International Falls Daily Journal - What would you like to see in our town? - Comments

six-shooter- your comment on

JRS 68 — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:28:21 -0500

six-shooter-
your comment on "in a small way this is money for our town"-
ask one of the bankers just how many times a tourist dollar is turned over before it leaves town? the last fig. I heard was around ten times. No its not a million dollar business, but anything is better than nothing. Of course foreget the "Iowa Farmer" who comes to the Falls with a clean pair of socks and a twenty dollar bill and never changes either.

Yes, all the "little" things

Buddy2 — Fri, 18 May 2007 11:23:58 -0500

Yes, all the "little" things for our town, do add up. They should be supported.

Just a added footnote this

six-shooter — Fri, 18 May 2007 10:28:22 -0500

Just a added footnote this event does draw competators fromout of town who do spend money in their concession stand who buy gas in town and also stop and eat in town before traveling home. In a small way this is money for our town. Also this is a once a month event throught the summer. Not a Bass,hockey or little league tournament but it does help our town.

I didn't know which blog to

six-shooter — Fri, 18 May 2007 10:16:00 -0500

I didn't know which blog to put this under but this has to do with our town. Tomorrow if you can't go fishing and wondering what to do there is a horseshow on the truck route. This is put on by the local saddle club that has lasted in this town for the past forty years or so. Your kids or grandkids just might like to watch it for awhile. These riders are anywhere from six years old to sixty something. Not everyone can be in a high school sport but have a talent in this sport that is very competitive. It would be nice to see the Journal there to take pictures to put in the paper that would be of interest to many people. Try it you just might enjoy watching but be prepared to hear-Can I get a horse?

How about a minature golf

kay — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 09:16:39 -0500

How about a minature golf course at the beach or somewhere near the uptown area or on the waterfront the city owns.

Industrial development no

Thomas L. Johnson — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 22:08:38 -0500

Industrial development no longer happens the way it did 80 years ago for places like International Falls. When a German or Japanese firm decides to put a plant in the USA, they invariably place it in the non-union south. In Northern Minnesota, those towns that have added industrial output in the last 30 years have done it through home-grown industries, Arctic Cat in TRF, Polaris in Roseau, and Marvin in Warroad. Those towns, on the other hand, that have used the last 30 years to diversify into tourism, [Ely, Brainerd, Bemidji, and Grand Rapids] have recognized that long-term health is not a quick fix that comes from some white knight.
If International could learn the art of patience, it might see its future in something like ecotourism or nature-based tourism. With an underdeveloped and underutilized national park, hundreds of thousands of acres of boreal forest, and the naturalistic tradition of Oberholtzer, Lee Grim and others, it has a uniqueness of its own. According to the U of Minnesota Tourism Center, nature-based tourism needs three things: guides, environmental interpreters, and visitor facilities like wanderpaths and huts. At best, what I am describing is a slow fix but that is what remains; the quick fixes are all moving to China so they can source to Wal-Mart and Target.
I do not understand the disdain that so many have towards tourism. Global developments could kill the pulp and paper industry tomorrow; global developments have virtually no impact on places that diversify into tourism and develop a unique attraction.
So I vote for slow fixes. Cause that's all we've got.

Water playground. Down

kay — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:54:15 -0500

Water playground. Down south they have playgrounds where water sprays up from the ground and the smaller children can run and play in it. That might work at city beach.

Economic Development. That

proudcitizen — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:47:31 -0500

Economic Development. That is what we need to see in IFalls. More economic growth will bring all the other attributes to the community. Tourism is great, but seasonal. The city and county need spend time and energy on building the area for a stable economy. That will bring the Targets and Fine dining. More industry so that we are not dependent on a small number of employers.

Bring the bus back to city

kay — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 10:35:03 -0500

Bring the bus back to city beach. Lets start taking the kids out to the beach like we used to. Many of these kids never get to go. Mom and dad work and they don't have the time to take the kids or they don't own a car. Believe it or not we have families in this town that do not have vehicles. It was good for the kids. I remember my children loving the times they rode the bus out for an afternoon. It can't cost that much and it may mean alot to the children. Camping sites are really needed. Many more people have vacations in an RV. I don't know that it has to be at the beach but how about putting some money into Clarks park if the city still owns it. Using what we have may be a way to start.

Just a thought, but if we do

norpole — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 10:28:30 -0500

Just a thought, but if we do get added tourism with activities at City Beach, the Park, or wherever it is, I am thinking we will need additional security forces, whether it is a private firm for each area or more sheriff or police. Those are jobs that are important too, to keep a positive visibility to our area and not one where you can do whatever you want. Also, on a smaller scale than the wonderful responses so far, I would like to see more shopping to attract both American and Canadian buyers and a super Wal-mart or a big Target would be nice. I would like to see an upscale restaurant like a Outback, TimberLodge steak house or Red Lobster, or maybe even a Long John Silvers. Maybe an enterprising person could tap into a regional or local theme restaurant. ( I like the idea about the chocolate shop, "Rainy River Chocolatiers" perhaps). When I crossed the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, the fare was only $1.50 not $6.00 like it is here, and they gave you coupons to encourage you to stay. Have Boise drop the fee on the bridge and allow private business in town in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce, and whoever else, pass out coupons or something to entice them to come back and do more than get gas and buy a souvenir. Meet the need of the people and they will come back for more. Start in the Twin Cities area and have billboards, bright and encouraging, list our wonderful benefits we have. Promise them the vacation of a lifetime that could be their home one day. Flood magazines with pictures of Rainy Lake, the Park, and our historic Rainy River. Dedicate a section of the River to history and tell the story of how Benjamin Franklin chose this river to separate the U. S. from Canada. Tell over and over the story of the Voyageurs and their ninety pound packs of tightly wrapped beaver skins. Offer people real authentic voyageur wear like toques, Hudson Bay blankets, birch bark crafts, moccasins, etc., the area is teeming with promise and possibility. Let's keep thinking about improving our future and thanks so far for all the great ideas and discourse.

I think NorthernGirl and

klloyd — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 23:41:48 -0500

I think NorthernGirl and Jmac on the right track: The Falls must build on its strengths--its natural beauty. This area has incredible potential. And I do not advocate a garish Wisconsin Dells type operation, rather a convention center, build up the area to facilitate large group meetings for business's and organizations to have a scenic meeting place with plenty of recreational opportunities. Large cooperations pay huge bucks for new places for meetings and to send its people for perks. Golf is a huge draw in the vacation world. Local golfing plus other local attractions will draw vacationers if promoted properly.
And a retirement community is also a great idea...it can be built completely indoors with all the amenities to keep folks comfortable with many kinds of activities--and offer trips out of town for shopping, and yes, casino's and other types of entertainment and tours. Again, lets build on our strengths.

And why couldn't the city build and lease/rent cabins at City Beach and other locations? City Beach may be a bit out of date now, but has great potential. Add a skate-board park to the beach area and kids will flock there, plus a refreshment stand or similar. If cabins are available, a convenience store will also be needed either at the site or in nearby Rainier. Spicer (MN) has county parks on Green Lake which are almost always full, and I believe the stores are owned by the county as well. Parks for mobile and tent campers run by cities and/or counties is a huge source of revenue and a big draw. Spicer attracts people as far away as Mankato, St Cloud, and the Twin Cities area. International Falls and Ranier are scenic and pristine. Add the VNP and Borderland could be a hot year round attraction. But: Hwy 53 as entrance to scenic Borderland needs attention. Some places look like a third-world country and require extreme beautification-now!

One nation under God

Lets see now, the Falls

jmac — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:49:59 -0500

Lets see now, the Falls needs 1) Casino - except that they attract undesirables. 2) Water park - if the market studies demonstrated a chance of making a return on investment (ROI), one would be under construction right now. 3) Community center - we tried about 10 years ago, couldn't put together the financial package, even the public sector needs ROI. 4) Bike trails - great idea but taxpayer needs to fund, county takes great pride in paying for as little as possible, who pays? 5) City Beach - already a drain on the taxpayers of IF, what is the ROI? 6) Campground on the lake - another great idea but who can afford the property (I understand the city has some land on the river that might be available, but someone would have to check - there is always City Beach, rentals could pay for some of the cost.) We want people to come, but we don't want to be like Wisconsin Dells (no problem inasmuch as we are not located near the population centers or transportation routes.) The "big ideas" will come out of the woodwork as soon as some one figures out a way to get that horible ROI. Unfortunately, IF is close to the end of the world. But, I always gripe about not providing some positive suggestions so here's my 2 cents. 1) VNP has to become more user friendly, it is the major tourist draw we have, work with it. a.)Get rid of rangers carring handguns (and the attitude that goes with), no one is going to take out a stand of white pine w/with their jet ski. b) Make it more accessable - It is not and was never meant to be a wilderness park. c) Work w/ the locals to identify the importance of the park, respect and welcome the non-motorized users along with the boaters. 2) Make a real effort to buy local, not just ice cream but what ever you can. If you have to go out of town to buy something, ok but don't make a big shopping trip to Sam's just to save $10.00. I hope your time on the lake is more important than that. 3) Volunteer - work with the Chamber on the "Blast" even if you don't like it. The 4th of July committee, Rotary, Lions, church groups, all can use help. Make the town the most friendly and inviting community that you can.

This area needs places for

NorthernGirl — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 19:04:22 -0500

This area needs places for families to go camping, biking, like VikesFan says. What is there to do here if you don't have a boat or rent a houseboat? The park is mostly for houseboats (I just love all the "Houseboat's Only"-but that is another subject all together). I think we should turn this town into a huge retirement community, really cater to the older population. Not all retired people like to spend their winters in the south. Have walking parks, bus trips to the casinos, beautiful community gardens, community centers, a place on the lake to park RV's.

Would the City of

city beach revamp — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:56:36 -0500

Would the City of International like to see a Ferris wheel at the city beach. The city beach committee came up with all these bogus ideas that were related to the 1950's era. Bus the children and all that old fashioned baloney. Kids do not ride the bus; they play video games, skateboard, and roller blade and drive their own cars. The committee was hand picked by the Mayor and City Administrator and were told what to do and were facilitated by their hand picked city council person. This reminds me of Nazi Germany. What is next? Sell out to a Rocky and Bullwinkle developer.

ps - what is wrong with birch trees, sand, and water??????????

Did any of you catch the

IFallsSOS — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:34:24 -0500

Did any of you catch the news last week about the new development plans for the Giants Ridge/Biwabik area? They still require the states approval but they have a 10 year plan that seems well thought out.

I think the smartest move they made was hiring a consultant with the experience and proven record of developing areas like theirs. There's no reason we can't do the same thing for our area.

A friend and I were talking about golf the other day and he asked a good question. "Why are there no fishing and golf packages available here like there are in other areas?" There are three nice golf courses within a 30 minute drive of most resorts.

http://www.businessnorth.com/briefing.asp?RID=1873

http://www.virginiamn.com/mdn/?sect_rank=1&section_id=70&story_id=208754

What would you like to see in our town?

norpole — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:47:29 -0500

When you look around Int'l Falls, you see a few new things every once in a while.