Perry County tourism commission sets June 17 public meeting at Welcome Center

Perry County residents can find the Tourism Commission’s next meeting, board leadership and office hours in seconds on the same site that lists local events, attractions and tourism funding information. The Hazard/Perry County Tourism Commission says its board will meet June 17, 2026, at 5 p.m. at the Welcome Center, 1133 North Main Street in Hazard, and the meetings are open to the public.

The board page identifies Terry Feltner as chairperson, Franklin Fugate as co-chairperson, Marsha Bishop as treasurer, John Epperson as executive director, Sallie Martin as administrative assistant and Michael Hughes as IT director. It also names directors Fitz Steele, Tony Eversole and Breonna Douglas. The tourism office lists Monday through Saturday office hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving residents a direct place to check who is handling tourism work and when the office is available.

That matters because the commission’s website does more than promote visitors. It puts the county’s tourism decisions in public view, from the meeting schedule to the people overseeing the work. For residents who want to follow how events are chosen, how attractions are promoted and how tourism dollars are managed, the site functions as a practical access point rather than a brochure.

The commission frames Hazard and Perry County as “The Heart of Adventure Tourism,” and its site leans into that identity with a roster of places and activities tied closely to the local economy. Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park, Daniel Boone National Forest, the Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky, the Art of the Mountains Quilt Trail, the Mother Goose House, Perry County Park, Leatherwood Off Road Park and the North Fork of the Kentucky River all appear as part of the county’s tourism pitch.

The events calendar adds another layer of usefulness for locals trying to keep up with what is happening around town. It highlights recurring gatherings such as the Perry County Fair, Cruizin’ on Main, Summer in the Park, Independence Day Fish Fry and Fireworks, the North Fork Music Festival, the Black Gold Festival, the Battle of Leatherwood reenactment, Pink Weekend and Christmas in a Small Town. The site also says organizations or individuals seeking tourism project funding can download an application and submit it by mail or email.

The public role of the commission is backed by city and county policy. A 2025 City of Hazard ordinance establishing a restaurant tax says the tax receipts are transferred to the Hazard/Perry County Tourism Commission, with the city reimbursed 5 percent of the tax. City and county officials also point to more than $100 million in grant funds awarded since 2015, a reminder that tourism sits alongside broader development work in Hazard and Perry County. With a public meeting date, named officers and open office hours, the commission’s website gives the county a clearer window into one part of its civic and economic agenda.