Reunions boost sales, tourism in Troy

Tourism in Troy, Alabama can be spelled f-a-m-i-l-y r-e-u-n-i-o-n.

That was put into play on Saturday when more than 100 members of the Louis and Mazie Brown family were in Troy to celebrate their 29th family reunion at Camp Butter and Egg and other local locations.

The children stood in line and anxiously waited their turns on the zip line while the adults sat on the porch and anxiously waited for their turns at the dinner table.

“The family members have come from all across the country for the Brown reunion,” said Shelia Jackson, Troy tourism director. “They are staying at Troy hotels; they are eating at local restaurants; and they are taking advantage of facilities like Camp Butter and Egg. Family reunions are good public relations tools for Troy and they also give a boost to the local economy.”

Jackson said more and more families are choosing Troy as a destination for their family reunions.

“Family reunions are making a comeback,” she said. “In today’s world, families are more scattered than they used to be and it’s harder to get everyone together for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holidays. So more families are getting together at other times for family reunions and summer is an especially popular time.”

A lot of people have deep roots in Troy and Pike County and, there are many good reasons to host family reunions in Troy.

“We have a variety of venues that are suitable for family reunions,” Jackson said. “We have great hotels, a lot of popular places to dine, things to do and Troy can be easily reached from all areas of the state. As more people are realizing that, Troy is becoming a family reunion destination place.”

J.D. Brown organized the Brown Family Reunion in 1984 as a way to bring together the family that has its origin in a “cotton patch up around Red Land.”

“Working in the cotton field was long, hard work and you couldn’t hardly make any money at all,” Brown said.

“So, my family got out of the cotton field and went to places like Pittsburg and Detroit where they could make a decent living. They all went in different directions but this is home down here. It’s where we got our start.’

Brown said the first Brown family reunion was held at the Elk’s Lodge in Troy. Barbecue was served to the seven family members who thought the reunion was worthwhile.

“Each year, it got bigger and bigger,” Brown said. “People wanted to come home for a while and Troy was home.”

To add variety to the family reunions, the reunions are held at different locations, primarily in Florida. But every other year or so, they are held in Troy.

“When they are held in Florida or somewhere else, they are family get togethers,” Brown said with a smile. “But, when they are held in Troy, they are family reunions because this is home.”

Jackson said Troy and Pike County are home to thousands of families and, for them, there’s no place like home.

“We welcome families home and we’re always proud they’re here,” she said. “Each year, the City of Troy provides between 3,000 and 4,000 information packets to people that attend family reunions in Troy. Troy is proud to be a family reunion destination city.”