A Wide Spot in the Road Becomes a Star on the Map

The Village of Leiper's Fork Launches Their New Brand

FRANKLIN, Tenn., May 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Downtown Leiper's Fork Association (DLFA), brings to life its new look, as their new brand is unveiled.   The DLFA plans to celebrate this momentous occasion by hosting a brand launch party.  The event, which will take place at the Country Boy Restaurant basement, 4141 Old Hillsboro Road, Franklin, Tennessee, will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 from 11:00 -11:30 a.m.  

The branding is a result of more than a year of research and collaboration between D.S. Tombras Group and a select committee spearheaded by DLFA Director, April Cantrell. The new look of Leiper's Fork conveys a destination where visitors can shake off their worries and not be in a hurry and, as some say,  "step into Leiper's Fork Standard Time". The promise that the new branding seeks to convey is that you can "lose yourself in our little village".  According to Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director, Mark Shore, "Leiper's Fork has perhaps the most unique brand promises of any place on earth. It's a place that capture's the heart and inspires the mind in a way that is difficult to convey without a visit to the village. This branding is not simply a new logo, tagline and website, but a way of connecting the mind's eye to the true experience one has with an actual visit."

The new Leiper's Fork brand will not only invite visitors to live like a local for a moment in time, enjoying the authentic and easy lifestyle of the village, but will also feature a new website, www.visitleipersfork.com.  The new website officially went live to the public on Monday, May 16, 2011.  The website promises to be the premiere information source for anyone interested in planning a trip, group tour or even a community or family event in the Historic Leiper's Fork Village. "We've created an online experience that invites users to sign up for e-newsletters on event happenings in Leiper's Fork and see what the region has to offer. Ultimately we hope to invite and entice more people to visit," said Cantrell, Director of the DLFA. "With a comprehensive calendar of events and listings of local places to stay, eat, shop and play, Leiper's Fork is a unique place where a visitor feels that they are part of the community the moment they step out of their car. Whether it's a 300-year-old antique, a breathtaking bite of fried pie or a moment of quiet enjoying the view, there's a subtle yet powerful "ahh" moment around every turn.  Leiper's Fork makes it easy to appreciate the simpler, more genuine things in life."  

Leiper's Fork, established in 1801 and located just 7 minutes from Franklin, Tennessee, has become known for their quirky events and preservation efforts of both land and culture.   In 1995, a group of visionary community leaders decided to create a plan of action that not only preserved land, but buildings and culture.  1998 brought about its Historic District designation on the National Register of Historic Places and by 1999, 450 acres located at the gateways to Leiper's Fork were the first farms to be protected from development by conservation easements granted to the newly formed Land Trust For Tennessee. From that time, Leiper's Fork has grown from an antique shop and grocery that served hamburgers and sandwiches, to a hip and historic village of art galleries, antique shops, restaurants, a rare bookstore and three small inns.  All the great branding hasn't changed the Village's overall personality though.  It's still a place where things move a little slower, you feel welcome and like one of the locals.  However, Leiper's Fork is not just a tourist town, it's an authentic working village filled with farmers, carpenters, painters, songwriters, artists, everyday people and creative characters.  

About Tombras Group:

The Tombras Group, an advertising, digital and branding agency, with offices in Knoxville, Nashville and Washington DC specializes in tourism branding and website development.  They have developed sites for the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), the Bristol CVB and Haywood County Tourism.

About DLFA:

The Downtown Leiper's Fork Association is the marketing organization for the advancement of community development and tourism for the Village of Leiper's Fork.  DLFA strives to ensure Leiper's Fork is a destination that welcomes and connects people from all walks of life.  For additional information on all there is to see and do in the Village of Leiper's Fork, contact us by phone at 615.595.8190, fax 615.790-5008, on the web at www.visitleipersfork.com or by mail at 4150 Old Hillsboro Rd., Franklin, TN, 37064.  LOSE YOURSELF IN OUR LITTLE VILLAGE.

SOURCE Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau