Rep. Sam Farr stopped by San Benito County Wednesday morning,
touting its natural resources and the beauty of the landscape as a
way to lure tourism.
Rep. Sam Farr stopped by San Benito County Wednesday morning, touting its natural resources and the beauty of the landscape as a way to lure tourism.
“I think a lot of the time, San Benito County feels overlooked because Gilroy has its outlet mall, and Monterey has its golf courses, but those things are fake,” Farr said. “Fake as in manmade and not natural. This county has beautiful rural land, and you can move a mall, but you can’t move this kind of land. In the long run, this is what people really want.”
Farr met with members of the County Chamber of Commerce, and others in the county tourism board, and discussed the future of a visitor’s bureau in the county, and the ways boosting tourism can help the local economy. Farr emphasized inviting other Californians to visit the county instead of trying to publicize nationally or internationally, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Theresa Kiernan said.
“He said one of the things we should do is work together with other counties like Monterey and Santa Cruz, inviting each other to see what our counties have to offer,” she said. “That way visitors can come to San Benito County, take a step back in time, but only in a few miles.”
Farr also discussed the value of establishing a scenic route in the county.
“He mentioned how Monterey has its 17 Mile Drive,” Kiernan said. “But not everybody wants to see beaches, and we’ve got beautiful rural areas that we could promote for people to enjoy. Having people drive on a scenic route, where county wineries, restaurants and shops can be accessed, would boost the economy.”
While on the topic of scenery, Farr talked about the misconception many tourists get when the read the name “Pinnacles National Monument.”
“He was talking about how when people hear the word monument, they don’t really understand what it means, but if they heard Pinnacles Park, they would realize they can go walking, bike riding, camping and more,” Kiernan said.
After visiting with the chamber and guests, Farr headed out to another county park – the historical one. Aside from touring the old houses and barns at the County Historical Park, Farr was very pleased to see the $1.4 million permanent bridge, which he helped get funding for, in the process of being built.
For the past 27 years, the Historical Society has been trying to get a permanent bridge built so guests can visit the park year round, and with Farr’s help they’ll finally have their dreams fulfilled when it’s completed in October.
“People see this park as a touchstone to reality, and with the bridge, it is much more user friendly, which will allow more people to enjoy it,” Farr said.
Bob Maillot, caretaker of the park, said it has meant a lot to him that Farr saw the need for a bridge, and took the initiative to help get it built.
“It’s wonderful to think that he would be involved with the bridge concept, and then to have him actually come all the way out here and see the village was great,” he said.
Once the bridge is complete, the Historical Society hopes to hold more gatherings at the park, and encourage more people to come and learn about their heritage.
“We’d really like to see more schools and youth organizations being able to take field trips out here,” Peter Sonne, of the Historical Society, said.
Farr’s trip to the county sparked a lot of new ideas, and Kiernan said, motivated many people to continue working toward beautifying and make the county a better place. His recommendations will be taken into consideration as the county tourism board and chamber continue to plan for the future, Kiernan said.
“He opened the door to coming back and talking with us again,” she said. “And we want him back.”
