Another model that could draw in substantial revenue and visitors is that adopted by Kentucky, West Virginia, and several other states. Wisconsin could establish state resort parks at appropriate state parks, with golf courses, tennis courts, pools, etc., as well as lodging, which can run the gamut from rustic cabins to luxury hotels with dining rooms, meeting facilities and other amenities.. Kentucky has seventeen of these, West Virginia ten, Indiana and Illinois have five or six. Arkansas and Tennessee also have a few, and I recall that Maryland and Iowa one each. In some states they’re built and staffed by the state, others by contract managers. I’ve given speeches and led seminars at many of these facilities, and whenever I’ve been at them I find that they’re very popular with local folks for family reunions, weddings, class reunions, etc.
AR also has lots of Corp of Engineer facilities.
AR draws a lot of outdoor tourists from DFW, OK City and Tulsa, Kansas Cities, St Louis and Chicago, Memphis, LA and MS.
They draw a lot of trout fishermen, duck hunters, and white water boaters.