Recent Press
The Cornerstone Of The 'Great American Road Trip'
KELO TV
Sioux Falls, SD.
Business owner Dan Tribby says extending store hours for downtown shops would allow tourists to spend more money when they are in Rapid City.
"You know there are a few businesses that stay open later hours but nowhere near what we need to be successful," says Tribby.
Destination development consultant Roger Brooks agrees. In addition to longer hours, Brooks also wants to see more public gathering places for visitors. It's all part of the effort to establish a new identity.
"And so we have to make Rapid City the 'Great American Road Trip,' the place to go," adds Brooks.
Brooks describes the Black Hills as a donut, which means Rapid City is the empty hole in the middle.
"What we're trying to do is fill that hole so that you are not just a hub where we get up every morning and off we go," he says.
Brooks says with gas approaching four dollars a gallon, people want to make sure they get their money's worth when they travel. New attractions give visitors a reason to explore the city, which is why businessman Tribby supports creating a new plaza.
"Any place in the world, the one common thing is that you have a public gathering place," he says.
A place Tribby hopes inspires visitors to gather in Rapid City.
One million dollars has already been raised to build the plaza by the Destination Rapid City group.
The downtown revitalization task force is also looking at building a pedestrian walkway over omaha street to connect downtown with the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.
