Gila County will introduce its new tourism website at a “Red Carpet” debut at Hollis Globe Cinema 4 on Thursday, Feb. 14 from noon to 1 p.m.

Gila County District 2 Supervisor Tim Humphrey and Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce leaders invite business owners and residents to attend a special big-screen, local preview of the new discovergilacounty website.

“Feb. 14, Arizona Statehood Day and Valentine’s Day seemed to be a great launch date,” Humphrey said. “Join us for this special lunch hour debut at Hollis: We’re celebrating with a genuine red-carpet rollout of our excellent new website, discovergilacounty.com. All three supervisors truly believe in Gila County, and this is our way to promote our county and those who live here. Join us for the debut, then check out the new website to see places you’ve never visited, new restaurants to try, and new ways to discover Gila County for yourself.”

The project was funded by Gila County government to boost tourism countywide, from Rim Country to Hayden-Winkelman, and including three Apache Nations.

“It’s all here, and we’re gonna keep building,” Cameron Davis, webmaster for Discovergilacounty.com, said. “This comprehensive guide has our best places for hiking, mountain biking and kayaking; unique bed-and-breakfasts to overnight in Payson and around Rim County; where to dock your fifth wheel for a week-long stay, and every possible place to eat, sites to see and things to do while you’re here.”

A few years ago, when Humphrey was on the Industrial Development Authority board, the idea was brought to the board of supervisors as a project to invest in. It has now become a reality.

The current board of supervisors hired Davis to write a comprehensive marketing plan and host stakeholder meetings in Payson and Globe, where Humphrey joined dozens of community leaders to plan key elements of the website. Then Davis began the laborious process of building it.

“Gila County’s bigger than people realize,” Davis said. “The site already has 400 linked pages and features more than 4,000 breathtaking photographs, generously shared by 75 talented photographers.”

Additionally, employers can post jobs on a county-wide job board, where people considering moving to the area can scan employment opportunities across 17 communities, read city and town profiles, or view videos showcasing life and leisure in Gila County.

A new county-wide event calendar already spotlights more than 100 events — concerts, rodeos, races, art walks, fundraisers — a user-generated calendar that will grow into a comprehensive list of public events in 2019 from north to south, and with casino events, concerts and rodeos of the White Mountain, San Carlos and Tonto Apache nations.

Companion sites are already live on social media.

To join the online community, go to facebook.com/discovergilacounty.

Hollis Globe Cinema 4 is located at 161 N. Broad St. in Globe.