It's a busy few weeks coming for Eagle River as a series of events will bring tens of thousands of visitors to the community and Northwoods.
The Eagle River Fire Department and volunteers have built the Ice Castle in the downtown area, starting this weekend is the first of two weekends of championship snowmobile racing at the Derby Track and in early February is the Pond Hockey Championships.
Eagle River Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center Director Kim Emerson says the activity means much to the economy....
"....usually you are looking at 10,000-15,000 people each weekend, so over 30,000 people is an important value to our community. Those people are staying in our lodging facilities, eating in restaurants, buying gas in our gas stations, plus they're out enjoying all the natural resources available to them like snowmobiling as well as going to the Derby track and enjoying the racing. It is a great boost to the economy...."
The Department of Tourism estimates visitors spend on average $58 each day and $180 overnight while visiting a community.
The World Championship Vintage Snowmobile Derby runs this Friday through Sunday, with the World Championship Snowmobile Derby the following weekend. The Pond Hockey Championships are February 9th through the 11th.
