It began as a vision: a new Orange that would be a cultural oasis for residents and visitors of not only Southeast Texas, but also the nation. City officials and the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation came together to make this happen. With the help of Orange citizens and Dallas-based ad agency Imaginuity Creative, this vision started to become a reality.
Almost a year later, significant achievements have been made, including a new logo and tagline for the city of Orange. The logo has been adapted for numerous organizations and city departments, including the police department, the fire department, the Orange Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce, symbolizing the community’s unity in support of this exciting campaign.
Next, the WatchOrangeGrow website was created as a central online destination for Orange activities and events. Other websites have followed, including sites for Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, The W.H. Stark House, and the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce. Coming soon are new websites for the Stark Museum of Art, the Orange Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Stark Foundation, and the city of Orange itself.
Another major milestone was the opening of Shangri La, which brought national and even global attention to the city of Orange. The first Shangri La admission tickets were sold to a couple from British Columbia, Canada, and over the Easter weekend over 1800 people visited the botanical gardens and nature center.
The spring events were met with great success and support throughout the community. The Stark Museum of Art hosted nearly 300 guests at the opening day reception for the Celebrate Shangri La exhibit, and over 200 people attended the two lecture series events presented by The W.H. Stark House.
Interest in Orange extends beyond these special events. According the Chamber of Commerce, visitors from Houston and beyond are finding their way to Orange, and numerous realtors have called requesting information regarding relocation packages to the city.
These exciting developments are only the beginning for Orange. As new retail and hotel developments move into the area, so will more visitors, resulting in continued growth of the city.
The accomplishments to date could not have been achieved without the overwhelming support of the community, and for that, we thank you.
This message was also printed in the April 23, 2008, issue of The Orange Leader by guest columnist Nikki Sumrow. You can read a new column each Wednesday in The Orange Leader discussing the latest Orange events and activities.
