By Heather Johnson
hjohnson@nptelegraph.com
North Platte (Neb.) Telegraph
A new venture is underway to boost Ogallala-area tourism.
Last week, State Senator Ken Schilz of Ogallala and Travis Haggard, Ogallala's economic development coordinator, traveled to Fort Robinson State Park to pitch the idea of an all-terrain vehicle park to the Game and Parks Commission.
If approved, the park would be located near the Lake McConaughy Visitors Center, about a quarter of a mile south of Kingsley Dam along Highway 61.
"That's our target property," said Haggard. "Ideally, we'd like to be on both sides of the highway."
In addition to Game and Parks, he has been consulting with Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, which owns the land. Haggard said the location was chosen because of its rolling hills and visibility from the road.
"Hopefully, people would see it while traveling past," he said. "We're already a big tourism destination, but we'd like to bring in people during different times of the year and extend the tourism season."
Haggard said his research has indicated that four-wheeling is a growing sport and one that's popular in the spring and fall when the weather is cool.
"That's perfect for us, because our tourist season typically wraps up after Labor Day," he said. "I have seen some out-of-area boats come through, so there are still a lot of die-hard fishermen out there, but usually it's pretty dry until Memorial Day."
Haggard said several tracks exist in the state, but he's heard complaints from people who have used them and become bored with the smaller ones. If both sides of the highway can be developed, the park he's proposing would be 500 acres.
"I know a lot of people go to Halsey or Alma," he said. "Why not bring them here, instead?"
He said the topography of the land would allow for beginner, intermediate and advanced trails.
"We could cut in some extreme enthusiast tracks, but overall it would still be a recreational area for the entire family," he said.
Haggard had learned about some grants available for motorized trail programs, but the deadline to apply for them was Oct. 1.
"We didn't have all the parties on board, yet," he said.
Haggard said the idea was well received by the Game and Parks commissioners. "There weren't many questions, and they agreed there's a need for this type of recreation," he said. "More and more federal parks are shutting them down because of budget cuts and environmentalists."
Haggard believes the demand would help lure people to Ogallala where they could stay in motels, fuel up, eat and shop-boosting the local economy.
"Oftentimes, spin-off jobs are created by projects such as this, and that's a plus, too," said Haggard. "I would love to begin cutting trails in the spring of 2012, but I don't know if that's going to be possible. We'll just have to see how it all plays out."
