Columbia, S.C. - (January 29, 2015) The Columbia Regional Sports Council is proud to assist the River Alliance and the Greater Cayce West Columbia Visitors Center with the Columbia Time Machine: Civil War Coin Trail Kick-Off on Saturday, Feb. 7 at Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center at Otarre Pointe from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
"We're so excited to be bringing our passion for geocaching to Columbia in such a huge way," said head geocachers, Matt Norris and Ike Hurley. "This event is going to be a huge deal, and has created a major buzz in the geocaching community."
Geocaching is a high tech treasure hunt game played with a handheld GPS device. Players of the game known as geocachers attempt to find a hidden geocache, typically a small waterproof receptacle containing a logbook and souvenir coins. The geocacher enters the date and signs their established geocaching name then replaces the receptacle for others to find. Geocaching is enjoyed by families, outdoor enthusiasts, general nature lovers and anyone seeking a one-of-a-kind adventure.
Organizers anticipate 300 people to attend Saturday's kick-off event, establishing the Congaree area as a destination for geocachers. The official geocoin will be revealed and there will be games, prizes and Marco's Pizza for attendees.
"We're very excited that this world-wide phenomenon can have such an interesting avenue to explore our area's history, nature and beauty," said John Banks of the Greater Cayce West Columbia Visitors Center.
Columbia was selected for a geocaching trail because of its rich, in-depth Civil War history. Visitors from all over the Southeast will explore unique sites of the region including key locations along Sherman's March to the Sea and burning of Columbia. In its inaugural year, the trail is predicted to bring over 1,000 visitors to the area and continue to grow in popularity each year.
Grayson Hopp, sales manager with the Columbia Regional Sports Council, said, "Not only is the Columbia Time Machine Civil War Trail educational, fun and family-friendly, it will also generate a significant economic impact. With 24 locations throughout West Columbia, Cayce and the City of Columbia, visitors and locals alike will be able to explore these areas like never before!"
About Columbia Regional Sports Council
The mission of the Columbia Regional Sports Council is to strengthen the area's economy by marketing and selling Columbia, S.C. as a premier destination for sporting events, partnering with local sports organizations to grow and develop existing events, and by recruiting new events that provide an economic benefit to the region by generating room nights, food and beverage sales, and associated tax revenues. For more information, visit columbiasportscouncil.com.
About Greater Cayce West Columbia Visitors Center
The Visitors Center markets the area west of the rivers highlighting the incredible mixture of nature, history, and river sports. We strive through our marketing to attract people to our area for a unique excursion mixing rugged nature with an active city center.
About The River Alliance
The River Alliance is a non-profit organization. Our mission is to help the regional community become more engaged with the Broad, Saluda and Congaree Rivers by making the rivers accessible to everyone while keeping them protected. The River Alliance is governed by a Board of Directors. Each Board member brings unique assets and strengths to our organization.