There was a bitter letter to the editor in the paper this week from Jared Hesse of Clovis, challenging the idea that Fresno has anything to offer visitors.
"The more I hear about trying to bring tourism to Fresno, the more it makes me wonder who is the half genius who thinks this could ever happen? What does Fresno have to offer for tourists? A whole lot of dirty air, two-star hotels at best, a mini-water park, an over zealous police force that makes the people who live here miserable and a run-of-the-mill museum. That would make me want to come to Fresno for a vacation."
Whoa, who poured vinegar on his Wheaties?
For folks who have a little more appreciation for this fascinating place, consider stopping by Villagio shopping center Saturday from 1-4 p.m., where local writer Janice Stevens and artist Pat Hunter will be signing copies of "Fresno's Architectural Past, Volumes I and II” limited edition historical book sets at Tamsen Munger Fine Gifts in the Villaggio Shopping Center, 7909 Blackstone Ave.
The boxed set ($49.95, Linden Publishing) describes 44 of the community's grand old buildings, along with watercolor paintings. Subjects include the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, the Meux Home, Warnor's Theater, Kearney Mansion, Tower Theater, St. Alphonsus Church.
A tour of those half-dozen delightful places alone, led by Ms. Stevens and Ms. Hunter, could keep many a tourist entertained on a winter afternoon in Fresno.
To each his own I guess. I personally find Clovis pretentious and stuck up. But then my favorite hang out spots in Fresno are from Roeding park to tower district to downtown.
I have to say that driving into the city it is not much to look at but does offer some pretty good theatre. We have productions that are as close to Broadway as you can get and great Childrens Theatre as well. We are located so that you can go to two national parks in about an hour or to the coast or mountains fairly quickly as well. If Mr. Hesse thinks it is so awful I ask then why does he live here and what more does Clovis have that Fresno doesn't? I say you have to be proud of your community.
In reply to Gail Marshall's "Who Poured Vinegar On His Wheaties" I have to say your reply to my opinion seemed to be a plug for the sales of an individuals account of historical Fresno. Also in reply to others, I am not saying Clovis is any better a tourist destination than Fresno and no I am not a native of this area. I have been here for almost ten years and have traveled extensively around our great country and find that in comparison to city's of comparable size, this one has little to offer for tourism. I have attended theatre here and have found it entertaining but would it draw me from somewhere else in the country just to see it? Probably not. Someone else mentioned that it was cheaper for them to live here in Fresno than to live elsewhere in California. Possibly true. But it is still rediculously overpriced to live in Fresno. Often the price of gas in this area is only riveled by Hawaii a true tourist destination. At least no one disagreed with what I said about the horrible air.