Our View: Numbers show why Palace is so important

By the time this edition reaches our readers, more than 120,000 visitors will have passed through the turnstiles of the Corn Palace this summer.

We’re able to track this through a regular count that appears on Page 3 of each day’s Daily Republic, which showed us that Tuesday, for instance, 2,767 people visited the Palace. That’s a lot of people perusing the intricate corn designs, learning of this region’s history and, hopefully, buying lunch and a hotel room while they’re here.

That Page 3 counter — printed each day with the cooperation of the Corn Palace staff — is a constant reminder of how important the Corn Palace is to Mitchell’s economy. For those who are paying attention, it reminds us that without the Corn Palace, approximately 3,000 people perhaps wouldn’t give Mitchell a second glance as they whiz past on Interstate 90.

It’s why any and all improvements to the Corn Palace and the immediate area near it should always be at the top of lists for betterment.

Fortunately, that’s been the case of late.

Last year, a new Corn Palace video was produced and shown to visitors in a new viewing room. A new greeters’ and information area was constructed and the Palace mascot — Cornelius — was improved by way of two new costumes and a statue in the area across the street from the Corn Palace.

This year, improvements to the sound system at the Corn Palace are being utilized, announcing the video, Cornelius appearances and other special events. Music from this year’s Corn Palace Festival entertainers plays on Main Street, lightening the atmosphere as tourists gather about.

In recent years, the Mitchell Visitors Bureau has taken a more aggressive online marketing approach, which we think was greatly needed. Sixth Avenue has been cordoned off, allowing visitors to get a better — and safer — view of how the Palace is decorated each summer.

Meanwhile, the counter on Page 3 keeps ticking upward. We were told Wednesday that visitation at the Palace is 5 percent ahead of last year’s pace.

We hope that as others see the counter move upward this summer, they, too, will understand that rustic building’s importance to Mitchell, its businesses and its residents.

Tags: corn palace, corn palace visitation, opinion, editorials