DURHAM, N.C. — A North Carolina city is getting a lot of attention. Durham was a recent focus of one of the most popular travel columns in the world —The New York Times' "36 Hours" series.
The boom of people, attractions, restaurants and craft beverages has drawn the attention of visitors from all across the country.
Jonathan Blitz owns one of Durham’s most popular distilleries. It's known for its internationally recognized bourbon at Mystic Farm and Distillery. It's also known for its engagement with the Durham community.
Blitz and his business partner started Mystic in 2013.
“We've had huge community support,” Blitz said. “I like to think that's also because we make a great product. But it says something about Durham that they're willing to stand behind people just starting out and trying to make a great product right here in the community.”
The owners watched the city grow around them over the past 10 years and have seen their visitor base keep up with that growth as well.
The Discover Durham Visitor Center says the Bull City has grown more than 20% in the past 10 years.
“If you haven't been to Durham in the last five years, you haven't been to Durham,” Susan Amey said. “Because it has changed so much.”
Amey is the president of Discover Durham and has lived in the city for 18 years. She says while the Triangle area often works together, each city has a different personality. Amey says there are many different sections of Durham, and each one has a big economic impact for the city. The visitor economy is essential in Durham, and while it’s still growing after the pandemic, 2022 hit the pre-pandemic visitors record at 12.5 million visitors.
“Durham has a very unique personality,” Amey said. “It's got a lot of historical and cultural flavor to it and is really different from any of the other communities in North Carolina. So we're very proud to talk about all the different things you can see and do in Durham that you wouldn't necessarily find anywhere else in the state.”
For business owners like Blitz, visitors are a big part of what keeps his company going.
“Just getting to see the community grow and become more prosperous and also, I think, maintain some of that inclusivity and diversity of food and culture and all of those things that makes Durham such a rich place to live as a resident,” Blitz said.
Discover Durham is hoping The New York Times article brings even more visitors to the state for the end of 2023 and next year as well. The last time Durham was featured in this column was 2013, and a lot has changed since then. “36 Hours” has also featured other great cities in our state like Charlotte, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Asheville and Boone.