Northwest Indiana’s very own candy factory boasts the world’s best gummies! Tour the factory and experience your favorites being made, see the world’s tallest chocolate waterfall and sample some of the best candies around!…more
Board of Directors
Victor DeMeyer
Chairman
Consultant
Appointed By: Town of Munster
W. F. Wellman
Vice Chairman
V.P. of Communications, Whiteco Industries
Appointed By: Lt. Governor Mutz
Chareice White
Secretary
Community & Public Relations Director, Majestic Star & Fitzgerald's Casinos & Hotel
Appointed By: Gary Common Council
Robert Forster
Treasurer
Appointed By: Merrillville Town Council
Paul Anderson
Visitor Center and Store Manager, The Shrine of Christ's Passion
Appointed By: Lake County Commissioners
Christine Cash
General Manager, Ramada Inn and Conference Center
Appointed By: Highland Town Council
Megan Cecil
Owner, Cecil Real Estate
Appointed By: City of Crown Point
Dale Johnsen
Appointed By: Lake County Commissioners
Christopher Jones
President/Owner, Schoops Hamburgers of Hammond
Appointed By: Mayor of Hammond
John Kiernan
President, Calumet Brewery
Appointed By: Lake County Council
Darnail Lyles
Appointed By: Mayor of Gary
Manuel Salazar
Investigator, North Township Trustee Office
Appointed By: Hammond City Council
Matthew Schuffert
Appointed By: Mayor of East Chicago
Jared Tomich
Founder of Ignite Sports Performance Centers and of Fuel Fitness, Owner of Zuni's House of Pizza and the Engine Room Alehouse
Appointed By: Town of Dyer
Raeann Trakas
Special Events Coordinator, City of Hobart
Appointed By: Mayor of Hobart
Andrew Kyres
Parliamentarian
Thomas Ehrhardt
Attorney
Kopka Pinkus Dolin & Eads, LLC
Book Your Stay
What began as a local newspaper’s effort to tell the compelling stories of Northwest Indiana men and women who sacrificed during the Civil War has evolved into a large-scale historical preservation effort. The joint partnership of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority and the Calumet Region Civil War Preservation Project seeks to carry forward on hundreds of hours of community service that already have taken place. …more
Conveniently located between Chicago and Indianapolis, Fair Oaks Farms offers a fun family playground that everyone will enjoy! From the Dairy Adventure and Birthday Barn, to the Cheese Factory and Mooville, Fair Oaks Farms will keep the family entertained, and well-fed, for a full day of education and fun!…more
When a guest visits a hotel, restaurant, bank, or gas station, they rarely meet the manager or owner of the establishment. It's up to the front-line employee to make the customer's visit enjoyable.The R.O.S.E. Awards were created to recognize these "directors of first impression" who consistently work hard to make our lives easier. Guests & managers are able to nominate an employee who consistently "goes the extra mile."…more
Heavy industry carried the South Shore economy for decades. Now, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority tells a story about a community: it’s been built by steel but changing from tourism. Northwest Indiana’s appeal is its devotion to ensure new & already existing businesses succeed. Area leaders have teamed together to revitalize the mill towns and make Northwest Indiana the place people want to live & work. …more
Experience the journey of the Passion of Christ as never before in this interactive trail featuring 40 life-sized bronze statues. Experience the various Stations of the Cross with audio descriptions as you walk the winding pathway.…more
With five different casinos, Northwest Indiana offers much excitement and action along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan! With decadent restaurants, world class entertainment and floors (and floors) of slots and table games, your night is just getting started when you test your luck at one of our casinos.…more
Pierogi Fest, the pride of Whiting, is an opportunity for the residents to celebrate their heritage while poking a little fun at themselves at the same time. The one of a kind parade and festival have received countrywide recognition having been featured on the Food Network and the Travel Channel.…more
This holiday season, The Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond will feature 6 animated displays featuring scenes from "A Christmas Story". The displays include: Higbee’s Department Store Window, Flick’s Tongue and the Triple Dog Dare, It’s a Major Award, Santa’s Mountain at Higbee’s, the Bumpus Hounds, and the Parker Living Room. The displays were first showcased in 2003 in the windows of the Herald Square Macy’s in New York City. …more
