Need some input

[thebluff]

I need some help from you guys and gals. As you all probably already know, Ontonagon has taken a better beating than most in this bad economy with the closure (and future closure) of several large and a few small employers.

Just over a year ago, there was a group formed called the Ontonagon County Economic Partnership and was charged with doing all it could to help the county get back on its feet. This is an awesome group that has many things going on in every direction. We are seeking to improve from within, looking for outside employers, you name it....it is being worked on.

We are aware that tourism has to play a large part in this recovery. There is a sub-group that I work on that is trying to work out what that might look like. We have a couple great ideas in the works. I would like to get some input from all of you as to what would attract you to the area.

We are planning a winter festival. While there is not much time to plan a lot this year, we will be doing a smaller scale one just to get a feel for it. This is the one I am most interested in what (if anything) would attract you to come this way for a day.

Our long term plan is to have it on Presidents Day weekend as pretty much every motel in the Yoop is full that weekend. We do not have lodging for hundreds and hundreds in the area, but figure many of you ride several hundred miles per day and while you might be calling Munising your home that weekend, you might slide over here if we had some fun for you. The initial focus had been to make it an Ontonagon Village event, but many of us like the idea of having a coordinated group of things happening all over the county (which is huge and includes 1/2 of Lake Gogebic).

This year, the events we have will be pretty family oriented and revolve primarily around the snow. There will be things like hockey games, basket ball tournement, possible ice fishing contest, turkey bowling, maybe a poker run on sleds, etc.

The is another school of thought that possibly be being very different, say like pretending it is Spring Break in Feburary.....(tiki torches, crab pasties, Jimmy Buffet tunes on the radio playing in the bars, restaurants, micro breweries from the area sellign their brews, etc).

It is possible that neither of these things will draw any of you away from the backwoods for an afternoon or evening. Since you all take your time and hard earned money to come way up here to ride...is there anything that would draw you into giving our little town (or large county) some of that leisure time on a weekend? Is that a good or bad choice of weekends? Really any input, not just random ideas, but what would interest YOU enough to make this part of your plans.....I would sure love to hear it.

We are looking to the summer as well, possible rodeo (broncos, bull riding, barrel racing, etc) at the county fair; motorcycle rally of sorts (where we would ask the law to maybe be a bit flexible on the helmet law), all sorts of ides. Again, real "this would attract me" input would be great!

Thank you in advance!

 

[thebluff]

By the way, our event this year will be more of the winter theme and will actually be held Valentines weekend if you decide to come.

 

[dcsnomo]

Not going to answer directly as to the event, but perhaps add a little guidance. "Festival" marketing for tourism can get tricky. The secret to tourism marketing is Heads in Beds, built on the strategy that if a person stays in a community they will eat, drink, buy gas and sled parts, shop, fish, etc. Key is to get the person to come to the community to sleep, and many other businesses benefit.

Festival marketing is not always successful at that, and often will drive "feet on street", not Heads in beds. That is, the net result is that coffee shops and bars may be happy that weekend, but there is no underlying organic growth to the tourism trade and lodging establishments close up. If people can't stay there the shops and restaurants also close up. Drive your community lodging business!

Next question...if everyone is going to be in the Yoop that weekend why are you contemplating a festival? Why give away peanuts when the circus is in town?

Next-Who is your target market? Snowmobilers are transient, we come to ride from town to town. Why would I take a day off riding to go to a festival? Your challenge is to get me to come back to Ontanogon in the late afternoon to shower, get out of my riding gear, and go out in town, then stay in an Ontanogon bed. Hit me with activities later and coordinate your festival with the lodging community to offer specific and purchasable packages and/or discounts that can only be gotten at Ontanogan lodging facilities.

Next, look at your marketing budget and figure out how to get the message out. Use social networking to stay top-of-mind, your current website does not link to Facebook.

And now, the big ugly 500lb gorilla in the room...consider implementing a room tax to be spent totally towards marketing. Use out of market money to drive out of market stays. Membership driven Chambers of Commerce are usually woefully underfunded in marketing. Do not use the room tax money to fund festivals, even though you will be tempted to. Get the message out.

For what it's worth...!

 

[5_spot]

I think it's great what you're trying to do. While that sounds like a great time, I probably wouldn't go. Here's why:

The snowmobile season is basically 14-16 weeks. If I'm very lucky and can hit 50% of those, thats 7-8 possible weekends for me. Usually, more like 6 though. In the times I make it, I'm traveling about 400 miles each way by car to ride for two days of which I try to get as much seat time on the sled as possible. While all of the winter festivals look like a good time, it's hard to fit everything in. Since there's 36 other possible weeks for festivals, I usually save those for then non sledding months.

I am trying to think of something though which would help.

 

[favoritos]

Backwoods and lakeshore guided tours. 14 mile lighthouse.

 

[thebluff]

In my opinion, we have very little in the way of lodging to drive the "heads in bed". There are a number of places like mine out there that are non-traditional and a handful of tiny motels. That drives the idea of getting people while they are already here...and sledders are pretty mobile and we cannot house a ton...and those that we do this time of year call it "home base" and seem to go elsewhere.

If you have ever been to main street Ontonagon...we have 2 restaurants, 7 bars (I think), a flower shop, a newspaper, a couple realtor-insurance agents, car parts store, hardware store, a cell phone store, a dvd rental place, a massage therapist, and tanning salon.

Not much for business that would thrive on having feet on the street. But we have to start somewhere. We call ourselves Harbor Town. Great beaches, miles of Lake Superior shoreline, the largest river in the Yoop.

Your point about what would make you give up riding to check it out...that is exactly my question to everyone. Maybe it is not possible. Festival was a poor choice of words (however that is probably a good description of what this year will look like) . I dont care if it turns out to be a greased pig wrestling event....if it makes you want to come here, have dinner and a beer. Once you do that, our town is quaint and pretty cool, you will likely look to return another time...it all has to start somewhere.

 

[maddogg]

Matt,
The wife and I used to live in the UP and came up to your place over the 4th for our 5th honeymoon - don't know if you remember or not and it doesn't really matter.

With being familiar with the area we found plenty of things to do. State Parks, waterfalls, Old Victoria, Henry's, Paulding Light, hiking with the dogs. I think that without knowing the area, and having a Gazatere (sp), we would have been lost. Something that we would have liked would be a "tourism" brochure. For instance; lets say I came up with the wife again to go 4 wheeling. It would be nice to have a brochure that would point out a days ride with sightseeing, gas/fuel stops, estimated mileeage and dealers in the area.

Our typical ride would be a late start in the morning as we would make a breakfast and run the dogs in the woods for an hour or so. We'd then take off and hit some sights like the dam, the mine and maybe shoot up to Ontonogan depending on the time. We'd get back and have another "run" with the dogs. Head on out or make dinner and the grab a drink or watch the sunset.

You could do one for spring fishing for the salmon run, or a hiking routine, etc. etc. Or you could set it up to lets say stay at the Bluff and get a $15 certificate to eat at Henry's. Or get $10 off of sled rental from Copper Country. In this day in age I think people expect things to be planned out for them. Like stay here, eat at this place, and rent from here. Look at the whole "inclusive" craze going on.

Personally, I like packing a lunch and seeing where the day takes me. That's why I come "home" to the UP. But not everyone is like that - especially the people that aren't coming already.

Your website also needs some updated pictures of the other apartments and it would be nice if the hot tub worked. Not throwing stones - just trying to help.

I really think that the economy has a lot to do with this also. We just hit a bad stretch where my truck borke down, the dog needed surgery, we had another tution bill for my wife's master's degree, and the water heater jsut went out. That gosh we could take theis out of our savings but I don't think most could at this point in time.

Maybe I just rambled too much.

 

[thebluff]

I think it's great what you're trying to do. While that sounds like a great time, I probably wouldn't go. Here's why:

The snowmobile season is basically 14-16 weeks. If I'm very lucky and can hit 50% of those, thats 7-8 possible weekends for me. Usually, more like 6 though. In the times I make it, I'm traveling about 400 miles each way by car to ride for two days of which I try to get as much seat time on the sled as possible. While all of the winter festivals look like a good time, it's hard to fit everything in. Since there's 36 other possible weeks for festivals, I usually save those for then non sledding months.

I am trying to think of something though which would help.

And would you come during one of those other 36 weeks? It seems that much of the sledding crowd comes here primarily for snow....and rarely returns (not all, but many). So...while you are here...how do we connect?

 

[thebluff]

maddog- i do remember you!

i think many of your points are very valid...we have talked about this...we just need to get the ball rolling. some things like atv maps are already done.

the economy does drive the hot tub thing for me...just too pricey when cost is such an important factor to many riders. maybe one day we can get it going again...for now apartment 7 has an AWESOME sauna! I will also get some more pics up, i just have too many irons in the fire (at&t store, tanning salon, rentals, driver ed instructor and KIDS)! all excuses...thank you for the input!!!

This is much larger than my desire to have you stay at TheBluff though. The weekends I mention are usually already full. I know if I can get you to spend some money around the area, more locals will buy other things I have (not really geared to toursim), then I spend more money, my kids have more opportunity, more businesses see opportunity and start...etc. And ultimately....I hope the growth and opportunity will make some of you make the move here since i already know most of you love the yoop. this is really not about me...it is about my town.

 

[5_spot]

Oh, I do come up! Although, haven't made a trip specifically to Rockland/Mass area. We have a family house in Pence, Wi (5 miles west of Hurley), so I usually start there. I know my brother, I and some friends are planning a mountain bike trip to Houghton area this summer, but that doesn't help you much. The more I think about it, I spend time up there, but usually pass thru there.

I personally think the best bet is for a few businesses/people to pool together and open a family eating/drinking/fun establishment that draws locals and tourists from miles around, YEAR ROUND. I think a place with an adult & kid game room (pool tables, video games, etc) is lacking up there. I know everywhere we stop up there is basically sit at the bar or leave. When we have the kids, forget it, they're usually bored or getting into trouble, so it's pack up and back on the sleds. Something like that would make a sure destination on many a trial bosses and vacation planners route.

(I'm doing this on my phone, so there may be some run-ons

 

[fgsacts]

I went to the Red Light Rally in Hurley one year just to see the Excon Freeride freestyle exhibition. Made it a point to schedule my day around seeing that. Spent some money in the restaurants and bars before and after the exhibition. If you want to attract snowmobilers, that may be an idea. Drag races? I guess you need to decide if this is a community event that could benefit from tourists attending or is it an event designed just to attract tourists. They are not necessarily the same.

 

[thebluff]

I went to the Red Light Rally in Hurley one year just to see the Excon Freeride freestyle exhibition. Made it a point to schedule my day around seeing that. Spent some money in the restaurants and bars before and after the exhibition. If you want to attract snowmobilers, that may be an idea. Drag races? I guess you need to decide if this is a community event that could benefit from tourists attending or is it an event designed just to attract tourists. They are not necessarily the same.

Definately want to attract tourists, very aware they are very different. That is not so much what will take place this year but that is the objective. Drag races suprise me. I have seen so many events that revolve around snow and sledding that dont do much. We have been part of poker runs that have 4 groups stop the whole weekend, the hill climbs have a small appeal but never heard any of my guests that were going to it, it seems that for snow, you guys come to ride. Most of you that I meet stop around dark, maybe that is why the heads in beds is so important. So a race, maybe an Xgames ramp set up on mainstreet....would that divert a number of people for the day?

As mentioned....we are far from a tourist trap. We just do not have common tourist businesses...that is where thoughts like spring break in Feb. come from...something so out of place that you would want to check it out for a while.

We do need a motel with a pool-game room, etc. We have the Americinn in Silver City but it seems a resource 20 miles away is hard to capitalize on. I think that is a "if you build it, they will come" sort of problem.

 

[5_spot]

We do need a motel with a pool-game room, etc. We have the Americinn in Silver City but it seems a resource 20 miles away is hard to capitalize on. I think that is a "if you build it, they will come" sort of problem.

I'm thinking more sports bar/restaurant/gaming. a place where all could just "hang". Where it's not just a dive pit stop, it's a destination. I think a few of the business need to pool together to create this. Just as always with business, it takes $$ to make $$. Local events here and there tend to take up WAY to much time to organize and don't make all that much. The events sound like a short term solution, when it sounds like you're looking for long term.

 

[booondocker]

Ontanogan...gas out!

OK, so gasoline price is on everyone's mind.

Since sleds are not really road machines and don't require road tax, why not offer some really cheap prices on sled gas for a 3 day weekend.

spot some good fresh cheap gasoline around for folks to enjoy the long weekend and the go from there. Local tours to popular spots...cheap food at Joey's place....fireworks at 9pm...and then get the news out to cover it.

If you did that every year on the same weekend so folks could get your spot scheduled....things would snowball.

And since John and his lovely bride have nothing to do..auction off a dance with his two girls....I am SURE he would love to add that to his schedule of events.

One thing is for sure....if you make it cheap, point it toward sledders and HAVE SNOW...they will come....and they should come back.

 

[wilson]

build an outlet mall ...people love to shop

 

[olsmann]

Man this is tough. Im on a small town fire dept and we are always trying to find ways to boost tourism and raise money and just get people to come to town. My first instinct was some type of sled race or radar run or hill cimb or water cross event. But i think you would need to do it near rockland or mass city instead of ontonogon if snowmobilers are your target. Snow is just a little thin that close to the lake up near onto. Its tough beacuse most of us out of towners only have X amount of seat time on the sleds so you almost have to pry us off of them on the winter weekends.

For our group it would have to be one of those things we could ride to for and hour, check it out, grab a bite and keep rolling. Im just thinking out loud here but maybe some type of sled drag down main steet or some large "trail side pig roast" We are all dressed to be outside , how bout an outdoor winter picnic? it doesnt solve the "get people to town" problem but if you start with a small event and get a good showing you can build from there? Illl keep brain storming.

I wish i had more time and money to spend in all of the towns in the UP.

 

[snowdancer]

This might be a little off topic, but I have been sitting here thinking about this for awhile now. I visit the U.P. every chance I get, finally made it to Ontanogon this past August. It is a beautiful area, as is every county up there. Unfortunately it seems the whole U.P. is very economically depressed/distressed. I think it is time our leaders in Lansing are made to realize that there is a whole section of our state that is being ignored. I realize that Detroit took a hard hit, but I'm tired of the whole state being held hostage by their losses! We need to be more creative in our thinking of what our state needs for the future. And that includes employment for every county in the state.
How about applying for, say something like energy grants, build a windmill factory, or solar panels. Greenhouses so you can grow more of your food locally and organically.(you could use the power generated by windmills to heat greenhouses)
Or an education grant. Who knows? Maybe you could build a college, those always bring people and jobs. A green college that exists off wind, solar and water energy.
I know I am probably not giving you the response you were looking for, but it is so frustrating to see an entire section of the state that is just being forgotten, except by the snowmobilers. They are only going to be able to sustain you short term, and on a limited basis. You need to look for bigger options to sustain your community.

 

[1flatlander2]

i've never been to ontonogon. i've been sledding in the up (both sides) for 20 years. there are just a few reasons i would come to your area. 1 food 2 sleep 3 off trail areas. we stop at our usual places for food because we know what we'll get and they are easy to get to. we don't cocktail hard till we are off the sleds so we would need a place to stay close. and we like to go off trail. if you had maps or areas marked, we would come up, ride, get lunch, and gas and head back. my .02

 

[doomsman]

The cruiser fest radar runs in Minocqua bring in heads in beds and feet
every year, its a weekend event with a lot of different
things going on.
Radar runs are easier to put on than drag races.

 

[michaeladams]

i would be more apt to do something in the spring summer or fall on the harley over snowmobile.