Chadron State Park, Randy Kane and Carrie Frahm were announced as the award winners for the second annual tourism industry honors April 4.

The awards were presented at the fourth annual Treasure Chest of the Northwest event, which gathers members of the region’s tourism industry together for networking, a brochure exchange and informational programs. More than 80 industry members attended to watch the awards ceremony and take part in the activities.

Chadron State Park was named Business/Attraction of the Year for the region. Established in 1921, the park attracts an annual visitation of over 400,000 people, providing a significant economic impact to the community all year. Randy Kane, a volunteer at the Museum of the Fur Trade, was recognized for his efforts as Volunteer of the Year. Kane engages visitors to the museum and is knowledgeable about the many Northwest Nebraska historical events. The Frontline Employee of the Year went to Carrie Frahm of Perk Up Java in Crawford for making every visitor feel welcome and sharing information on what there is to see and do in the area with them.

Other nominees for the awards this year included Runza, Wild’s Bar and Grill staff members Cody Kronhofman and Willow Davies and Chadron State Park office manager Debbon Shields.

“One of Northwest Nebraska’s greatest assets is its people, and the tourism industry awards are meant to recognize the people who make it an enjoyable experience to visit the region. All of our nominees and award winners go above and beyond every day, making them tremendous mentors to those around them as we seek to grow the industry,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp. “Once again, our Treasure Chest workshop was a success as it saw growth over last year. The event is a great opportunity to network with colleagues and prepare for the upcoming tourism season.”

Treasure Chest will take place again in April 2025, and nominations for the industry awards are open now on a rolling basis until March 1, 2025. Nominations can be submitted online at https://discovernwnebraska.com/industry-awards/.