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Meet Tommy
Tommy calls south central Missouri home. When Tommy was a young man, he was an over-the-road truck driver. He drove across many miles in Missouri and into other states, experiencing impressive scenary and views. As with many drivers, Tommy began to experience troubles with his back. His health declined and he was forced to look for work else-ware. Like many other folks in the area, Tommy was not able to find skilled jobs that were suitable for the income he needed to make. Work was not plentiful locally or in the nearby populated cities.
It was while he was following a winding road through Webster County's Ozark countryside that he spotted a small cabin and barn tucked back in among the trees next to a stream big enough to build a bridge and swimming hole. Tommy had an idea.
He'd been able to save enough money from his many years on the road to purchase that cabin and barn, and the wooded property by it. He then began expanding the cabin, building a second story, and out buildings for his shop. Ideas of making this property into a retreat for writers and artisans began to peculate, placing a tire swing at the swimming hole, growing a garden and offering healthy cooked meals for guests, thinking about tours through the woods to stop at each nut tree, patch of herbs, and berry bushes.
Tommy was able to build two more small cabins each with second stories. His propensity to collect made it easy to furnish and personalize space. Little by little by word of mouth, Tommy's retreat began to draw people from nearby cities, and he hopes this vision will develop into a steady source of income to count on for the future.
Tommy's story is not uncommon in rural communities of Douglas, Webster, and Wright County Missouri. These small towns have been affected by natural disasters, long term poverty, and jobs are scarce in the small towns and country spaces. Residents must get innovative, inventive, and come together to create sources of income to count on for the future. Tourism is a necessity to draw in travelers to explore the area, to spend money, and to market these unknown gems tucked away in the heart of our region - to help residents like Tommy thrive.
Your donation will help residents like Tommy thrive. Help us to build thriving communities and a future for our region. Ozarks South Central Tourism is raising money for operational costs and community projects such as planting a visitors information center, new publications and maps, our 2nd Annual Amazing Grazing Farm Tasting Tour, and more!
Donations made through Facebook on Tuesday, December 3rd 2019 will be matched dollar for dollar first come first served as Facebook is donating $7 million. Join the movement on #givingtuesday, the global day of giving!
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