December 19, 2005

For More Information
Primary: Caleb Asher, Kansas Department of Commerce
785-296-2477; casher@kansascommerce.com

Secondary: Beverly Hurley, Kansas Travel Media Representative
913-451-9023; hurleypr@kcnet.com

For Immediate Release

GRAND PRIZES AWARDED IN THE KANSAS MEGA GIGANTIC GETAWAY GIVEAWAY

Traveling Kansas this year paid off for 12 lucky visitors who were recently awarded grand prizes in the Kansas Mega Gigantic Getaway Giveaway. The winners, who came from as far away as Texas and Indiana and as close to home as Wichita and Hays, received a range of prizes including new tires, luggage, a digital video recorder and getaways to communities across the state.

The “As big as you think” Mega grand prize of a JVC 42-inch XGA High Definition Plasma TV went to Brian VonFeldt of Overland Park, Kan. VonFeldt traveled 170 miles from his Overland Park home to visit the Blue Sky Sculpture in Newton this summer with his bride-to-be and five other people.

While Kansans accounted for 1,313 of the 2,107 total entries, individuals from 47 states and the District of Columbia participated in the contest. The largest number of out-of-state participants came from Missouri, with Texas, Colorado, California, Florida, Illinois, Arizona, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and North Carolina rounding out the top ten. The grand total of entries represents over 8,500 visitors to Kansas with an average of four people per traveling party. Average spending per trip by Kansans was $354, while out-of-state travelers spent an average of $709 per trip. The economic impact on the state from this contest totaled approximately $1 million. In addition to the over 2,100 entries submitted to the contest, the Kansas Mega Gigantic Giveaway web site welcomed over 28,932 visitors during the contest period.

Visitors traveled to communities large and small across the state on their journeys. The attraction that garnered the largest number of entries was Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure in Salina, Kan. Other popular attractions included Big Brutus in West Mineral, the Coffey County Museum in Burlington, the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson, the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, and the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.

The other contest winners who received prizes are:

• Ken and Phyllis Barnes, Georgetown, Texas, winner of a digital camera for visiting the Morton County Historical Society Museum in Elkhart.
• Betty Freeman-Boots, Olathe, Kan., winner of an Amazing 100 Miles trip for her visit to Monument Rocks in Gove County near Oakley.
• Cindy Kelly, Hays, Kan., winner of the Great Wolf Lodge/Kansas Speedway VIP Tour for her trip to Beloit.
• Lisa Lessard, Nolensville, Tenn., who won a four-piece luggage set for visiting the Sternberg Museum in Hays.
• Anel Minneman, Tescott, Kan., who won an I-35 Road Trip getaway for her visit to the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita.
• Juli Y. Reiss, Russell, Kan., winner of new tires for traveling to the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.
• Lynn Ruhl, Overland Park, Kan., winner of a digital video camera for visiting the Eisenhower home in Abilene.
• Vicki Shank, Hutchinson, Kan., winner of a Coleman Big Adventure Camping Package for her trip to the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City.
• Jenny Stover-Brown, Wichita, Kan., who won a Lawrence getaway for her visit to the Garden of Eden in Lucas.
• Karen Swafford, Rayville, Mo., who won a mountain bike for her visit to Mushroom Rocks State Park near Kanopolis.
• Gaye Young, Winfield, Kan., winner of a Kansas Cattle Towns Adventure trip for traveling to the Amelia Earhart Festival in Atchison.

The Mega Gigantic Getaway Giveaway contest ended October 31, 2005. The contest encouraged travelers to visit a Kansas attraction or event listed in the 2005 Kansas Getaway Guide or on www.TravelKS.com that was at least 100 miles from their home. It was not a photography contest.

A noticeable difference in this year’s contest was the many chances to win each month and the variety of prizes. Monthly prizes included a weekend passport good for lodging, meals, and admission to local festivals and attractions across the state and other travel-related items.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The photos submitted by the winners are available to the media.  Contact Beverly Hurley at 913-451-9023 or hurleypr@kcnet.com .

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