The
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Great Plains Studies
has
kicked off a new campaign “Visit the Prairie,” and has been releasing a series
of tourism posters online that will soon be available for purchase.
The
campaign focuses on eco-tourism rather than the region’s rich history to lure
visitors off the interstates.
“This
work tries to promote ecotourism as a strategy for preserving the enormous and
precious biodiversity of the Great Plains grasslands,” its website explains.
And
that’s a great thing. For those who saw my series of book talks this year for
The Last American Highway: The Dakotas, read this blog, or are members of the
Fans of U.S. Route 83 Facebook page, I do my best to promote travel on Highway
83 specifically, and the Great Plains and all backroads in general. The beauty
of the region is a running theme in all these writings.
This
campaign is sorely needed. Let’s face it. Our nation has given the prairie
lands short-shrift when it comes to habitat preservation. This began in the 1800s
with the wonton destruction of the American bison, continued with the Army
Corps of Engineers’ damming of our rivers and the ecological destruction
brought on by mono-agriculture and overgrazing.
Even
in these more enlightened times — with groups like the Nature Conservancy and
World Wildlife Fund becoming more involved in the region — there is a lot of
room for improvement.
How
are we going to encourage travelers to either make the Great Plains a
destination unto themselves, or at least stop for a day or two on their way to or
from the Rockies or Black Hills?
Let’s
look at some examples of what can be done along Highway 83 in Nebraska. From
Valentine to McCook, the topography surrounding Highway 83 is beautiful from
beginning to end. North of North Platte, it travels through the Sand Hills, which are not only
Nebraska’s best-kept secret from tourists, but the nation’s. Yet the state has
done virtually nil to promote them as a destination. Give me just one “Visit
the Sand Hills!” sign on Interstate 80, please!
Highway
83 is the main conduit taking travelers from I-80 through the stunning and
unique Sand Hills to the Niobrara River, the Fort Niobrara Wildlife
Refuge and Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve there — one of the state’s prime eco-tourism destinations.
On
the way is the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. It has some nice kiosks
explaining to motorists about the area's eco-system. That’s
a good start. But what we need is a serious interpretive center, well-developed
walking paths and auto tours through the heart of the hills.
It
should be as impressive as the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Audubon
on Highway 83 near Washburn, North Dakota. I stopped at both refuges in April
and there is a jarring difference.
Don’t
get me wrong. I love the Audubon Refuge and spent a morning there soaking in
the sounds of dozens of bird species. It was an amazing symphony. But that lake
isn’t even supposed to be there. It was a creation of the Army Corps of
Engineers. Its relatively new center has displays, a gift shop, knowledgeable
rangers there to answer questions, a nice walking path in back, and auto trails
for those who can’t get around as well as they once did.
Meanwhile,
the Sand Hills has no dedicated interpretive center to explain their creation,
eco-system or the importance to the nation of the Ogallala Aquifer that lies underneath. The money to build and staff such an interpretive center would come
from the federal government. That means Nebraska’s congressional delegation
needs to make this happen. And that means their lawmakers' constituents need to
encourage them.
Meanwhile,
Nebraska Public Power District wants to string ugly, giant electric towers
right along Highway 83 on this main road taking travelers to the two refuges, and
the little talked about, but stunningly beautiful Dismal River Valley. They
would run from Stapleton to Thedford.
I
have written Letters to the Editors, and posted my opinion on NPPD's comments page,
written a letter to Valentine’s own Sen. Deb Fischer. I’ve only heard back from
the landowners who would be affected.
Where
is the outrage from the rest of the state? Where is the groundswell of
opposition from those who care about the Sand Hills and eco-tourism? I’m not
hearing it.
But
NPPD is still taking comments. The first “P” stands for “Public.” I hope the
public cares about the state’s vista-scapes and starts a ground-swell of
opposition to this boneheaded plan before it’s too late.
Farther
north in South Dakota, here is what you see when entering the Fort Pierre
National Grasslands. A sign reading: “Fort Pierre National
Grasslands.” The next thing you see is a sign that says: “Leaving Fort Pierre
National Grasslands.” Not a single kiosk, or anything in between. There are
some wooden boxes where you can pick up a map, but they are hard to spot.
Again, no interpretive center on par with what the prairie deserves.
 |
| Photo by Stew Magnuson |
The
Kansas Department of Tourism, meanwhile, has a scenic byways campaign that
includes a long stretch of Highway 83 on its Western Vistas Historic Byway
route. It has setting up some kiosks explaining the region’s natural history
south of Oakley. I haven’t been there since they were installed, but I’m
looking forward to seeing them next year.
This
column was intended as food for thought for those wanting to promote travel in
the region, rather than travel tips for those wanting to see some of these sites centering around eco-tourism on Highway 83. I’ll leave that to another column.
I
hope the Center of Great Plains Studies really starts a movement. To preserve
our natural heritage, people must care about it. They must have opportunities
to emotionally connect with nature, and eco-tourism is one means to do so.
Whether
it’s hiking, camping, canoeing, biking, hunting, fishing or simply “taking a
drive or a ride” on a road like Highway 83 and soaking in the topography,
connecting
The
UNL Center of Great Plains Studies’ “Visit The Prairie” campaign is a great
idea. I’ll be the first to buy the bison poster when they go on sale.
Stew Magnuson is the author of The Last American Highway: A Journey Through Time Down U.S. Route 83: The Dakotas, available at Amazon.com and bookstores and gift shops along Highway 83.
To join the
Fans of U.S. Route 83 group on Facebook, CLICK
HERE. And check out the U.S. Route 83 Travel page at www.usroute83.com. Contact Stew Magnuson at stewmag (a) yahoo.com
Very well said Stew. This is a great campaign, but without the support of the Nebraska Tourism Commission, who don't seem to have a clue about how to promote Nebraska - or even what Nebraska is all about - it won't go anywhere. However, if we start with a grass roots effort, maybe sooner or later they'll take notice.
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