OCTOBER 23, 2024 |
Photo – Sign on Bridge Avenue bridge – By Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
The Carbon County Visitors Council has more ideas on how it thinks tourism can be improved in Saratoga.
After receiving a grant from the Wyoming Office of Tourism, the Carbon County Visitor’s Council has begun several projects designed to attract tourists to our area.
As well as paying to move the Fossil Cabin, located east of Medicine Bow, to the town’s museum, the Carbon County Visitor’s Council has hired Saratoga business-owner Cindy Loose as a Destination Development Specialist. Loose is tasked with researching every municipality in Carbon County and formulating a plan to increase tourism to each town.
Loose has designed a visitor’s experience survey to allow Carbon County residents to suggest ways to increase out-of-state guests.
During the October 15th Saratoga town council meeting, Visitor’s Council member Ellie Dana said, “Unlike the recently completed Tourism Master Plan, the visitor’s experience survey has garnered a lot of feedback.” Dana said, “The more people who take the survey, the more accurate the results.”
Dana said she believes that most of the survey respondents are likely from Saratoga.
The visitor’s experience survey is set to end next Friday, November 1st.
In the beginning of October, the governing body inquired about the cost of installing an informational kiosk in town. Back at the October 15th meeting, Dana explained that the kiosk is free and will likely be placed in the foyer of the Platte Valley Community Center.
As of Tuesday morning, of this week, the entrance of the Platte Valley Community Center did not house the informational kiosk.
Once installed, Dana said Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Amanda Knotwell will program the LED display sign, located outside of the Saratoga town hall, to show the location of the kiosk.
Next, the governing body discussed the topic of signage.
Dana said the town is eligible for a $25,000 sign grant through the Carbon County Visitor’s Council. However, the Visitor’s Council must be given credit for the signs, said Dana.
Dana said the town council can apply for the sign grant now or wait until Cindy Loose publishes the results of the visitor’s experience survey.
The Visitor’s Council member suggested using the grant money to replace the misspelled sign where Bridge Avenue crosses the North Platte River. Mayor Chuck Davis said he was unaware of the mistake.
The word “pedestrians” on the sign mistakenly contains an R in place of the first E, spelling “predestrians.”
In addition to replacing the sign on Bridge Avenue, Dana said the council should consider installing additional wayfinding markers. Dana suggested additional signage be posted at the Hobo Hot Springs.
Finally, Dana asked the governing body to consider advertising Shively Field’s fuel services at the Medicine Bow Airport. The National Park Service lists the Medicine Bow Airport’s concrete airmail arrow on its Register of Historic Places. Because of its historic importance, the airfield is undergoing a bit of a resurgence in popularity. Dana said the landing strip lacks any amenities, except for a pay phone. With the council’s permission, pilots could be directed to Saratoga to refuel their aircraft and financially contribute to the town.
Mayor Davis asked about charging landing fees to the pilots. Dana, who is a pilot herself, said the type of aircraft that use the Medicine Bow Airport are not required to pay landing fees in Saratoga. However, the council can change that rule.
Mayor Davis said he supports promoting Shively Field but was unprepared to make a decision on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Saratoga town council will discuss the possibility of adding destination marker signs, similar to those used in Rawlins, around Saratoga.
