Cortney Bloomer, Travel Nevada destination development manager, leads a session that drew almost 100 people Tuesday in Dayton to discuss creation of a 10-year destination plan to increase tourism.
Photo by Jessica Garcia.
Residents want to help position Dayton’s Sutro Tunnel as a destination draw to their historic home, according to feedback in a planning session Tuesday.
Nonprofit group Friends of Sutro Tunnel held a community session with Travel Nevada, a division of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, after being selected to create a 10-year destination plan for Dayton. The project is part of Travel Nevada’s Destination Development Design (3D) program funded by the state Commission on Tourism to broaden tourism in rural communities.
When the plan is complete, Friends of Sutro Tunnel can apply for a portion of the project’s $1 million grant. The purpose is to focus on historic preservation and support economic growth through increased travel spending and engagement.
“I thought the (session) turnout was spectacular,” said Rob McFadden, board member of Friends. “We had over 100 RSVPs, excluding the people that were participating in the process. … I think it’s going to come together and create massive momentum, and obviously Sutro’s going to be the center of it.”
The Sutro Tunnel stretches about 3.88 miles and had once connected with the Savage Mine in Virginia City. It had drained water from the mines and provided ventilation and transported ore and supplies but eventually fell into disrepair.
Cortney Bloomer, Travel Nevada’s destination development manager and Dayton resident, focused on infrastructure, arts and outdoor opportunities that would help transform the area while maintaining Sutro’s heritage and connection to the Comstock.
Residents offered thoughts on current events, landmarks or activities that make the Lyon County town attractive to visitors, ranging from Dayton Valley Days, the Dayton Valley Golf Course or the Historical Society of Dayton Valley and Dayton Museum.
Linda Clements, vice president of the Historical Society, took pride in Dayton’s place in history.
“(W)e can prove we are the oldest, non-native settlement in Nevada, and we are where Nevada began,” Clements said. “I want to see an open park available to people. It would be great for Dayton, it would be great for tourism. It would be great for the economy, and it would be great for history, but they do need this integrated in with the other historic resources we have. As long as they’ll get with aggressive that Dayton exists, we’ll be good.”
Bloomer said Travel Nevada staff would take the input gathered from the first session for analysis and create a draft plan and hold a second session March 18. The document will not be complete at that time but would cover the significant recommendations for the 10-year plan.
“I was super pleased with the turnout tonight,” Bloomer said after the event. “Our intent with this was to make sure we were getting the communities included in this project.”
Richard Mitrotz, executive director of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, enjoyed the crowd coming together to think about Dayton’s future. The Chamber is working on its own marketing such as launching a new website to promote activities and area history.
“It was a learning experience to hear what their feedback was because that’ll help us to make a change,” he said.