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Post by Venter on Jul 7, 2013 9:52:02 GMT -5
I know, today's not even over yet, but I have questions! It should be interesting to find out how everything turns out... - What will be the Final Tally of the Number of Tourists?
- Did anyone make money (besides the guy selling "Gettysburg Dirt")?
- Were there too many events, too spread out?
- Was it too "Commercialized"?
- Will this "Tick in Tourism" continue for a while, or go back to normal real soon? In other words, will Gettysburg see a resurgence for a few years as a result of this "New-Found Attention"?
- Was this "Riding a Wave", or "Surviving a Tsunami"?
Maybe I'm cynical, but whose numbers should we believe? The NPS? The GCVB? The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee (GAC)? Mine? 
While reading the Gettysburg Times "100 - 75 - 50 - 25 Years Ago" Articles, I noticed a few things of interest. It really seems like the "Government" was more involved than it used to be. How is it that 250,000 people showed up for the "Dedication of the Peace Light" at the 75th, yet we had about 35,000 participate in the "Pickett's Stroll"? And THAT was done before Social Media!
I suppose the fact that President Roosevelt dedicated the Light had something to do with it, and the fact that there were still some Veterans of the Civil War in attendance (whom the Gov't paid to bring here). Of course, OUR Current President was in HIS Homeland during OUR Fourth of July/150th Commemoration, or else maybe his attendance at this important milestone would have bumped the numbers a bit, or at least give it a more "National Significance"?  When a couple from Virginia (pretty close) just "happens to be driving through Gettysburg on their way to NY"... Maybe the word didn't get out!? Maybe it wouldn't have really mattered in the long run? I'm sure the powers-that-be will be slapping their collective backs, crowing about how successful all of the events went, and how smoothly all of their plans went. And I'm sure some of those accolades will be well-deserved. But, I'm a "Big Picture" kind of guy, so I'd rather not dwell on minor successes and failures (okay, maybe I'll dwell on the failures  a little bit). Instead, I need to see the overall effects of the last few weeks. I think this will be interesting to see, if we can pick the " Wheat-fields from the Chaff-fields". |
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Post by americaneagle on Jul 7, 2013 13:49:52 GMT -5
15,000 participated in Pickett's stroll. Spectators numbered 20-30 thousand. I'd believe from what I saw that the numbers in the stroll were correct. I couldn't even guess at the spectators. The mass was just too expansive and stacked up from the Bryan House to well beyond the High Water Mark, plus another wall of spectators lining Confederate Avenue. paleoplastic.4t.com/pc8.JPGpaleoplastic.4t.com/pc2.JPG |
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Post by lifesaver on Jul 7, 2013 17:21:48 GMT -5
Most of the out of town people that I spoke to had the fortune (or misfortune depending how you look at it) of adding an unplanned addition to their itinerary via the hospital. All spoke very favorably of the area and we had some nice chats on what they liked about Gettysburg and how fortunate I was to live here. One was here on their 9th visit to Gettysburg. Not here for the reenactments this time, just wanted to experience some of the other events. I think it remains to be seen if tourism will get a boost because of the 150th and for how long. I still think there needs to be some more diversity and different things to do to keep most families coming back more than once. Which brings me to Bike Week! One of my favorite times of the year!
Several times I went past the HACC parking area and the lot was full every time I went past. Had the crowds been so big as to be unmanageable I think it would have left a bad taste in visitor's mouths and they wouldn't want to come back again.
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Post by Venter on Jul 7, 2013 18:47:48 GMT -5
Armchair Quartermasters wanted  Maybe traffic was NOT an indicator of the success of the events? Can we assume that the Off-Site / Satellite Parking actually prevented substantial gridlock? I was able to go to Kennie's in Town today (Sunday, last day of events) at about 3:00. From my home on Herrs Ridge Road (one of the arteries to the Battle Reenactment from Route 30), I headed South to Mummasburg Road. Left onto Mummasburg, past the Peace Light, and hardly passed a soul. Even the visits to the Light was light for a Sunday afternoon, let alone a 150th Sunday. Cut around the College, onto Washington Street, and down to Chambersburg Street. Traffic was so insignificant that we were able to make a Right-On-Red at that intersection  Parked near the front of Kennie's lot. The store was relatively empty, no hustle & bustle. I figured that the Locals must have stayed home in droves. One of the girls at Kennie's told us that it's been slow. (I don't know if she just meant today.) Return route we took 30 West toward Herr Tavern (NICE Sign), and made the right onto Herrs Ridge, and to home without passing more than 2 dozen cars, if that. |
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Post by Venter on Jul 7, 2013 18:54:52 GMT -5
By the Way, I feel sorry for the participants of today's Final Battles. I was listening to what I believe was the Cannonade of Pickett's Charge, when all of a sudden I noticed the sounds getting closer to my home. I didn't believe that they were actually moving the Reenactment, but it was DEFINITELY getting louder, and I could FEEL it... I guess God got tired of hearing the Cannons, and shot back with His OWN. Very Impressive! |
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Post by Venter on Jul 8, 2013 8:29:14 GMT -5
All's quiet on the Homefront... ... but what's that rumble I hear in the distance?   |
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Post by lifesaver on Jul 8, 2013 8:57:09 GMT -5
All's quiet on the Homefront... ... but what's that rumble I hear in the distance? Loud pipes save lives.  Cannot wait! |
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Post by orrtannaexpat on Jul 9, 2013 7:08:04 GMT -5
Most of the out of town people that I spoke to had the fortune (or misfortune depending how you look at it) of adding an unplanned addition to their itinerary via the hospital. All spoke very favorably of the area and we had some nice chats on what they liked about Gettysburg and how fortunate I was to live here. One was here on their 9th visit to Gettysburg. Not here for the reenactments this time, just wanted to experience some of the other events. I think it remains to be seen if tourism will get a boost because of the 150th and for how long. I still think there needs to be some more diversity and different things to do to keep most families coming back more than once. Which brings me to Bike Week! One of my favorite times of the year! Several times I went past the HACC parking area and the lot was full every time I went past. Had the crowds been so big as to be unmanageable I think it would have left a bad taste in visitor's mouths and they wouldn't want to come back again. As rec'd from my sister who lives in WI and visited town starting on the 27th of June: We had a wonderful week. Everything we intended happened and more. Aunt Ruthe (our aunt is 85) was delighted to be able to participate in activities because we facilitated parking, etc. Went to the big re-enactment. Quite amazing. Military park was very well organized, G-burg looked good to us, people were having fun everywhere. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Aunt Ruthe remembers very well the 75th celebration including sitting on the roof of her parent's garage, watching FDR make his way to the dedication of the Peace Light. Her brother (my father) was a Boy Scout who helped the returning vets during their encampment on the fields below Oak Ridge. I was back in town from the 21st until the 26th, attending the annual Civil War conference at the college. I chose to depart before things got crazy. |
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Post by Venter on Jul 10, 2013 17:14:08 GMT -5
Well?
I know I certainly can't retire on the increased business from the 150th.
I got a few jobs that I'm sure were 150th related, but mainly freshening up existing business signs and that kind of thing.
No spectacular banners, or window signs to advertise anything special.
Maybe the businesses are ready to spread their profits after the Bike Week splurge.
I'd LOVE to know the difference in activity and sales downtown and around, compared to the past few weeks.
Will Bike Week make a larger contribution to the Local Economy?
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Post by redlock on Jul 10, 2013 21:55:48 GMT -5
I can now retire to Tahiti......
...after I win the lottery.
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Post by Venter on Jul 11, 2013 9:17:32 GMT -5
I can get about as far as East Berlin, maybe York, and I may visit Dundalk and Bolivia* while I'm at it. * Of course it's East Berlin, Adams Co., and York, PA, and Dundalk, MD & Bolivia, MD, somewhere near Harpers Ferry. You didn't think I meant Germany, England, Ireland, and Peru, did you? |
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Post by Venter on Jul 16, 2013 8:57:21 GMT -5
Okay, so how do you count 235,000 tourists over 10 days??? Hell, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and round it up to 250,000! (It makes the math easier) Are you sure you weren't counting the SAME 25,000 people 10 times?? I can see it now, "Nope, I already counted the little fat kid with the Kepi! Take him off your list." According to the Times today, Gettysburg had 235,000 visitors between June 28 - July 7 (I guess the Bikers don't count, even though it's still 150). If you'll recall, there were about 200,000+ at the Dedication of the Peace Light 75 years ago!  The NPS's Katie Lawhon has a great eye, and she estimates 15,000 marched the Pickett's Charge, and 35,000 to 40,000 watched the event! I'd like to see the aerial shots so I can count them myself Not that I doubt Katie, but she is kinda vertically challenged |
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Post by Venter on Jul 16, 2013 9:05:24 GMT -5
On a somewhat related note...
In today's Times, "Out of the Past" section:
"The Fiftieth Anniversary of Gettysburg Battle Commission is again occupying its quarters at the State Capitol.
The bills are being paid as fast as presented, and there yet remain but a few transportation bills and hotel bills to be paid, but they will be honored as soon as presented."
Must be nice!
Instead, today's article would read more like:
"... Commission is again panhandling for quarters at the State Capitol."
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Post by lifesaver on Jul 17, 2013 13:30:44 GMT -5
Okay, so how do you count 235,000 tourists over 10 days??? Hell, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and round it up to 250,000! (It makes the math easier) Are you sure you weren't counting the SAME 25,000 people 10 times?? I can see it now, "Nope, I already counted the little fat kid with the Kepi! Take him off your list." According to the Times today, Gettysburg had 235,000 visitors between June 28 - July 7 (I guess the Bikers don't count, even though it's still 150). If you'll recall, there were about 200,000+ at the Dedication of the Peace Light 75 years ago! The NPS's Katie Lawhon has a great eye, and she estimates 15,000 marched the Pickett's Charge, and 35,000 to 40,000 watched the event! I'd like to see the aerial shots so I can count them myself Not that I doubt Katie, but she is kinda vertically challenged It could be possible that all the hype, and the lack of available lodging in the vicinity could have kept some visitors away for 150th week, however the 150th is going on all year long. I've talked to some who purposely came before that time, and I'm sure there is some to come after. For me, I think it was just enough visitors to be busy, but not unmanageable, and there was enough activities going on all around the county that except for the reenactments themselves there wasn't hordes of people to try to get around anywhere. All in all I really haven't heard anyone complaining, visitor or otherwise. I think "we",the community, did a great job! |
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Post by Alex Oreilly on Jul 17, 2013 16:39:21 GMT -5
I'm glad the Freedom Transit was used a lot but there was still a two to three hour car wait to get into the reenactment.
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Post by Venter on Aug 23, 2013 10:53:51 GMT -5
Times today notes that the Borough is "still waiting" for invoices from some of the "Vendors" of the 150th so they can get reimbursement.
Who are these "Vendors"?
One thing mentioned, was that there is a "disagreement" between Flo, Mona, and the Police over "Overtime Compensation".
As noted above - things must have been easier back then:
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a little bit).
