It would be hard for anyone to say that Bobby Wilcox doesn’t go the extra mile to make sure visitors to Powhatan have a pleasant experience. In fact, he’s proven he’ll go many, many miles.

Wilcox, a longtime Powhatan resident and the owner of Virginia Pantry, has been known to offer visitors who pop into his store a personally guided tour of some his favorite places in the county. A Civil War history enthusiast, Wilcox points out the many historical sites dotting the landscape, from Grace Church on Rocky Ford Road, where the first Confederate soldier to be killed in action is buried, to Derwent, where Robert E. Lee stayed briefly after the Civil War. He leads them along the Confederate army’s two retreat routes, Route 60 and Genito Rd, and then out to see the massive fortifications along the border of Powhatan and Amelia.

The tours allow Wilcox to share a little of his county, but also serve to underscore just how much Powhatan has to offer.

“There is so much here,” he said, pointing out that the potential to take advantage of Virginia’s multi-billion dollar a year tourism industry extends far beyond what he offers on his tours.

With plans for a Virginia State park in the western part of the county, and the 150th anniversary of the Civil War approaching, Wilcox sees unlimited potential — and benefit — for Powhatan.

Much of Powhatan’s potential as a tourist destination lies in its historic connections, including its participation in the Civil War Trails program.

Powhatan resident John Kerr said he likes to take out of town guests to see the site of the first French Huguenot settlement during what he jokingly refers to as his “Tours de Powhatan.” The Courthouse area is another jewel worth showing off, he said, as are any of the 17 local places listed on state or national historic registries.

According to data provided by Powhatan’s Office of Economic Development, tourism brings an estimated $17.7 billion to Virginia every year.

In 2006, $7.2 million of that came to Powhatan County, a fact that has many residents and business owners rolling out the welcome mat.

“All the assets are here,” said Wilcox, “we just have to develop the blueprint and package it.”

Packaging it is precisely where Powhatan Economic Development Director Sherry Swinson comes in. Recently, Swinson worked with other county leaders to arrange for Powhatan to be included in the Virginia’s Retreat program, a group of twelve other localities working together to help promote tourism in southern central Virginia.

Swinson’s assistant, Laura Henderson, has put together a self-guided driving tour of the county, which they hope to have available in brochure form soon. On it they have included some of the expected attractions--the Courthouse, Derwent — but also a few longtime residents might take for granted.

“I think one of the neatest things we put in there were some of the little stores,” Swinson said. While people are enjoying the historic sites, they can grab some refreshments in an authentic old country store such as the Do Drop General Store on Old Buckingham Rd.

To Swinson, promoting tourism benefits the county’s economy in both the long and short term.

“Not only is it a clean industry that generates huge revenues, it also adds to the county by attracting other quality businesses.”

George Peyton, the Vice President of Government Relations for the Richmond Retail Merchants Association, echoes a point made by many supporters of tourism, and one that was made repeatedly during a recent candidate’s forum when candidates for the Board of Supervisors were asked what their views were on tourism.

“The benefit [of tourism] is that we get these tourists spending money, but also these dollars, when they are spent, are not on the backs of the people,” said Peyton.

Tourism makes money without taxing the county’s infrastructure. In other words, as one BOS candidate phrased it, “We want people to spend their money here—then go home.”

Not surprisingly, the idea of bringing more people into the county — regardless of whether they stay or not­ — has been met with some concern by residents already worried about the effects of surging growth on what was once a sleepy, rural community.

“I think people are afraid of development, afraid of traffic, afraid of what Powhatan is going to become,” said Sally Mullikin, the owner of a local bed and breakfast.

For her part, Mullikin thinks the fears are unfounded.

“It’s not going to happen overnight,” insisted Mullikin. “It’s going to be a slow burn. The sooner we jump on the bandwagon, the sooner we open our minds to tourism, we’re all going to be a lot better off.”

According to the most ardent supporters of Powhatan tourism, the next step in selling Powhatan will be the completion of the State Park which is expected to draw people from all over Virginia and beyond.

As for Wilcox, he plans to continue to promote Powhatan however he can. He’s even considering launching his own — official — guide service in the near future.

“There is so much potential here,” he said. “We’re sitting right on it.”