Bringing A Destination's Story to Life: Recent Website Launches
Review some of the latest destination websites designed and developed by Tempest.
We firmly believe in the transformative value of destination websites as a community's single most powerful asset. Through recent collaborations with DMOs across North America, we've embarked on a journey to not only create visually compelling web projects but to redefine how these platforms can be preeminent authorities for their destinations and use this digital landscape as a catalyst for growth and vitality within the community.
At Tempest, we're passionate about creating websites that are not only aesthetically and functionally dynamic, but also bring to life the narrative of the people and experiences it represents.
What begins with an immersive Creative Brief eventually culminates in a curated website, each intricately designed to showcase the distinctive charm and allure of its respective locale. Check out some of our most recent web launches below.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Elevated Style with a Local Voice
Cedar Rapids’ new site delivers an upgraded digital presence that matches the sophistication of its food and arts scene. With layered backgrounds, cleaner typography, and a more refined color scheme, the design brings elegance without losing personality. It’s a visual step forward that still feels rooted in the city’s creative community.
Launched March 2025
Key Features:
- Polished design reflects the city’s elevated food and culture scene
- Flexible tools support customization for evolving storytelling needs
- Layered textures and color blocking add visual richness
- Typography and color improvements maintain accessibility and style
Lake Havasu, Arizona
Built to Inspire and Explore
Visit Lake Havasu’s redesigned website fully embraces the destination’s adventurous personality. Oversized imagery, tall scroll sections, and gallery sliders draw users in visually, while gritty textures and bold fonts give the site an edge. Every tool was built with flexibility in mind, so content can evolve over time. And with events featured prominently throughout, the site never loses sight of what makes this city shine.
Launched February 2025
Key Features:
- Expansive visuals and tall banners create a bold, immersive entry point
- Distressed edges and custom line art bring character to the design
- Event-forward structure showcases the city’s calendar of happenings
- Creative modules support storytelling and real-time content updates
Galveston, Texas
A Seamless Digital Coastline
The new Visit Galveston website mirrors the rhythm of the Gulf with flowing transitions, coastal wave accents, and clean layouts that guide the journey naturally. From historic districts to seaside escapes, the content is thoughtfully organized with a design that’s light, airy, and full of movement. Each element works together to reflect Galveston’s layered identity as both a vibrant beach town and a cultural destination.
Launched February 2025
Key Features:
- Hero wave graphics and flowing transitions reflect the island’s coastal vibe
- A clean, open structure keeps users moving smoothly between sections
- Flexible layout options allow for creative storytelling and dynamic updates
- Custom iconography and line details reinforce the local theme throughout
Marshall, Michigan
Historic Character with a Creative Edge
The new Choose Marshall website captures the town’s storybook charm through textured details and bold simplicity. Brushstroke accents, layered backgrounds, and playful icons lend a handcrafted, historic vibe, while clean navigation and creative layout blocks keep things feeling fresh. The result is a beautifully balanced blend of past and present that invites exploration.
Launched December 2024
Key Features:
- Textured visuals and background patterns reflect Marshall’s historic character
- Eye-catching typographic layouts highlight important site sections
- Streamlined interface supports an intuitive user flow
- Clean, impactful design keeps content front and center
Frankenmuth, Michigan
A Bavarian Getaway With Every Click
The new Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau website is a delightful dive into Michigan’s Little Bavaria, filled with whimsy, charm, and a dash of Bavarian cheer. From animated gnomes to vibrant duotone banners, this digital experience embraces Frankenmuth’s unique spirit. With playful details and bold design, the site showcases everything from waterparks and world-famous chicken dinners to cozy shops and welcoming streets. It’s not just a website; it’s a virtual adventure into a storybook town that’s always ready to greet you with a warm “Willkommen!”
Launched October 2024
Key Features:
- Hero image takeovers offer various customization options, including pendant overlays, adjustable heights, and flexible headline placements with script font inserts
- Vertical banner libraries provide animated illustrated backgrounds, showcasing iconic Frankenmuth experiences
- Bavarian design accents throughout the site enhance the theme, with triangular shapes highlighting imagery and ornamental checkered details adding emphasis to headlines, pull quotes, and calls to action
Tri-Cities, Washington
Sunshine, Rivers, and Vibrant Adventures
A new brand refresh of Visit Tri-Cities website is as bright and lively as the destination itself! With bold colors, striking photography, and dynamic design, this refreshed digital presense feels like diving into the region’s sun-soaked landscapes and flowing rivers. Inspired by the local visitor guide, the updated website blends personality with adventure, capturing the warmth and excitement that define the Tri-Cities.
Launched October 2024
Key Features:
- Customizable interface with prominent text callouts and unique colors for the five main categories, ensuring a personalized user journey
- Water accents and footer waves add visual movement, reflecting the area's vibrant river activities
- Interactive mapping features offer custom neighborhood views, routing, and group maps, enhancing site navigation and user engagement
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Where Colorful Experiences Surprise You
The new Visit Grand Forks website extends the city’s fun, colorful brand with fresh, customizable design tools. Whether travelers are looking for deals while shopping or creating memorable family vacations, this website brings the artistic creativity and outdoor adventures of Grand Forks to life. It’s an engaging gateway to thrilling competitive sports, exciting live entertainment, and diverse local flavors.
Launched September 2024
Key Features:
- Customizable design tools enhance the brand’s lively personality, while image banner cutouts feature iconic visuals for a fun, approachable look
- The large fork mosaic mashup helps showcase the variety of experiences available for visitors while further branding the website
- Script fonts, lighter font weights, and mixed-case typography make the website friendlier and easier to read
- The redesigned color hierarchy incorporates more green tones, making calls to action and design accents more eye-catching and engaging
College Station, Texas
Proud, Bold, and Ready for Game Day
The new Visit College Station website is a true reflection of Aggie pride—an electrifying upgrade with progressive design elements and intuitive features that make the digital experience extraordinary. With high-end visuals, dynamic animations, and a sleek athletic aesthetic, the new website feels as exciting as a Saturday at Kyle Field.
Launched August 2024
Key Features:
- Sleek design elements like intuitive story carousels, cut-off imagery corners, and duotones create a more progressive user experience
- Small line art icons and animations mirror the brand’s logo, adding a touch of personality without overpowering the design
- Large outlined or translucent typography gradients serve as an opportunity to weave in the strong values of Texas A&M, brand messaging, or fun calls to action.
- Extensive customization tools for typography, color, and alignment foster a creative page-building process
Ruston, Louisiana
A Burst of Louisiana Charm
The new Experience Ruston website is a burst of bold color and personality, capturing the lively, artistic spirit of this Louisiana gem. It’s an inviting visual journey that celebrates Ruston’s charm through playful design details and captivating typography, creating a virtual playground for visitors eager to explore.
Launched August 2024
Key Features:
- Playful design elements like paint strokes under buttons, colorful drop shadows, and duotone imagery add a lively and interactive feel
- Seamless navigation and intuitive layout create a smooth user experience, transitioning fluidly between sections
- Authentic Ruston flavor shines through with artistic dog sculptures, distinctive Louisiana photo elements, and vibrant duotone banners that inspire curiosity and anticipation for a visit
Bourbon Country
Seamless Exploration for Bourbon Lovers
Bourbon Country’s website has undergone a technology upgrade rather than a full redesign, transitioning to Craft 4. The upgrade has improved functionality and enhanced the overall user experience, making it easier than ever for bourbon enthusiasts to explore the destination's rich offerings.
Launched August 2024
Key Features:
- Enhanced global site search with predictive results that display as users type, allowing sorting by type (partners, events, blogs, etc.)
- Advanced listing search offers instant loading of distilleries and things to do, with real-time updates based on category or region selections
- 'Sort by Nearest to Me' feature enables users to find events and listings based on their current or chosen location, making planning and exploring easier
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
From Street Art to Screen: Hattiesburg's Website Captures the City's Creative Soul
Hattiesburg's new website is a vibrant explosion of the city's creative spirit, featuring bright murals that burst off the screen. These colorful designs not only create a visually stunning experience but also capture the essence of Hattiesburg's lively culture. Textured backgrounds add depth and intrigue, while a clean layout ensures easy navigation for a truly immersive online journey.
Launched July 2024
Key Features:
- Custom icons and maps serve as visual anchors creating a genuine and recognizable connection with the city
- Rule line elements are strategically woven throughout the site, introducing playfulness and maintaining visual consistency
- Arrow elements guide users through the content with a sense of flow and direction
Stockton, California
A Community-Driven Site Showcasing the City's Edgy Vibe and Flavorful Spirit
Tempest absolutely loved teaming up once again with Visit Stockton to deliver an incredible digital experience, complete with a refreshed look and feel. Stockton's new website takes a bold new direction, embracing the city's vibrant food and nightlife scene while playfully acknowledging its reputation. The design features colorful accents and illustrative wallpapers that capture Stockton's creativity and diverse experiences.
Launched June 2024
Key Features:
- The versatility of a light/dark mode toggle, offers two distinct aesthetic experiences and transforms the website
- Brand ambassador pull quotes showcase some of the community’s notable locals
- The flexibility of the new design toolkit allow’s Stockton’s internal team to further customize and enhance the overall aesthetic of the new website
Ogden, Utah
Embrace the Spirit of Change With a Brand New Identity
We loved collaborating with our longtime friends and partners on their new digital experience and after nearly 20 years of the same logo, colors, and branding, the team at Visit Ogden was excited to finally unveil their fresh new look! The website accents the destination's new brand with subtle nods to the region's outdoor experiences and rich cultural heritage, including animated accent stickers that pay tribute to the local art scene.
Launched April 2024
Key Features:
- Bold woodcut fonts and slab serifs, pay tribute to Ogden's outdoor experiences and rich cultural heritage
- Gritty overlays can be added or removed depending, while color backgrounds can be customized based on a page's creative strategy
- Image heavy tools keep the website feeling cinematic, as content heavy tools cleaning display longer form editorials
Ocala/Marion County, Florida
Highlighting a Region's Natural Wonders with Digital Intrigue
Known as "Florida's Natural Treasure" and "The Horse Capital of the World," ecotourism is at the forefront of Ocala/Marion County's brand. But how do you translate a persona engrained in natural beauty into a digital landscape that fully showcases the region's natural wonders? Collaborating with the Ocala/Marion County team, Tempest focused on an immersive digital experience complete with stunning visuals and intuitive functionalities designed to enhance trip planning for every visitor.
Launched February 2024
Key Features:
- The design team highlighted the unparalleled beauty of Ocala/Marion County through a vibrant tapestry of high-resolution photos and videos
- The color palette bursts with energy, reflecting the destination's natural splendor
- Subtle animations bring key attractions to life, mirroring the fluidity of the waterways that define the area
- OcalaMarion.com marks Tempest's inaugural website launch using the latest CMS platform, Craft 4.0, offering enhanced features for seamless content management and dynamic website updates
- Ongoing Growth Marketing support from Tempest ensures new and existing website content remains updated, helpful and relevant to users throughout the year
As we reflect on our journey with these diverse destinations, we are reminded that our commitment extends far beyond web design. For us, it's about cultivating genuine partnerships, where we invest in the success of each client. Our collaborative mission involves in-depth discovery and a cross-discipline team approach, ensuring we deeply understand your destination's needs.
Beyond launch, our efforts continue with SEO-friendly platforms and ongoing digital marketing support. We don't just design websites; we unlock the full potential, value, and importance of your destination.
These digital platforms transcend traditional websites; they become dynamic resources and authoritative hubs, catering to both the local community and the eager travelers seeking an authentic experience. Positioned as the official go-to resource, DMO websites play a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth. Partners benefit from impactful marketing that translates into overall community development. It's a testament to the profound impact tourism can have on every facet of a city, and we take pride in crafting experiences that resonate and contribute meaningfully to the prosperity of your destination
At the end of the day, our vision is to bring yours to life.
Contact Tempest today to learn more how we can help elevate your brand and foster meaningful connections.
