Submitted by Rob Hodges on
Lisa Perini was the first coordinator of the Texas Forts Trail Region, which at the time was a THC pilot project to expand the Texas Travel Trails of the 1960s into a region-focused, statewide heritage tourism initiative. She was regional coordinator for the pilot project, from 1998–2000, when she left to join husband Tom Perini (now a THC Commissioner) in the family business—Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap. The pilot project she helped lead paved the way for our 10-region Texas Heritage Trails Program.
“The Forts Trail was a great job and continues to be a very successful tourism project for West-Central Texas. The position was perfect for me, combining my love of tourism, marketing, and history! I had previously worked with the Albany Texas Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Griffin Fandangle, so showing off this part of Texas has always been a passion. And with Tom’s heritage in the ranching business, it was fun connecting all our friends in the region.
Now, with Tom serving as a Commissioner, I still get to hear of all the excitement within the THC and enjoy being a part of the agency.”
Lisa provided a link to this April 1999 article in the Abilene Reporter-News, when the pilot project was just a year old. It’s interesting to look back at the infancy of the Texas Heritage Trails Program and see the impact it made on historic forts visitation from the outset.
This is one in a series of “Memory Lane” blog posts in which former THC employees, commissioners, interns, and partners recall their favorite moments at the agency. It’s part of our “60 Years in 60 Days” campaign on Facebook and Twitter, which began on September 19 and leads to November 17, the 60th anniversary of the THC.
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