Thousands attend Visionfest event

As seen in the Eastern Shore News –09-18-2005

By Ceri Larson Danes

CAPE CHARLES — "VisionFest was a huge success."

That is what the sign says in front of Bay Creek Resort's sales office. And although no one has said who won the betting pool laying odds on how many people might show up for the 10-day extravaganza, there were plenty of naysayers around, and one local said everyone probably lost because no one expected it to be such a grand slam.

Whether the friendly wager was real or simply rumored, the quantifiable results of the all-out party are the real measure of the event's achievement. And that makes it one for the record books.

We exceeded our expectations on every level," said Bay Creek developer Dickie Foster. The initial day-after tally of VisionFest visitors puts the number in the range of 5,000 to 6,000. "People came from California, Arizona, and Florida," said Bay Creek's marketing director Josephine Mooney, the spectacle's mastermind. "Half of the people were from out-of-state." "We are convinced that everyone that goes back is going to tell 10 people how great the Eastern Shore is, they will be great ambassadors for the Eastern Shore." Of the other 50 percent, half made the trek from South Hampton Roads. The other half came from up and down the Eastern Shore, including Maryland.

Foster has made it a personal goal to help restore the sleepy town to its original 19th century vitality by supporting the historic business and residential districts surrounded by high-priced diversions his resort and club offer. They're superior in most ways to the distractions that originally brought the railroad magnates and industrialists of the 1800s in need of a waterside time-out from the hectic pace of urban life.

In addition to attracting visitors to all the Shore has to offer, Foster has committed the proceeds of the event to local charities, although the actual recipients have not been identified. At an average price of $20 per ticket for 5,000 visitors, that amount would hover easily around $100,000. Mooney said local fire and rescue "will get a large contribution."

In addition to the resort's posh homes, tour itineraries included the unveiling of the Old Plantation Flats Lighthouse replica, the businesses, bed and breakfast inns and beachfront of Cape Charles, the new marina neighborhood, and a plethora of organized activities -- from oyster roasts and classical music to cooking demonstrations and fireworks. Ten local outfitters set up demonstrations at the town's harbor and many activities were set to background music -- whether one of 12 steel drum performances or one of many other island sounds.

"This event was intended to be an open house about real estate, but it really took on a life of its own -- to bring people here to show off the lifestyle that was here, to show off what the area has to offer," Mooney said. "It was not a big sales thing. It was an open house, and that is how it functioned," she said. "The sales people were not even in the office. They were helping out (with the activities)." Nonetheless, the Realtors luncheon brought in 104 real-estate professionals not only from the Shore and Virginia Beach, but also Williamsburg, Richmond, and Baltimore. Helping to attract those salespeople is the fact that the resort just opened up selling opportunities -- at least in the Fairways Condominiums -- so outside agents can now qualify for a percentage of the sales commission and not just a finder's fee.

The 10 days were not completely glitchless. "We did have some challenges," Mooney said. "Any time you try to move that many people around, there will be some difficulties." "I was concerned and preached the basics to everyone -- transportation and toilets," Foster said. "That is why we tried to get people to buy online so we would know what to expect and people wouldn't have to wait too long. But when more showed up who didn't pre-buy, we had to bring in more transportation."

Virginia Beach-based Elite Seats provided the toilets, and though portable, the high-end units featured running water, a blessing for anyone who has ever used the standard model. In terms of the challenge of moving the masses, people showed up for some of the events more than an hour early, something not anticipated, but a snag in the transportation arrangements compounded the problem. "The buses were usurped by the President's Cup (a golf tournament outside Washington D.C. at the last minute, so they had to scramble to get a new bus subcontractor," she said. The hustle paid off and the buses showed up; Bay Creek brought in 17 golf carts, regular and jumbo, several limousines and six 32-seat shuttle buses to make sure everyone got to where they wanted to be in comfort and on schedule. "They did all the work," Foster said. "I just complained."

Other projections for the first-ever event were also low, a pleasant surprise to Mooney. "We estimated one in 10 people would want to take a tour of the lighthouse." She said more than 400 people a day turned out to visit the just-unveiled replica on each of the two weekends. Mooney said that everyone involved had a hand in the event's success, and she credits town officials, staff and local stores and business that helped with marketing among those."I didn't hear a single gripe from anyone we worked with," she said.

Foster said it was amazing to him that people would fly across the country to see a home. His 6,000 square foot Verandah Bay was on the Vision Home tour and also available for sale like the others. His price: $4.5 million. He and wife Judy never intended to live in the home for the long term. He said he's had plenty of interest -- "people were calling me at my house to make offers" -- although no deal has been inked yet. Those who didn't want to buy just wanted to copy. He said visitors came with measuring tapes and notepads. "One lady brought a videographer to video every inch of the house," he said.

Beyond the lookie-loos, Foster hopes the event will have long-term benefits, though it hasn't been decided if it will become an annual event. "I hope it winds up being good for the Shore and Cape Charles and exposes people to a life that some haven't seen before."

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