ABOVE: Visit Fairmont Executive Director Brittany Hartman, left, guides a group of senior citizens, mostly from Minnetonka and surrounding area, through Downtown Plaza in Fairmont on Wednesday afternoon. The seniors covered more ground in Fairmont, including the Red Rock Center for the Arts, Fairmont Opera House downtown Fairmont buildings and more.

FAIRMONT — Twenty-four seniors, most from the Minnetonka community, toured Fairmont alongside Visit Fairmont Executive Director Brittany Hartman on Wednesday. The visit was in conjunction with Medicine Lake Tours of Eden Prairie.

“What I gathered, they were very impressed with our community,” said Hartman.

She was contacted by the visitors in hopes of touring Fairmont and after speaking with Medicine Lake Tours President Alice Norman regarding Fairmont’s various offerings and opportunities, Hartman and Norman formed a tour schedule that would best interest the arriving seniors.

The group started its trip with a tour of the Martin County Historical Society by Executive Director Lenny Tvedten and Curator James Marushin. After the museum tour, the group traveled to The Ranch for lunch. After their meal, Hartman gave them a tour of the Fairmont businesses and atmosphere in the heart of Downtown Plaza, including places such as the Fairmont Opera House, the courthouse and more.

Hartman said that following the tour, many of the visitors explicitly expressed their fascination with the City of Lakes.

“They were surprised about how many shops were downtown, and how friendly the people and overall community are here. They’re going to be going home and telling their family and friends about Fairmont for sure,” Hartman commented with a chuckle. “They’re gonna tell them all the good things, and their family and friends could see for themselves and vacation here. It’s all good stuff.”

The historical buildings were an additional highlight of the trip; many of the seniors were considerably impressed that they were still standing, according to Hartman.

“It was a lot of fun. This was my first walking tour that I had given. I’m not from Fairmont originally. In the position I’m in, I’ve done a lot of research and historical research in Fairmont. Sharing that with a group not from Fairmont, it feels good. They were in awe of the buildings,” Hartman said.

With Visit Fairmont is dedicated to garnering attention to Fairmont in cities beyond the 50-mile radius, Hartman hopes that the success of the tour, as determined by seniors’ reactions, creates a ripple effect that will drive more people in said regions to explore Fairmont and consume its culture.

“Visit Fairmont’s goal is to bring people to see what the Fairmont community has to offer. We strive to get people outside of the community to come here, to shop, to eat, to have a vacation and to spend time in Fairmont. Many people yearn for the small-town experience that we can offer. There’s stuff here like nowhere else. Having the charm Fairmont has, it makes it more unique to the visitors. You can’t get it anywhere else but here,” Hartman said.