Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine celebrated its 20th anniversary during an event Nov. 1 that included a festive atmosphere with food and music.
During the past 20 years, Old Town Trolley Tours has become a staple within the community for both local residents and tourists visiting the area.
General manager Dave Chatterton has been with the company in St. Augustine for all 20 years and has seen firsthand the changes and growth that have taken place during that time.
“Old town trolley has become the face of tourism in the area, and we wanted to say, ‘thank you’ for that,” Chatterton said.
The event was put on with the entire family in mind, with the help of partnerships with local businesses. Some of the fun things to do included create-your-own snow cones and a 360-degree photo booth.
Roughly 1,000 people attended this year’s event, which featured live entertainment by the local group Rivertown Band.
One of the most evident examples of growth is the size of the Old Town Trolley Tours staff.
“We had around 60 cast members (what the company calls its employees) when we started all this, and now we have about 225 working for the company,” Chatterton said. “It has allowed us to create more opportunities to give to our cast members.”
According to Chatterton, the celebration was all about giving recognition to those who do not usually get it but are so vital to the overall success of the company.
“It’s about thanking everyone from that makes this happen each day,” Chatterton said. “From the maintenance guys to the front desk people.”
He used Nights of Lights as an example of how much growth the area has seen over the years.
“It (Nights of Lights) has become this world-renowned event that people want to be a part of,” Chatterton said. “People no longer just stop in on their way down Interstate-95, because we are now a destination of our own.”
The tourism industry is all about the interaction between the public and those who work within it.
Old Town Trolley Tours has locations in seven other cities throughout the United States, but it is the unique feel and small-town vibe that Chatterton believes makes St. Augustine so special.
“If you ever want to know how our day is going or the services we provide, just ask one of our front-line cast members,” Chatterton said. “Our front line is who visitors have the most contact with, and they are so influential in what we do. We never forget that this is a living, breathing small town.”
