For fans of the television show "Duck Dynasty," West Monroe, Louisiana is the place to go for a vacation this year, according to NBC News.
The show, which airs on A&E, is a scripted reality show that centers on Willie Robertson and his family, who are portrayed as rednecks, and the multimillion-dollar business run by the family. The business, Duck Commander, is a duck call business, and the show that features them is one of the most-watched reality series on television.
The season four premiere, which aired in august drew more than 11.8 million viewers. Fans have become inspired by the show as well, with many of them heading to West Monroe, the town where the Robertson family resides.
"We laugh and smile and shake our heads because the show has really put us on the map," Courtney Hornsby, the president of the West Monroe-West Ouachita chamber of Commerce, told NBC News. "We're just trying to embrace it and see how we can use it to help grow the community."
There is no official number to say exactly how many fans have been inspired to visit the Louisiana town, but it is "inundated" with tourists on weekends, and in a town with a population of only 13,000, this is very noticeable.
Many local businesses are trying to take advantage of their newfound popularity, and are offering things tied into the show to draw in business.
"It's really exciting to see our area revitalized with increased tourism from the show," Rebekah Landry, the art and social media director for Landry Vineyards, said. She estimates that half of their visitors stop by because of the show, asking about Willie. "It can be an irritant, but people are coming in the door and buying our wines, so you can't complain."
Some visitors even get to meet members of the Robertson family when they stop by the Duck Commander warehouse. Overall, West Monroe is enjoying the new attention.
Video behind the scenes of "Duck Dynasty."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
