THS-Visuals Tells Nevada's Story

BY MATTHEW B. BROWN

One of the slogans we use at Nevada Magazine is "Telling the Silver State's story since 1936." Well, THS-Visuals has been telling Nevada's story for many years as well. We were lucky enough to work with owner Todd Simon and his crew this month for a Nevada Magazine promo video, which you can watch below:


I found it interesting, in conversations I had with Simon in between filming at our Carson City offices, just how much of Nevada he's seen. We share this in common, I as the editor of Nevada Magazine and he as the owner of THS-Visuals, which has produced numerous Nevada tourism videos. Here is a summary of THS-Visuals' Nevada travels just this year:

• In March, they shot for a new TLC TV show called "Insane Bathrooms" covering a solid-gold bathroom in a Zephyr Cove (Lake Tahoe) home. The house was built by the co-founder of Tommy Hilfiger.
• Shortly after, they visited Pahrump for eight days to film a series of videos aimed at promoting tourism on the Visit Pahrump website. Included were Southern Nevada attractions such as Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Hoover Dam, local wineries, Death Valley National Park, and Rhyolite ghost town.
• In May, THS-Visuals spent time in Elko making a video for the California Trail Interpretive Center, followed by a shoot at Barrick Gold Corporation's Goldstrike mine site.
• In June, the Nevada Commission on Tourism asked THS-Visuals to put together a "Travel Nevada" video set to the new Nevada theme song, "Don't Fence Me In," by Las Vegas band The Killers.
• This summer, Simon and crew filmed events and activities in West Wendover during the city's July 4th celebration, then spent four days covering wild horses around Reno and Winnemucca for a new Discovery Channel show. Then they were back in West Wendover for 10 more days to film a series of tourism videos for the city website.

"Who knows where in the state you'll find us next? Interesting, and often unexpected...but always fun. That's my take on Nevada!"—Todd Simon

THS-Visuals' reach is not limited to Nevada, having produced shorts for Redding, California and Shasta Lake, for example. They were extremely professional during filming and turned the video around quickly, while remaining diligent about quality. We at Nevada Magazine highly recommend their work if you're looking to have a video made for your agency, business, etc.

Six Must-See Sites Named State Treasures in Discover Your Nevada Contest

Photo: Lori Drew (Nevada Northern Railway in Ely)

Online voters have identified six standout sites as the 2013 Nevada Treasures in the Discover Your Nevada contest, Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Director Claudia Vecchio announced today.

Three of the six Nevada Treasures defended their 2012 title through active social and viral marketing outreach. This year’s winners are:

• Cowboy Country: The Star Hotel and Basque Restaurant in Elko, which also won in 2012
• Indian Territory: The Lost City Museum in Overton
• Las Vegas Territory: The Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas
• Nevada Silver Trails: Pahrump Valley Winery
• Pony Express Territory: Nevada Northern Railway in Ely, which also won in 2012
• Reno-Tahoe Territory: Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park in Minden, which also won in 2012

The contest, now in its second year, is administered by the Nevada Commission on Tourism and is designed to raise awareness of Nevada’s extraordinary assets among Silver State residents, ultimately driving travel within the state.

The 2013 contest comprised a four-week process whereby people nominated, then voted for their favorite Nevada Treasures in the state’s six tourism territories: Cowboy Country, Indian Territory, Las Vegas Territory, Nevada Silver Trails, Pony-Express Territory, and Reno-Tahoe Territory. Nominations began July 3, followed by two rounds of online voting. The final voting round closed at 5 p.m. on August 2.

Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas

“Nevada has so many interesting towns, historical sites, and natural wonders. It truly is a place for discovery,” Vecchio says. “The winners represent urban and rural areas, showcasing the incredible offerings found throughout the state.”

The 2013 contest was conducted via Facebook, providing an enhanced opportunity for sharing recommendations and viral marketing by nominees. This platform allowed residents, business owners, and Nevada fans to rally behind their favorites via critical social networking channels.

For more information about the 2013 “Treasures” and traveling in Nevada, visit TravelNevada.com. Read about the 2012 Discover Your Nevada winners in this Nevada Magazine story.