Document: 

Plan for Tourism Development WS and B CRG.PDF

This tourism development plan, written by Judith M. Brown for United Telephone Co. of the NW, is quite a good read of a vision that then seemed so clear. The report identifies many tourism-related issues that are still relevant and many others that seem totally unrealistic in 2010.

For instance, it reports a "unanimously accepted" plan to develop the Bingen-White Salmon area in a Rhineland village theme which in fact fell decidely out of favor. It also highlights several other initiatives which are still unrealized or never met their forecast potential. These include a Chamber of Commerce representing the four-county Mid-Columbia region, an arial tramway in Cascade Locks, high volume tourist transport via sternwheeler, train and bus along the Columbia River corridor, a Mt. Adams ski development at Flatop Mountain, even the possibility of a nuclear plant in the Trout Lake area. It also fails to recognize the sport recreation potential of the area that has become a major economic driver through then unknown windsurfing, kiteboarding, river rafting and mountain biking.

Still, the report highlights many persistent shortcomings affecting tourism potential and offers a number of possible solutions that still have relevancy and viability. It's a relatively quick read that may make you laugh or cry but in the end should make you realize the tourism issues we face today are not new. It may even make you wonder whatever drove this plan off-track.