Planning A Weekend Getaway To Minocqua?
State Desperate For Tourism Dollars
Posted: 3:50 p.m. CST January 20, 2003Updated: 5:32 p.m. CST January 20, 2003
MADISON, Wis. -- You're planning a little winter weekend getaway, so you decide to check out Minocqua.org.
And you love the snow, so you click on Trail Reports.
And then you reconsider your trip. There is only a half-inch of snow!
It's a record-setting year for no snow.
Many businesses, as well as the state Department of Tourism, are hoping you head north and spend money.
State tourism officials have made an emergency ad buy -- $250,000 to run in Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Chicago.
"This is about the fifth out of the last six years that we've struggled with a lack of snow, or it's come very late," said Julia Hertel, public relations manager for the Department of Tourism.
Northern Wisconsin officials say business is slow, especially for snowmobiling, which means a lot of lost dollars.
In Oneida County, all trails are closed right now. That's never happened this late in the season.
"We can't change the weather," Hertel said. "Unfortunately we have to deal with what it looks like this is going to be the way the climate is."
Madison's Susan Gevelver and her 6-year-old daughter Kira enjoy the ice and love the snow.
"We like to ice skate, and we like to build snowmen and have snowball fights and go sled riding a lot," Gevelver said.
This year's been disappointing, but they know the season isn't over yet.
"We have big hopes -- this weekend big snow's coming, I just know it," Gevelver said.
The 10-second ad that's running on TV focuses on things that don't need snow, such as like water parks and gaming.
The head of the Minocqua Chamber of Commerce said the commercials are "a positive step. But if the governor can make it snow it's better yet."
And then you reconsider your trip. There is only a half-inch of snow!
It's a record-setting year for no snow.
Many businesses, as well as the state Department of Tourism, are hoping you head north and spend money.
State tourism officials have made an emergency ad buy -- $250,000 to run in Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Chicago.
"This is about the fifth out of the last six years that we've struggled with a lack of snow, or it's come very late," said Julia Hertel, public relations manager for the Department of Tourism.
Northern Wisconsin officials say business is slow, especially for snowmobiling, which means a lot of lost dollars.
In Oneida County, all trails are closed right now. That's never happened this late in the season.
"We can't change the weather," Hertel said. "Unfortunately we have to deal with what it looks like this is going to be the way the climate is."
Madison's Susan Gevelver and her 6-year-old daughter Kira enjoy the ice and love the snow.
"We like to ice skate, and we like to build snowmen and have snowball fights and go sled riding a lot," Gevelver said.
This year's been disappointing, but they know the season isn't over yet.
"We have big hopes -- this weekend big snow's coming, I just know it," Gevelver said.
The 10-second ad that's running on TV focuses on things that don't need snow, such as like water parks and gaming.
The head of the Minocqua Chamber of Commerce said the commercials are "a positive step. But if the governor can make it snow it's better yet."
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