Tourism Brings $137 Million Boost to Maury County in 2024

Issue #550

September 08, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌤️ Columbia’s Weather - Partly cloudy w/ High of 81, low of 55

📰 Tourism Brings $137 Million Boost to Maury County in 2024

📰 Nashville Zoo Welcomes Rare Aardwolf Pups to Its Growing Nursery

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Tourism Brings $137 Million Boost to Maury County in 2024

From City of Columbia, TN - Government’s post…

Tourism continues to make a big impact in Columbia and Maury County!

According to new data from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, visitors spent $137.4 million in Maury County in 2024. This spending supported 956 local jobs and generated over $14 million in state and local tax revenue.

Those visitor tax dollars help fund schools, roads, and public safety—reducing the burden on residents. In 2024 alone, tourism saved Maury County households an average of $339 each in taxes.

Columbia’s historic downtown and Main Street, arts district, historic sites, natural attractions, recreation, and cultural events all contribute to making the community a must-visit destination.

This growth highlights the strength of the local tourism industry and the positive impact it continues to have on jobs, local businesses, and families throughout Maury County.

Nashville Zoo Welcomes Rare Aardwolf Pups to Its Growing Nursery

Credit: Nashville Zoo

The Nashville Zoo has welcomed two rarely seen aardwolf pups, a brother-and-sister pair now 14 weeks old. Born at Safari Wild Animal Park and Preserve (SWAP&P) in Como, Mississippi, the pups are being raised at the Zoo’s HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center, where guests can begin viewing them on September 5.

The arrival marks a rare opportunity for the public to see this elusive species, with only a handful living in zoological institutions across the United States. Aardwolves have historically been difficult to breed and raise, and these pups were hand-reared after the loss of a third sibling. Recognizing Nashville Zoo’s long track record of success in caring for carnivores—including 45 clouded leopard births over 30 years—SWAP&P entrusted the Zoo with their care.

Native to southern and eastern Africa, aardwolves are nocturnal members of the hyena family. They thrive in dry savannas and grasslands, often sheltering in abandoned burrows. While they share physical similarities with striped hyenas, aardwolves primarily feed on insects, especially termites, instead of meat. Though listed as a species of least concern, habitat loss continues to pose challenges, particularly when termite mounds are destroyed.

The aardwolf pups are part of a growing nursery at the Zoo. Just days earlier, the Zoo also celebrated the birth of a spotted fanaloka pup. Born August 24, the female is the fourth fanaloka born at the Zoo, which remains the only facility in the U.S.—and one of just four worldwide—to house this vulnerable species. Visitors can see the pup at the Veterinary Center’s nursery viewing windows on select days.

Fanaloka are small, nocturnal carnivores native to Madagascar. Listed as vulnerable due to habitat destruction, they play an important ecological role as mid-sized predators. Their diet includes small mammals, reptiles, aquatic animals, bird eggs, and insects.

With the arrival of both the aardwolf pups and the fanaloka pup, the Nashville Zoo continues to strengthen its role as a leader in rare species care and conservation, while giving the public an opportunity to experience animals they may never encounter elsewhere.

For more information on the Nashville Zoo’s animal care, visit here.

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Monday, September 8th

Tuesday, September 9th

Wednesday, September 10th

Thursday, September 11th

Friday, September 12th

MORE EVENTS COMING SOON!

📌 Mark Your Calendars…

Sept 5-14: Nashville Fair 
Sept 16: Breakfast with the Mayors
Sept 27 - 28: Pilgrimage Music & Heritage Festival
Oct 11: Columbia Fall Fest

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, September 11th

Brooklyn Ray, Puckett’s, 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito’s Spring Hill, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Rob Roscoe, Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30 – 9:00 PM

Friday, September 12th

TBA, The Spot: Burgers & Beers, 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Nick Duhe, Buck & Board, 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Open Mic, Grinder’s Switch Winery, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Night of Worship, The Awaken House, 7:00 PM
Neal Pennington, McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Troy Kemp, Puckett’s, 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Emily Otteson, Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30 – 9:00 PM
South Bound Crows, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 – 11:00 PM

Saturday, September 13th

Tom Dixon, Keg Springs Winery, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Gil Gann, Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3:00 – 7:00 PM
Yonder Trio, Buck & Board, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Los San Patricios, McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Song Writers Round, The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Kenny & Bob, Puckett’s, 7:30 – 9:00 PM
615 Rewind, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 – 11:00 PM

Sunday, September 14th

The Sins, Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1:00 – 5:00 PM

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