On April 17, Indiana Dunes Tourism hosted its annual State of the Dunes event, celebrating past achievements and previewing park plans. This year's event featured National and State Park leadership updates, offering a comprehensive overview of ongoing projects and community efforts throughout the Indiana Dunes area. The event aimed to provide a holistic view of the activities and collaborations within the community. Indiana Dunes Tourism President and CEO Christine Livingston continues to work closely with her board of directors, team, and community partners to ensure the organization's goals are met and its impact is felt throughout the Region.
"This is our annual event—it's a time for us to celebrate everything we've accomplished and highlight what's coming up," said Livingston. "This year, we're doing things differently by including National and State Park leadership. They'll provide updates on what's happening in their areas, so together—through this trifecta—we can give the community a comprehensive look at the exciting work happening in and around the Dunes."
One of the highlights of Livingston's presentation was the installation of large turtle sculptures outside the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center in Porter, which received 230,000 visitors annually. She shared that each turtle weighs around 1,500 pounds and requires a crane for placement. She also showed a time-lapse video of the installation, which captivated the audience.
"This event is Indiana Dunes Tourism's way of giving back to the community—keeping everyone informed about our efforts, how we contribute to the local economy, and how we support initiatives that enhance the area's quality of life," said Livingston. "We want to extend our thanks to our governing authorities. We're also excited to have support from this year's sponsor, Bill Welter, who contributed Journeyman Distillery's beverages. It's great to see our board members supporting us in such a meaningful way."
This collaboration extended to local businesses, such as Fluid Coffee Roasters and Tethan's Candy & Confections, which embraced Tourism's vision through themed products and a retail partnership.
"We're focused on showcasing our local businesses at this event," said Livingston. "Tethan's Candy & Confections created a special Indiana Dunes-themed chocolate bar. Val's Custom Cakes handled the desserts, Fluid Coffee Roasters brought amazing brews, and Sage & Honey provided a beautifully curated charcuterie spread. We're all about highlighting how our local businesses work together to create something special for our community."
Porter County Commissioner Barb Regnitz expressed her excitement about the event and praised the efforts behind its organization. She acknowledged Livingston's leadership, noting that anything she plans is always exceptional. Regnitz joined fellow officials Andy Vasquez, the County Council President, Greg Simms, another County Council Member, and Don Ensign, Chairman of the Tourism Board, who strongly supported the initiative.
"Look at the people who came to this event," said Simms. "When you bring together heavy hitters—community members from all over—for an event that impacts the entire county, that's pretty cool. The work they do, the people they reach, and the number of tourists and visitors from across the country coming to Porter County is an exciting feat."
Tourism programs such as the Quality of Life Community Video Project, The Three Dune Challenge at the State Park, the Diana of the Dunes Dare at the National Park, the Discovery Trail, and the Dunes Deals Pass showcase the area's diversity and culture while incentivizing exploration into local communities through games and discounts. These offerings help visitors connect with businesses and attractions that might be overlooked, extending the tourism experience beyond a traditional park visit.
"We're going to hear some great presentations today from Christine and the Park Service," said Ensign. "Both the National and State Parks are here, so you can expect valuable insights from them. We'll also be sharing exciting news about the future of our Beaches & Beyond Gift Shop—we're planning to expand it, move it into a larger space, and include a variety of new displays that Christine is currently working on."
Significant investments in physical spaces, like the expanded gift shop and the Indigenous Cultural Trail, enhance visitor experiences year-round. From thoughtfully designed landscapes to culturally significant sculptures and storytelling features, these additions ensure that guests leave with a deep sense of place—and a reason to return.
"Northwest Indiana is incredibly fortunate to have strong leadership across our major industries, elected officials, environmental stakeholders, and tourism departments," said Kay Nelson, Northwest Indiana Forum, "The partnerships among these groups—and the mutual respect they share allow them to focus on projects that truly benefit the community, educate the public, and protect the environment. It's phenomenal to see."
Although countless campaigns are underway, the focus remains on collaboration and storytelling, particularly through Region-wide projects like "Stand and Steel." For native Hoosiers and newcomers alike, the initiative blends the area's industrial legacy with natural beauty, uniting Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties under one shared narrative.
National and state park leadership Jason Taylor and Doug Lang reinforced the theme of collaboration. Together, these organizations help the tourism industry, which generated $236.2 million in visitor spending and $25.6 million in state and local taxes during 2023.
"One of the themes we'll be highlighting is 'Sand and Steel,'" said Livingston. "The audience doesn't know exactly what they're going to hear yet—it's a bit of a surprise—we are developing the Sand and Steel concept. It's a strong vision for the Region, and seeing it come to life is exciting."
Tourism has already created a website and style guide for the Sand + Steel theme, and communities and businesses are beginning to adopt it. In fact, the Beaches & Beyond Gift shop at the Visitor Center sells Sand + Steel-themed merchandise like hats, mugs, and specialty coffee, which are unexpected hits for residents and tourists, showing that people appreciate the area's gritty, genuine character.
At the end of the presentation, Livingston invited the audience to take a closer look at the organization's printed Adventure Guide, inviting everyone to rediscover their home. Then she asked all of the park rangers, park managers, and conservation workers to stand up, saying, "The Indiana Dunes area is a vital part of our region, and it's so important that we continue to thank the people who preserve and protect the places where we all play."
For more information on Indiana Dunes Tourism, please visit indianadunes.com.