There are also meeting rooms on that east end of the building, which would seem to allow use of at least one of them by the visitor’s bureau. Paying even one buck per person to cover some costs doesn’t seem outrageous. Perhaps an orchestrated campaign to the Mayor’s hot line as was generated by the letter to the cops could escalate the issue on the depot in the mind of Dave the Mayor.

Wow, Guardian, what brilliant folks those VB’ers are! Nothing like having a visitors bureau in a place it’s highly unlikely any visitor could ever find — and even some Boiseans have difficulty getting to. I mean, if it were in the depot, all that would be needed would be a few signs along the road saying Visitors Bureau in Depot at end of Capitol Boulevard … or some such thing. But then visitors would find it, and so it would have to be staffed, and those brochures and things would get picked up so more would have to be printed, etc. Much cheaper to have it where visitors won’t find it, right?

Perhaps ONE Saturday a month would be in order… and demand could be measured. (The Visitors’ Bureau lease sounds like an awesome approach for staffing.)

EDITOR NOTE–The Visitor Bureau just rented some space in a house on Vista near Kootenai as I understand it. They should indeed be at the Depot and the GUARDIAN stands ready to broker a meeting of ACHD, Boise City council, Parks, and Visitors Bureau. We already have hotel money offer on the table.

t

It’s crazy to require payment to ride up the bell tower (a donation box would be fine). Kind of reminds of the days of pay toilets at airports and bus stations. Those are long gone because of the unwelcoming message they sent. If you want to make this a tourist attraction, let people ride it for free to see our city.

Everybody should write to Team Dave requesting a Saturday per month available to the citizen’s of Boise for viewing. It is very easy to write on this forum but just as easy to write or call the hotline.
If Jan can do it so can you.

EDITOR NOTE–We are going for EVERY DAY open during the summer tourist season.

I mean, WHY would there be romantic scenic railway tracks behind the depot, unless somebody was planning to run a romantic scenic railway tour thru Boise?

I wonder where it would go? Where could it go? Has anyone followed those tracks to see where they lead to? Hidden Hollow or one of them secret subdivisions on the outskirts of town?

Hey, that’s it! A bunch of tree-hugging Californians want to use the depot for a dropping off point for a romantic scenic commuter railway!

Give me a break!

Actually, though, like any city park, it should be open every day, and free. As I recall, when events are held in city (and state) parks, it’s illegal to charge admission, though they can ask for voluntary contributions, sell stuff to make some money, etc.

Surely among the umpteen thousand people living in Boise, there are some who would volunteer to staff the depot, maybe sell a few souveniers, give directions to tourists, etc.

Not many people go thre now, because not many people know when it’s open — I don’t recall ever seeing an ad in The Statesman or seeing promotions for the few hours anywhere.

As for the tower: I can’t believe it really costs $6 — or more than a couple of cents — for enough electricity to lift folks up to the top. While I’d be willing to pay a buck or two for the trip if I wanted to go up there, I know it would be difficult for some people, especially those single parents with their children that Theresa mentions. They often have to really watch the pennies.

But I’d bet a contribution jar near the door to the elevator would pick up more than enough from tourists and other to keep the electric meter spinning.

Meanwhile, I wonder why no law types have looked into — and commented on — the legality of barring the public from a publicly owned site so much of the time. Seems likely that it’s illegal somehow. ????

As for Mom: Keep it coming, Mom; seems some folks don’t like it when you slam ’em upside the haid, but also seems they need it since they like to hand it out but can’t take it.

This is a discussion site, folks — we’re gonna disagree with one another on some topics; that’s what it’s all about.

So any of ya — grumpy Theresa, caustic Mom, whoever — that wanna verbally whop me upside the haid for these comments, feel free. And let’s all keep the discussions going (maybe someday somebody will get a chance to read them aloud to our city councilors and others who *need* to know what people are thinking!)

EDITOR NOTE– Gordon, I just mentioned the fact folks pay $5 at HCape HAtteras. I agree free would be nice with donations.