The events of September 11
and continued threats of terrorism have seriously reduced
the flow of tourists along the Central Coast. From Monterey
to Solvang, shop owners, Chambers of Commerce managers,
hotel and motel owners say sales and profits have dropped
along with the missing travelers. Businesses are asking what
they can do to attract tourists. San Luis Obispo County may
have a secret weapon according to Sheila Boone, Director of
the Daniel Boone Butterfly Palace. The Palace is a combined
research and tourist attraction planned for Nipomo said
Boone believes she has an answer: the Western Monarch
'Butterfly.
Wineries' have a proven record as tourist
attractions and the county has them in abundance, but
butterflies? "Why not?" Boone said, "The
Monarch is the only butterfly that migrates. It is unusual
and beautiful. Western populations winter along the Central
Coast. Some of the largest concentrations can be found in
our area.
With a little help the Pismo Beach Butterfly
Preserve can become an important tourist attraction. Nadine
Turner, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Pacifica
Hotels, agrees. Turner says a new kind of traveler is
emerging, the ecotourist, one interested in nature and
close-to-home destinations. San Luis Obispo County,
positioned midway between two of the nation's largest
markets, Los Angeles and San Francisco, readily qualifies,
according to Turner. Her firm, Pacifica Hotels, operates 15
hotels and motels along our coast seven in San Luis Obispo
County (in Pismo Beach, Cambria and San Luis Obispo). The
Sand Castle Inn in Pismo Beach is but one example. Turner keeps tabs on trends, travel and
travelers. She believes the new eco-tourist is interested in
seeing, photographing and communicating with nature.
"We've been a strong supporter of the Monarch and we
believe butterflies can attract a lot a tourist
interest." Turner said. She adds that butterflies and
elephant seals, commodities found in SLO County, can attract
weekenders who are now staying at home. "Just get the
story out. People will come, she said. Pismo Beach is home to a large Western
Monarch population for almost six months a year and Boone
calls the Preserve a "national treasure." If
today's tourists are interested in short-mileage, weekend
trips with nature as a destination, San Luis Obispo County
should be a top choice, according to Boone. The Preserve can
attract tourists, getting them to spend time and money, she
adds. Boone believes that tourists will come from Los
Angeles, San Francisco and many other places just to see
ocean-side Eucalyptus groves packed with the wintering
creatures. Banking on that interest, she is planning to
build the Daniel Boone Butterfly Palace on the Nipomo Mesa. The Palace, to be erected 290 acres of land
on the edge of Nipomo, would be dedicated to research and to
telling the public that the species is becoming endangered
because it is losing habitat. "We have to tell our
story," Boone said. Monarch Butterflies are found
around the world with two populations in the U.S. An Eastern
population comes from points as far north as Canada, limited
to points east of the Rocky Mountains, flying more an
2,000 miles to winter in Mexico. The western population
spends spring and summer across much of the west and winters
exclusively along the central California coast, clustered on
Eucalyptus and Pine trees. They begin arriving in mid
October and remain in the groves until late February when
the spring sun warms them and they mate and fly away,
spreading across the west in search of milkweed upon which
they lay their eggs. And as a final fillip Boone believes
the south county has its Strawberry Festivals, a Harvest
Festival, a clam festival and thinks the area could use just
one more - a Monarch Day celebration.
S. Boone Productions, Siamak Sehat,
Photograph