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Don’t Go Up There

March 27, 2012 By 1 Comment

hoover dam overlook pillbox

Look familiar?? Well, don’t go there…  It could cost you your tour career.

Hoover Dam Overlook

The air defense hut that sits on top of the hill on the Arizona overlook above Hoover Dam.  There are signs posted not to trespass.  Restricted Area.

I finally asked a security person what would happen if I did venture up there.

  1. It’s National Park property.
  2. Off limits for safety
  3. $275 fine
  4. $100 fine for disobeying the signs
  5. You would be banned from the park
  6. Being banned from the National Park means you would not be able to legally cross the Hoover Dam bypass bridge as it is in the park.

The National Park has acquired it.  They would like to open it to tourists, but they have a problem.  That peak is loaded with rattle snakes.  Serious infestation of poisonous rattle snakes.  No way (yet) to make a path up there that would be snake proof.

Just letting you know… Don”t go up there…

 

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Bottle Ban at Grand Canyon Explained

February 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

grand canyon bottle ban explainedStarting in March, The Grand Canyon National Park will ban the sale of water packaged in individual disposable containers.

This ban comes more than a year after the original ban was announced and then put on hold after Coca-Cola complained. They bottle water under the Dasani brand and wanted to know more about why the park wanted this ban.

Under the ban, water sold in individual plastic bottles will be banned.  But soda and juices sold in plastic bottles will be allowed to be sold. (if you are thinking what I am thinking, the NPS says no)

In their place, the park has installed 10 water refilling stations around the park and at the various overlooks. This will encourage park visitors to buy refillable water containers.   The new filling stations provide free, Grand Canyon spring water from the park’s approved water supply, located at Roaring Springs.

Bring Your Own Water

The ban is for water sales inside the park only.  We are still allowed to bring in our own bottled water, just to please remind our guests to dispose of them properly.

Refill Here

The new South Rim filling stations are equipped to provide year-round access to water and are located at:

  • Hermits Rest (located near the other public amenities)
  • Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trailheads
  • Canyon Village and Desert View Marketplaces
  • Yavapai Geology Museum
  • Grand Canyon, Verkamp’s and Desert View Visitor Centers
  • Maswik Lodge (in the cafeteria).

water filling at the grand canyon
More information can be found here: NPS.GOV

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Marta Becket to Retire/Amargosa Opera House

January 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Marta Becket, Queen of the Desert, will have her final performance on February 12, 2012.  She turned 87 last year and has had serious health issues the last few years.

The Amargosa Opera House and Death Valley Junction will continue to operate as a hotel and tourist center.

Read the Story in the Pahrump Valley Times

amargosa opera house, death valley junction, marta becket

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Krupp Diamond Sold

December 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

What the world knows as the “Elizabeth Taylor Diamond”  – the Tour Professionals of Las Vegas know it by its original name - The Krupp Diamond.  Sold at auction for $8.8 million.  Almost 3 times the appraised value of the ring the late actress wore in almost every appearance.

Diamond History

The diamond ring is part of Las Vegas history.  German socialite Vera Krupp brought the ring over when she immigrated and divorced her industrialist husband who was not allowed in America for his ties to the Nazi war machine. (Krupp – Think coffee makers)

At the time, she owned what is now called Spring Mountain Ranch and raised Brahma bulls there.  Back than, the only road in was from Blue Diamond and it wasn’t paved!!

According ot the FBI story “on April 10, 1959, on her sprawling ranch about twenty-six miles southwest of Las Vegas. She and her foreman were finishing dinner when three men knocked on the door offering to blacktop her long driveway. Within seconds they’d forced their way in, ripped the ring off Krupp’s finger (to the point of drawing blood) and tied the pair blindfolded back-to-back with wire from a lamp.  The robbers had done their homework. They rifled the ranch house like they knew it well—stealing along with the ring about $700,000 in cash, a revolver, and a camera.”

Now, if you have been to the ranch and heard the story, the ending differs a little from the FBI story. ” Six weeks later. An agent in Newark, New Jersey, heard a rumor from a criminal informant that a local grocer was asking around, trying to sell a big diamond. Our agents quickly located this man, and he led us to one of the three thieves, James Reves. Agents searched his hotel room in Elizabeth and found the center diamond in the lining of his coat hanging in the closet.”

As for justice being served?? On November 20, Reves and two others were found guilty. A few weeks later Hagenson and the other suspects were convicted as well. Hagenson—the alleged mastermind—later beat the rap on appeal.

The Diamond Becomes Famous

Vera Krupp sold the ranch in 1967 to billionaire Howard Hughes . After her death in 1968, the diamond was part of her estate when actor Richard Burton it for $305,000 as a gift for Elizabeth Taylor, a two-time Academy Award winner who many called the most beautiful woman in the world.

 

 

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16th Annual Open House a the Hammargren Home of Nevada History

October 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you have never been to Lonnie’s home, get there This Year!!

There is more Vegas history here than any museum and you just never know when he will stop this great opportunity to share what he has with the world.

 

 

“Hammargren Home of Nevada History”

Sandy & Lonnie Hammargren

In conjunction with

OUR FRIENDS OF HISTORY

Invite you to OUR

16th Annual Open House

to celebrate

NEVADA DAY

SUNDAY; October 30, 2011

Noon to 5:00 PM

DONATION ♥ $10.00 ♥ per person

 

 

We are honoring the HISTORY CHANNEL Team of

“PAWN STARS” and “AMERICAN RESTORATION”; and the

ANIMAL PLANET CHANNEL Family Team from “TANKED”

 

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ♫ TOURS ☻ REFRESHMENTS

Proceeds to Benefit

♥“THE LIVING GRACE HOME”♥

for homeless pregnant teens

www.livinggracehome.com

 

4318 Ridgecrest Drive ♠ Las Vegas, Nevada 89121

♦ Please PARK with Courtesy to our Neighbors ♦

www.nevadaday.org

 

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Come on Out to Good Springs Days

September 22, 2011 By 1 Comment

Just a quick note to let you all know that Good Springs Days is this weekend, September 24, 2011.  At, where else?  good Springs.  you know where it is.  that little town out by Jean.

Ok, maybe you never went out there, but as a good tour professional, you should.  it’s a very historical little spot on the map.  it even has a store that was literally bought out of the Sears and Roebuck Catalog!!

History!

The town is named for Joseph Good, whose cattle frequented a spring nestled in the southeastern foothills of the Spring Mountains, Goodsprings was once the heart of the most productive mining districts in Clark County. Over the years, lead, silver, copper, zinc, gold and silver have all been mined from this area. Before 1900, a small cluster of tent cabins and a mill were erected, a post office was opened, and Lincoln County established Goodsprings Township. In 1904, Salt Lake City mining interests platted the Goodsprings Township. Most early buildings in the town were constructed during the boom spurred by the railroad in 1910-1911.

Goodsprings is currently the home of the Pioneer Saloon, considered to be one of the oldest saloons in Nevada (over 90 years old). The saloon houses a bullet hole on the side of the building and a coroner’s letter describing how it was created. The saloon is said to be “haunted” by the victim’s ghost by many. In addition, the Pioneer Saloon has a small memorial to both Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. Ms. Lombard’s plane TWA Flight 3 crashed into nearby Potosi Mountain on January 16, 1942. The saloon and hotel were the centers of operations for the search. The accident resulted in her death.

About the Celebration

This is a communtiy event, everyone is welcomed. festivities start at 10:00am.

  • Car Show
  • Live Music
  • Walking Tours
  • Historical Exhibits
  • Food and Drink
  • And other festivities….

Where is Good Springs??

Head out I15 towards the Nevada border.  Turn off at the Jean/Good Springs exit and follow the signs.

 


View Larger Map

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Route 66/Seligman Fun Run is Coming April 30.

April 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

24th ANNUAL ROUTE 66 FUN RUN, seligman, angel delgadillo

If you are heading up to the South Rim on the morning of Saturday, April 30, I may suggest you bypass Route 66 and especially Seligman.  Angel and the town will be a bit preoccupied with the 24th ANNUAL ROUTE 66 FUN RUN.

It all starts in Selgiman bright and early Saturday morning.  Dawn is the actual starting time to line up and register. Last year there were over 800 cars registered and lined up on the main street of Seligman by 8am!!   Trust me, that leaves virtually no room for tour buses.

However, if you’re a car buff or a camera jockey, this is the fun place to be.  Its curb to curb cars, trucks and customs from every era, almost every manufacturer and many different countries. Last year we met people from all over the world who came to be in the run as well as just to ooogle the cars, the chrome and the heavy metal.

Best friend to the tour guides and one of the World’s most happiest men, Angel Delgadillo, will drop the starting flag at about 10am (give or take).  The last car will exit Seligman probably around noon.  Clearing the way for any late tour groups passing through.

On the first leg of the run, they head for Hackberry and Kingman via Peachsprings.  So the historic highway will be lined with gawkers, fans and friends wanting to cheer them all on.  Not to mention helping a few of the older ones who break down…

Hogs From the South

At the same time as all these cars are heading to Kingman from the north, the annual Laughlin River Run is having a poker run to Kingman from the south.  Meaning Route 66 from the south will be filled with more chrome and rubber to gawk at.

I’m hoping to be there again.  With the camera, not a bus.

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Navigating The Hoover Dam Bridge

November 3, 2010 By 1 Comment

Isn’t that a beautiful sight??  The Hoover Dam bridge is a piece of true architecture masterpiece and history that really does compliment the grandeur of the mighty Dam itself.

Coming in at the original $240 million budget, it sits a mere 1,500 feet down river from the Hoover Dam.  The bridge deck come in at 1,900 feet long! Making this the longest concrete arch span in North America. To be fair, the real name of the bridge is the Mike O’ Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. But hey, everyone just calls it the Hoover Dam Bridge!

It’s All About The Amazing View!
And what a view it is.  Crossing the bridge by vehicle is a straight shot with absolutely NO view of the Dam. However, from the Nevada side, there is a plaza that gives a wonderful history of the the construction, the technology used and its relation to the Dam. For the view, there is a walkway across the bridge on the Dam side. Only accessible from the Nevada side

Give your guests about 30 minutes to complete the walk up to the plaza, out to the bridge and to return to the parking lot. You may have to drop at the plaza and have the bus return later due to crowded parking.

The bridge spans Black Canyon. Actually it is also in the neck of the canyon and that is what a Tour Director needs to remember. Winds coming through the canyon can easily hit 20-40 miles an hour. T he Nevada Department of Transportation is asking that all high profile vehicles use the inside left travel lane.

Wind Advisory Warning System
With this understanding, they developed a early warning system, giving drivers advance opportunity to take the old detour around the dam through Laughlin, Nevada. .

WIND WARNING- During wind warnings( 50 mile-per-hour-plus wind gusts or sustained winds of more than 40 miles per hour ) , high-profile vehicles such as commercial trucks, RVs, campers, buses and large truck-trailer combination’s will not be allowed over the Hoover Dam Bridge. High-profile vehicle drivers will need to seek alternate routes, such as U.S. 95 (U.S. 93 in Arizona) to Laughlin.

WIND ADVISORY- During wind advisories ( sustained winds of 25 to 39 miles per hour and gusts of 30 to 49 miles per hour ), high-profile vehicles will be allowed on the Hoover Dam Bridge, but advised that wind gusts could reach up to 49 miles per hour.

Drivers can learn of wind-related closures in many ways. Signs located on U.S. 93 from west of Boulder City to the Hoover Dam Bridge, as well as on the Arizona side of the bridge, will report wind warnings with a High Profile Vehicles Prohibited message. While not behind the wheel, drivers can call 511 or 1-877-NV-ROADS for road conditions. Drivers stopped to use the computer can also view nvroads.com for the same information, and will be able to choose the ClearPath logo for e-mail or text message updates on any Hoover Dam Bridge wind conditions.

Hope This Helps
Mark Anthony

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Lonnie Ends Open House

October 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Las Vegas Pack Rat extraordinaire, Lonnie Hammargren has said this Nevada Day would be his last. Every year, Lonnie has opened his unique home to visitors in honor of the day Nevada became a state; October 31.

Lonnie’s home is a growing collection of what some term as junk while others call it a museum dedicated to Las Vegas and the world.  Cars from the Stratosphere tower? Check.   Liberace’s grand staircase? Take it to the observation room.  If it’s not in a local museum, its probably here.  Or save time and just check here first.  Actually it’s a three home residence complex called “Casa Del Sol,” .

So consider this your warning:  For anyone who has a fixation on Las Vegas, this may be the last time for you to take a very unique trip down Vegas history.  A trip down memory lane with the man who lived it or knew the people who did it!

Lonnie’s Home page

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Zion Tunnel

June 26, 2010 By 1 Comment

Construction Continues in the Zion Tunnel in Zion National Park.   Work on the roadway will be done at night to limit closure.  Tunnel is open 24 hours on weekends.

Filed Under: Tourist News