Tourism strategy for Dodge

[Detector]

OK, Lets see some good HONEST ideas for a good tourism strategy that could turn this town around. Now I know many of you may believe tourism is not an option any longer, and you may be right, but for now lets put together some ideas that could help this new group looking to revive Dodge's tourism.

I believe we need to revive our image. Dodge has dropped off the map of old frontier towns due to a lot of bad reviews. Downtown needs a whole new makeover. The south of the boarder look has got to go. I'm glad to see Boot Hill getting some help but only time will tell if the money is put to good use.

I know in some old threads we talked about things like trail rides, mock raids and a few Indian raids on Boot Hill or down town dodge, which I like, but we should try and capitalize on some of the big names in our past. Custer, Earp, Masterson's, Bassett, McLain, Short, Tilghman, Doc Holliday, Kate Elder, Robert Wright, Charles Rath, Ham Bell.

[Made in the USA]

These would all be great Detector. The problem is going to be the money to get them going, and to keep them going. Boothill can't even seem to function now without help. It is embarassing when visitors ask me about tourist areas, tours, etc, for Old Dodge City the Great Western Town! We definitely need to correct the situation and cash in on our Heritage!

[hoarsewhisperer]

repeating

WE need a casino!

KOA Campground w/horseback riding, chuckwagon dinners, real cowboys-
a good fishing hole-
a water park delux-

Anything to get families to stop in and stay for a few days!

[TexKan]

Put the stage coach back on the street and thru the park. Boot hill is hidden behind that damn fence. Highlight the Zoo - it's not gonna turn the place around but it's a place to start. They could have a hold up once a day on one of the rides in the park. Basically untill Dodge learns how to pick up thier trash on the streets it won't matter. Dodge needs some major elbow grease and less taco grease. I'm sorry if that's racist but Dodge is not much more than what a border town looks like. Pity - but it's dirty and unkept. Dodge has some nice places but those are private entities. The town as a whole looks unkept.

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by hoarsewhisperer

repeating

WE need a casino!

These "bible thumpers" are never going to allow a casino! Instead, all the people will keep going out of state and spending their money, as they do now! Did you see that the Seminole Indian tribe, just bought all the Hard Rock Cafe locations, lock, stock and barrel? Their is alot of "moolah" in casinos! But why should we have one? Just keep putting all the outrageous costs upon the backs of the middle class taxpayers!!!

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by TexKan

Put the stage coach back on the street and thru the park. Boot hill is hidden behind that damn fence. Highlight the Zoo - it's not gonna turn the place around but it's a place to start. They could have a hold up once a day on one of the rides in the park. Basically untill Dodge learns how to pick up thier trash on the streets it won't matter. Dodge needs some major elbow grease and less taco grease. I'm sorry if that's racist but Dodge is not much more than what a border town looks like. Pity - but it's dirty and unkept. Dodge has some nice places but those are private entities. The town as a whole looks unkept.

Elbow grease? And where would you propose this "elbow grease" come from? Do you want to volunteer your time? Tourism is DC has been declining for awhile. I imagine it is directly propotionate to the rise in the hispanic and illegal population. FIRST and foremost before someone would come here I think the place would have to be deemed SAFE. Once word gets out that it's not so safe here (and I'm sure it has) that will discourage some people from coming. This town is now what...65%-70% hispanic? That is not going to change unless it rises..UNLESS they shut down the packing plants which will probably not happen. If Dodge wants to make money maybe they should cater more to the population. Maybe MORE taco stands would be in order. LOL Maybe ANOTHER Hispanic club. IF I were a business owner (i'm not) I would cater to the POPULATION. If 70% of the population listens to Accordian music and eats taco's then guess what...I'm playing accordian music and serving taco's at my place because I want to stay in business. Think about this. A tourist comes to town to visit Dodge and take in some history for 2 or 3 days. We don't really have any NICE hotels here nor do we have any good places to eat that are indicitive of the Old West, good steaks etc. Marchel Ranch Sucks and cowtown is average at best. Someone can eat at an Applebees anywhere. Once you visit boot hill, then what? What attractions do they have here? The Legends is an OK even but that is only for part of the year.....

[TexKan]

Elbow grease IS needed - and Yes as a matter of fact I DID volunteer when I lived there. I worked every rodeo (from the bull pen to the beer garden), every chamber event, I spent many many hours in the park taking your tickets during the BBQ cookoffs( sometimes never getting any BBQ), I cut the calf fries and battered them, and yep I even ate em raw......... bunch of puney boys I was workin with..... LOL........... I did lots of things in Dodge when I lived there. During DC days I was dead tired - I was responsible for the christian concert you still enjoy probably to this comming DC days. I was a part of the town and didn't feel that the town owed me entertainment. I felt better about living there and did lots of recruiting for the chamber. Infact I almost got ambassador of the year by recruiting the hispanic businesses into the chamber. I kept asking why the hispanics didn't have thier own chamber so they could have a business voice in Dodge. I see now that they did and do. I cherish the times I spent trying to make Dodge a town to be proud of - I had the time of my life when I was there - and it's cause I did things on the job and off to make me feel I was very much a part of the town I derived my living from. It's not all about taking - you gotta give some - sometimes ya gotta give alot.

You have to be part of the solution or you are part of the problem. If I lived there and the effort needed to be clean up - I would volunteer. We have clean up days of the beach - of the city - of the neighborhood. I help with them - it's what I do. I don't live in Dodge and the trash I deal with down here kinda keeps me busy but when you volunteer AOO - find someone to volunteer with you - that's how it works................ geeeesh......... so when I'm up there next time - if ya need some help - I will help till then if you are really not into investing into the town in which you live - come down here and help us pick up after the spring breakers......... Elbow Grease is needed where ever you go - there are 2 cultures in Dodge - you shouldn't forget either one of them.

[Army_of_One]

Sometimes though you are fighting a losing battle....you can volunteer all you want but it has to be more than people volunteering to make a community better. For starters the police need to go after, catch, prosecute and convict the gangs....

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by hoarsewhisperer

repeating

WE need a casino!

KOA Campground w/horseback riding, chuckwagon dinners, real cowboys-
a good fishing hole-
a water park delux-

Anything to get families to stop in and stay for a few days!

I agree with everything except the water park. Too much water usage in a time when water is scarce. It doesn't even look like the ethanol plant will pass because of the water situation.

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

...If 70% of the population listens to Accordian music and eats taco's then guess what...

I doubt that Army. Many of the Hispanic population are American citizens by several generations. Anyone have an idea what the ratio of Hispanic citizens to illegals is? I don’t.

Originally Posted by TexKan

....I cut the calf fries and battered them, and yep I even ate em raw.........

My kind of gal!

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

....For starters the police need to go after, catch, prosecute and convict the gangs....

One out of three. Once the cops round them up it’s up to the courts. Next time you get a chance ask a cop how he feels about catch and release. It ain’t all their fault.