Owners of Liberty Showcase Theater honored for hospitality excellence

RAMSEUR — Leslie and Dewey Brown, owners of the Liberty Showcase Theater, were presented the Mary Joan Pugh Excellence in Hospitality award at the annual meeting of the Randolph County Tourism Development Authority on Dec. 11.

The award, based on nominations from tourism stakeholders, recognizes community partners, organizations, events and people in the tourism industry that have contributed to the growth and success of Randolph County’s tourism mission. Pugh was the first recipient in 2018.

Amber Scarlett, Executive Director of Randolph County Tourism Development Authority, was named the 2024 Hospitality Hero by staff and senior management.

Leslie Brown, born a coal miner’s daughter in the Appalachian mountains, fell in love with music at an early age. She became, at age 7, a star of the Virginia Squares, a renowned square-dancing group that captivated audiences across the southeastern United States.

Meanwhile, Dewey Brown was sharpening his extraordinary fiddle-playing skills under the tutelage of the legendary JB Prince, propelling him into a remarkable career in bluegrass music. He performed at the Grand Ole Opry and the Late Show with David Letterman, as well as other renowned venues. 

Leslie and Dewey were brought together in the mountains of Virginia. Together, they embarked on a journey to fulfill a dream — to own and operate a venue that would celebrate the rich heritage of bluegrass music. In 2016, that dream became a reality when they purchased The Liberty Showcase Theater, attracting world-class talent to Randolph County.

The Hospitality Hero Award, established in 2018, honors the organization’s team members who embody exceptional customer service, a strong work ethic and a positive influence on morale. Over the past 17 years, Scarlett has held various roles and witnessed the Heart of North Carolina Visitor Bureau undergo significant changes. After serving in various roles within the TDA, she was promoted to executive director in July 2020.

The past five years have been particularly challenging as she dedicated herself to rebuilding the TDA in the aftermath of COVID-19. Despite numerous obstacles, her unwavering dedication and resilience have been instrumental in the TDA’s continued success.

In her annual report, Scarlett stressed the tax relief to Randolph County residents created by the hotel occupancy tax. She said that in 2023 the TDA received some $1.4 million from hotel occupancy collections which were used to turn into marketing dollars toward targeted audiences to promote tourism in the county.

Scarlett said that amounted to $89.75 in tax relief to each resident of Randolph County as a result of visitor spending. State tax revenues amounted to $8.3 million and local tax revenues added up to $5 million. She said the total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Randolph County last year was $43.9 million with more than 1,145 direct tourism jobs in the county.

Visitors spent $189.50 million in 2023, an increase of 6.1% from 2022 ($178.63 million). That’s according to Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

Of the 30 Randolph County attractions surveyed, attendance in 2023 was 1,567,930, a 10 percent increase over 2022. The top 10 states for visitorship were North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, New York and Indiana.

During the meeting, the cover for the 2025 Randolph County Travel Guide was unveiled. In 2025, the Official Randolph County Travel Guide will celebrate the vibrant murals that adorn the county. This theme is inspired by the remarkable growth of murals in the area and their profound impact on both the culture and tourism.

The murals chosen are on the grain bins at Linbrook Heritage Estate because it stands out among others in the county. The artist is Christoph Johnson from Cuthbert, Ga. He says the two grain bins are useful for Linbrook Farm and help promote Linbrook Heritage Estate and the John Deere tractor museum while highlighting family history. 

The figure in the oval frame is Edd Walker Hoover, who bought the land in 1905. Edd is related to President Herbert Hoover and is the great-grandfather of Jerry Neal, the founder of Linbrook Heritage Estate.