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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Once hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, This is the Place Heritage State Park ended the summer tourist season with money in the bank -- a year ahead of a projected budget recovery.
The park finished the season with $524,233 in its bank account. The success is attributed to a $2 million bailout from the Utah Legislature and an administrative makeover of park operations and its foundation.
"People want to be involved with something that's successful," said Matt Dahl, executive director of This Is the Place Heritage Park Foundation. "Once they get up here, they catch the fever and they want to help."
Dahl and foundation board chairman Ellis Ivory took over the park's administration in March. This is the Place has a $2 million annual operating budget.
As the park enters the off-peak winter season, Dahl says officials are looking for money-making ideas so that they'll never again have to ask the state for help.
Among the ideas being considered are a pair of trains that would run the perimeter of the pioneer-era village, a petting coral, playground and revamped programming and tours. The tourist season begins again in April, Dahl said. About 30,000 people currently visit the park annually.
Board members also continue to study the idea of leasing part of the 450-acre property to commercial entities. Construction of a $2.5 million, three-wing event center is also being considered, although the park's residential neighbors object to the proposal.
Hugh Barlow has been appointed to the board to serve as a liaison with neighbors, Dahl said. A decision about the events center is due in March.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
