Improving Tourism in Nebraska

[JesusisLord]

Originally Posted by Steve_W

Um Yeah............. That's kinda why this thread is geared more towards building an attraction. We know there isn't anything significant here drawing tourism.

I apologize for not making myself clear. My post is for why Nebraska will never have a tourism based industry in the state. Attractions and tourism come with big cities to sum it up. You can't tell me Omaha or Lincoln will ever be able to slightly hang with a Chicago, St. Louis, or Cleveland in regards to tourism, they simply aren't big enough cities, and with big cities come big attractions. Also, Omaha and Lincoln are not household names when people decide vacations, which is a setback to tourism profit. You can't just decide to built more buildings or more tourist attractions, that costs a heck of alot of money. Back in the day downtowns had flourished, today everyone is trying to grasp federal money because of an inadequate amount of state money. Trust me, getting a slice of federal money, is like finding Nemo. Bon Voyage!

[tpabes]

Originally Posted by aerahrtlu

I also like Steve's idea for an indoor thing. But, I would personally build it alittle farther west to draw people out that way, instead of in the Lincoln and Omaha region. Not like far west, but maybe halfway inbetween Lincoln and GI or something.
We need to draw more people towards the smaller populated areas of the state, instead of towards the bigger cities. That way people can see that Nebraska has more to offer than what's in Omaha or Lincoln.
I also think that it would help Nebraska if we built better and easier accessable roadways in western, northern and central NE.

I think building west would be great, however if something like that were to built I think it has to be near Lincoln and Omaha. One because it would be more accessible with the airports and two because the cities would give it a good chance of having local support. Roadways would help outer Nebraska, that is why the expressway system was planned. However the funding for roads is in big trouble, so projects like the bypass around Kimball and the rest of the Heartland expressway are in big trouble. However contricting myself, if they built something west of Lincoln but east of GI, York is the obvious spot. The junction of I-80 and US 81 and for a town it size it has a great start on hotels and restaurants to serve tourism.

[tpabes]

Going on the indoor thing, what if Cabela's built some type of big indoor hunting simulation type thing. Hunting and fishing are big parts of Nebraska, of course part of hunting is the outdoors, but maybe this is something you take your kids too. Say a good practice and a way to learn gun safety. Put it near one of its existing stores is Nebraska. Option one, near Mahoney Park, close enough to the LaVista store and also in between Lincoln and Omaha. Option two, at the new exit in Kearney when it is built, right by the arch and a couple miles south of their Kearney store. Option three, Sidney another addition to the headquaters and could be part of a good panhandle trip. Cabelas, Chimney Rock, Scottsbluff monument and Carhenge in Alliance. Speaking of Chimney Rock, I think that puts Nebraska tourism in a nutshell. Here is a landmark that is on our license plates, state quarter, etc.. When I was last out there a couple of years ago I was disappointed. They have a nice visitors center but that was it. I understand that they want to protect the monument, but how about some trails leading at least close to it. I think I remember a company doing some type of covered wagon rides but it wasn't closely related to the monument as far as something you had to do while you where there. If I remember right the land is still owned privately so that might be part of it. I mean a lot of people visit Devils Tower or the Badlands, no reason Chimney Rock and Scottsbluff Monument can't be on that level. I know those are closer in proximity to the Black Hills, but Scottsbluff is at least a good stop on the way. I may be barking up the wrong tree, but thats just my observation.

[Steve_W]

Originally Posted by JesusisLord

I apologize for not making myself clear. My post is for why Nebraska will never have a tourism based industry in the state. Attractions and tourism come with big cities to sum it up. You can't tell me Omaha or Lincoln will ever be able to slightly hang with a Chicago, St. Louis, or Cleveland in regards to tourism, they simply aren't big enough cities, and with big cities come big attractions. Also, Omaha and Lincoln are not household names when people decide vacations, which is a setback to tourism profit. You can't just decide to built more buildings or more tourist attractions, that costs a heck of alot of money. Back in the day downtowns had flourished, today everyone is trying to grasp federal money because of an inadequate amount of state money. Trust me, getting a slice of federal money, is like finding Nemo. Bon Voyage!

Oh yeah, I know what you are saying. Nebraska in general will most likely never be a tourist mecca. The only thing that we should be pushing for is ideas on how to draw outside capital into our state. Nebraskans always spent outside the state and we need a way to recoup some of that money.

I like the idea of the indoor hunting via Cabela’s. It would identify with the state of Nebraska real well. Only concern there is people have no problem hunting outdoors as it is you know?