Scott Turnmeyer

09/01/2026

Have you ever wondered why the Blue Ridge Mountains actually look blue?

The mountains themselves aren't blue — but millions of trees covering them help create the effect that gave the Blue Ridge its name.

The science behind it is pretty fascinating.

Read more: https://scottturnmeyer.com/blog/why-do-the-blue-ridge-mountains-look-blue

08/31/2026

What if the problem with your destination’s social media… isn’t the social media?

You can post more. Make better Reels. Hire influencers. Spend more on ads.

But there’s something marketing simply cannot fix.

I wrote about why I think destinations may be asking the wrong question when they ask, “What should we post today?”

Read it here 👇
https://scottturnmeyer.com/blog/social-media-doesnt-create-destinations

08/30/2026

This was completely unexpected today, and it honestly meant a lot.

Batter & Brine was set up at the Farmers Market at the gazebo today, and afterward Camille Rogers stopped by Turnmeyers with two treats just to thank me for the articles and columns I’ve been writing and for trying to make our community a better place.

I don’t write those things looking for recognition or thanks. I do it because I genuinely care about this community, our small businesses, and where we’re headed.

But I’ll also say this — I get a lot of negativity so when someone takes the time to stop by and say, “I appreciate what you’re doing,” it means more than they probably realize.

So thank you, Camille and Batter & Brine. The gesture was incredibly appreciated. And I have a feeling this Brown Sugar Blondie isn’t going to survive very long. The S’Mores was delicious! 😂

This is the kind of stuff that makes a community feel like a community. ❤️

08/30/2026

10% off this photo today in store!

Have you been looking for a unique piece from the area?

Today, Scott has this photo 10% off in the store. It is a shot he took right here in the National Park during one of our solar storms of the Aurora Borealis. Hand signed, 15x30 and on aluminum and ready to hang. There is even a small meteor in the very center!

Stop in today, he’s there til 5.
Turnmeyers on Main Street in Front Royal.

08/30/2026

A business down the street closes.

You never shopped there. You never ate there. You may not even know who owned it.

Why should you care?

The answer might be more personal than you think.

My latest Scott’s Turn 👇

Let's say there's a restaurant down the street from your house. You've never eaten there. Maybe it's not your kind of food. Maybe you think it's too expensive. Maybe you've driven past it a hundred times and never given it much thought. Then one day it closes. Why should you care? You didn't lose yo...

08/28/2026

Virginia probably isn't the first place you think of when someone mentions Bigfoot.

Maybe it should be. 👣

From the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley to Southwest Virginia and even the Great Dismal Swamp, there have been reported encounters with something people couldn't quite explain.

Some of these stories go back decades.

And a few are surprisingly close to home.

I went down the rabbit hole.

Bigfoot Sightings in Virginia: Stories, Legends & Locations

https://scottturnmeyer.com/blog/bigfoot-sightings-in-virginia

So…what do you think? 🦶

08/27/2026

We spend a lot of time talking about signs, maps and visitor centers.

But one of the most important pieces of tourism infrastructure is already in nearly every visitor’s pocket.

Their phone.

Where should we eat? Where can we park? What’s nearby? What’s happening tonight? What should we do next?

How easily a visitor can answer those questions can determine whether they make another stop—or simply head home.

I wrote about why I believe digital wayfinding is becoming an essential part of the visitor experience, and why communities need to start treating it that way.

Read the article: https://scottturnmeyer.com/blog/digital-wayfinding-is-here

08/26/2026

I believe it’s time to say enough.

08/26/2026

Destinations spend a lot of time trying to get people to visit.

But getting them there is only the beginning.

There are five moments that can determine whether someone leaves saying, “That was nice” — or “We have to come back.”

Are we getting them right?

👉 https://scottturnmeyer.com/blog/the-five-moments-every-destination-should-get-right