Boardroom

Minutes submitted by Tina Zimmerman

Tourism Coordinator,