Our History

The Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau is one of three agencies created by the passage of Act 1937 by the Indiana General Assembly in 1983. The other two organizations are the Lake County Economic Development Authority and the Lake County Medical Center Development Agency. 

The Lake County CVB hit the ground running, producing the first visitor brochure in 1985 and bringing home the Indiana Men’s State Bowling Tournament in 1986. Beginning in 1991, and continuing for the next nine years, the Lake County CVB secured the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament. This annual tournament brought in 250 teams to compete on 93rd Street in Crown Point, and raised more than $300,000 for local charities.

In 1993, the Lake County CVB saw a huge opportunity for the region’s economy and tourism potential through gaming legislation. Actively supporting and educating the public, the Lake County CVB assisted with the passage of the legislation, which resulted in the county being awarded four gaming licenses.

Our organization has since changed our business name to the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, serving partners in Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton and Jasper counties as well as Cook County, Illinois. The decision to market the entire region is based on the philosophy that visitors do not see county lines, and neither does the South Shore CVA.

Throughout our existence, the organization has had many successes to celebrate. From taking over management of the South Shore Air Show and presenting the yearly “A Christmas Story” Comes Home exhibit, to being named Top 10 Best Places to Work by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce two years in a row, the South Shore CVA has accomplished many things since our creation. For more information on the history of the South Shore CVA, check out our 30th anniversary timeline here.