April is our birthday month! We’ve launched the “30 Stories for 30 Years” interview series as part of the celebration. We’ll be meeting with former Ottawa Visitors Center Board members and some others to do some reminiscing, and to look ahead to the future. Be on the lookout for more interviews and updates on our birthday celebration – 30 Years in the Middle of Everywhere on April 24th!

For the next entry in our series, we spoke with Keith Johnson, someone who can be considered one of the founding OVC Board members. He told us about some of the history from the founding of the Ottawa Visitors Center and its board. He described the implementation of Ottawa’s Hotel Motel Tax (which helps fund the OVC) and the creation of the OVC Board.

“I was on the city council at the time, and the office we had, there were problems with it, and I’m sure one of them was funding at the time, and what we put in, the Hotel Motel Tax,” Keith said,

“and that at the time when we did that, of course, we had this formed board, because that was one of the covenants of it. And who really spearheaded that was not me as much… He had the hotels up there, like the Motel 6, came with Daryl Anderson… He was in rotary, and he was the one who spearheaded this whole thing.” 

This became one of the first steps in leading Ottawa to its current state of being. There’s so much rich local history here. Keith shared another fun fact about the history of the Ottawa Visitors Center location. Did you know this about us?

“We had the board and our first place that we had an office was in the basement, I believe when we built it, of the Reddick Mansion. I believe that was the first place where we had a small office and over time, we outgrew it. So, then we moved elsewhere. But the first office was down there.” 

Next, we discussed what tourism, in relation to Ottawa, means to Keith.

“When I got on the City Council many, many years ago, one of the things I ran on, was the fact tourism is extremely important now. At the time, it was because downtown did not look the way it does now. And I think we owe a lot of what happened, to Bob Eschbach,” he said. 

“I believe that we did, and I don’t think without Bob that the downtown would look the way it did, but I said that this is a very important component to revitalizing the town. I never thought it would be as big as it is now. I never thought that it would, but it’s one of the things I ran on, and I believe, that definitely came to fruition. Because it’s a big deal. We’re close to Starved Rock, and we got the two rivers here, right on 80, all this,” Keith said.

Ottawa’s historic downtown is a major draw. Whether you’re immersing yourself in the history of the area, looking for a new place to explore, or just taking in the scenery, it’s got something for everyone. Following up that question, we asked Keith about his thoughts on how tourism in Ottawa has come along over the last 30 years.

“We all had a hand in this, but as I just said a few minutes ago, I think Mayor Eschbach, and the council who he had behind him, I think they really turned it around, and pushed it, and turned it into what it is now. And I think that was a real important role when we elected him.” 

It’s clear that it has been a group effort to get Ottawa to where it is now. Working together with community partners and the City of Ottawa is how things like events can come to life for all to enjoy. We also asked Keith if he’s had any standout favorite events or attractions from throughout the years in town. There are plenty of iconic choices! He pointed towards two local favorites.

“I like them all, I really do. I’ve always been very fond of the of the Morel Festival for the simple reason that it’s extremely unique and something that most people don’t have. And I think that the [Chris Kringle Market] with the little huts down there, I think that’s lovely.” 

Ottawa has certainly been home to many exciting events. Morel Fest is an example of an event that has made a return in recent years.

Birthdays are a time of self-reflection, for both the past and the future. We asked Keith if he had any thoughts on tourism, looking ahead to what may be in store for Ottawa next.

“I think that tourism will become more and more important, to this community and this area, for a simple reason. Our proximity to Chicago, and Starved Rock, and the other events. I think it’s important that we push Ottawa as being the gateway to Starved Rock.”

The future is full of possibilities in the Middle of Everywhere! We can’t wait to share our community’s stories, history, and heart with you over the next 30 years too.

Keith gave us some closing thoughts. Thank you to Keith for your time with us!

“I think Ottawa has done a really, really, really good job,” he said. “That’s what I think.”