(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles about the assessment of sites on the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway.)

Hosting an important national, even international, tourism attraction is a new experience for just about anybody in this part of the world, but that is exactly what local and state officials have undertaken since working to develop the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway and tie it in with the two internationally important wetlands in this region.
So those officials are continuing to seek expert advice, as county Finance Office Janet Crane reported recently when she shared reports from the byway Internal Marketing Committee with the Barton County Commission.
The report documents input about local communities and their potential for growth.
What follows are excepts from those reports.
Claflin:
Strengths — There is no shortage of good stories to share in Claflin. Two stories have tangible sites that visitors can see and visit—Millers of Claflin and the limestone buildings, bridges and post rock that were quarried from a legendary vein that runs near town. Oil and agricultural Challenges — Visitors interact primarily with Millers of Claflin. Currently Claflin offers a 24-hour gasoline station for travelers, but there is no central point for traveler information, a restaurant, nor signals to furniture shoppers that there are reasons to explore the community further.  stories are equally engaging, but intangible. Opportunities — The byway could work with Millers to create an information center for the byway and its communities, and enlisting staff to suggest other locations in the region after they finish their furniture business.  This could be an economic boon to all the other byway communities.
A new brochure has been published that features the Eight WPA bridges near Claflin. 
This could be expanded by creating a Limestone Trail to encourage motorists, motorcyclists and bicyclists to visit the bridges, churches and other sites that help tell the story of the limestone vein and its historical uses. 
This could include Mo’s Brewery and additional interpretive signage at key locations.