Very Interesting Alexandria Louisiana postcard blog.

This new blog I just discovered,  deals with postcards from Alexandria, Louisiana and Central, La. Check it out. By the director of the Louisiana History Museum.

http://www.alexandrialouisianapostcards.blogspot.com

Lot’s of great pictures.

Alex

Alexandria-Pineville. Missing the train so to speak.

We have here in the Alexandria-Pineville area some of the most fantastic tourism opportunity attractions that are completely ignored .

It is beyond me why Provo, Utah has a large historic site and has a steady stream of tourist for the site of the golden spike connecting both sides of the United States by railroad…. Millions of dollars in tourism income.

In 1835 here in Alexandria, a man by the name of Ralph Smith Smith bought the right of way to fifteen miles of land between Alexandria and Lecompte. (Then known as Smith’s landing.)

Did you know that this railroad, known as the Red River Railroad was the FIRST railroad west of the Mississippi? It also was the second commercial railroad in the United States.

If Provo, Utah can capitalize on the connection of the railroad from one coast to another, why can’t Alexandria make use of the distinction of having the first railroad west of the Mississippi and the  second railroad in the U.S?

What is wrong with this ignored fact?

I have talked about it before, but it continues to fall on deaf ear’s..

And there are many more things that are being ignored that would bring in tourist revenue..Our tourism promotion is one of the worst in the state.

They can not seem to look past the same old tired outdated, half-hearted promotions. (Using a cartoon type character for local promotions.)

Alex

What about the Rapides Parish Coliseum?

We have a white elephant here in Central Louisiana. The Rapides Parish Coliseum. What can we do with it? Tear it down? Fix it up? Give it to the City?

Lets be blunt. The influx of Casino’s around the state have drawn the attractions to them. Mix gambling with pleasure. All the big names go to the casino’s.

The days of big name attractions coming to the Coliseum are gone. Sports shows and home shows are not drawing the crowds they use to.

There are perhaps four  or five  succesful events that come each year. Wrestling, Rap, Mud trucks, Circus, Rodeo, etc.

Also gun shows and cheap closeout vendors. Even the big Catholic meeting (Steubenville) has moved downtown.

Is there a future for the complex? Perhaps extra revenue could be generated by selling the name rights to some large corporation such as, hell…., I have no idea.. who would invest in such a  little venue. Maybe Mercedes,Ford, International House of Pancakes? (Not likely.)

To turn it over to the city would just transfer more expense on the yearly budget. Places like that now-a-day operate at a continual deficit.

If the city’s promotion of downtown has any reflection on their performance record… Just think what they could do with the  Coliseum. (Zero.)

Is it worth the money to revamp the venue? From a business stand point,I do not think so…Is there a way out of this money pit?   What do you think?  Or  care…… for that matter??

Alex