Saturday, December 09, 2006

Eureka: Really Hot Tourist Destination. Limited Hotel rooms available.

I heard from a volunteer Fireman that said the fire in Old Town was hard to fight because of the hidden “hot spots” in the walls. Ashes were blowing all the way to the bay. The person said they saved as much property as they could under the extreme conditions. Kudos to the efficiency and preparation of the Eureka Fire Department. By the way, Eureka Fire Chief Eric Smith is an old time softball player.

Wow. I guess we all kind of figured the standoff at Super 8 was going to end up like this. If I was just a tourist for the last few days here in Eureka, I would not put this at the top of my list for destination next year. Not great PR the last couple of days.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

If you were a tourist, I can guarantee you wouldn't be staying at the Super 8.

Anonymous said...

Well at least the Cobbites have some place to put their new office now that they can't do it in David's living room anymore.

Anonymous said...

If I were a tourist I would have been turned off by the weather. As for the "Standoff" and the "Fire", how could the town be blamed for those situations?

Anonymous said...

Most people who visit humboldt do not stay in Eureka. They either go camping, simply drive through during a day, or at best stay in more decent motels on the south or north side. Eureka's victorian tweaker 'hoods are a turn off, but the redwoods will always kick some ass. They should have just built the overpass.

Anonymous said...

If they don't stay in Eureka, how do you account for all the no vacancy signs in the summertime? I never heard about plans for an "overpass" what did you have for breakfast there in Arcata 12:40? or is it McKinleyvile, where we all know no tweakers ever ride their horses?

Anonymous said...

12:50

Eureka is basically the only place around for 6 hours either direction to stop for the night. Thats why you see no vacancy signs. Im not saying people dont stop in Eureka, im saying they dont stop here because of Eureka. Why? To look at houses in ill-repair, on tweaker streets? Remember the guy that got hatcheted behind the Eureka Inn for no reason?

The reason they come here is to look at the natural beauty of the parks, ocean and relatives that may be here. And if that means they go to dinner at the Sea Grill they do so b/c its their, not because Eureka's known for ritzy dining. Lets also remember that the Eureka Inn is closed. I doubt it will reopen b/c its in a tweaker neibhorhood that hasnt seen the redevelopment old town has.

As for the Bypass... You must be new to town, or not that old. A Bypass like Arcata's was discussed as recently as 2000. Shortly thereafter they nixed the plans and caltrans sold all the property they were going to build it on.

samoasoftball said...

But you have to admit, on a nice mild winter day down in old town and then dinner at the Marina and a night at the Red Lion bar and motel leaves those people with a good taste for Eureka. The town was just in a slump for a few days with the fire, weather and the standoff.

Greg said...

Arcata's freeway is not a bypass. It is a trench that divided the community in two. In the last sixties and early seventies, CalTrans adopted a similar freeway route for Eureka. Phase One would have created more than sixty dead-end streets and just dumped traffic out onto Broadway. A bypass would go AROUND the community (which is pretty much what the public favored in the first place, per CalTrans' original report). The solution these days (if any, ever) looks like it may be a complete bypass like the one around Redwood National Park. The world could run out of oil before it happens. There are NO plans today, but watch for a concrete barrier down the center of Broadway soon.

Anonymous said...

Marina food is mediocre and there is nothing special about the Red Lion.

Anonymous said...

You didn't say bypass you said overpass. There was a freeway plan thru the center of town that, thankfully, didn't happen.

I am quite used to the attitude from people who don't live in Eureka putting it down for one reason or another. I am tired of it after living here for the past 30 years. It certainly has it's problems but since the real estate boom there has been a dramatic improvement. Love em or hate em the Arkleys money has also made quite a difference as well.

Tweakers are everywhere in Humboldt. People talk about diversity. I would ask you, where do you find that diversity? It certainly isn't Arcata, McKinleyville or Fortuna. No, it's right here in the Victorian Seaport.

I am not the only one who loves this old town with it's great Victorians and old neighborhoods. Arts alive shows the potential of our town, and said potential comes closer to reality everyday.

While 4th and 5th streets and Broadway can be a pain to get through in the summer I am very glad the freway was not built.

Now let me get this straight, did you say that people who visit Humboldt don't stay in Eureka, or did you say that they do? Oh yeah, you said both. Sounds like the overpass went right through your keyboard.

Anonymous said...

We stayed in Eureka at least once a year for a good dozen years or so before we moved here. Always enjoyed the stay... frequently in the Eureka Inn.

If you think Eureka's tweaker hoods are a turn off you haven't traveled much. Just take SF for instance. That town is full of low lifes and especially in the areas tourists go to.

samoasoftball said...

But you have to admit, on a nice mild winter day down in old town and then dinner at the Sea Grill and a night at the Gallager's bar and the Eagle House motel leaves those people with a good taste for Eureka. The town was just in a slump for a few days with the fire, weather and the standoff.

There. More upscale now? I was looking at it from a middle class traveler. Red Lion and Marina are cheaper.

Anonymous said...

I think the Eagle House is a front for some sort of illegal business.

samoasoftball said...

Ok ok. Let me try again. Best Western in at the Bayshore after a visit to Roy's Club and then a nightcap walking distance from the motel at the Boiler Room. Am I getting closer?

Anonymous said...

Carter House with steack and cocktails at the AA. Really.

Anonymous said...

Dinner at Go Fish with cocktails and entertainment at the Shanty and the Schooner.

samoasoftball said...

2:44pm-What hotel though? The Carter house is way pricey 1:57pm. Maybe the Carson House Inn next door for the middle class type.

Anonymous said...

Serenity Inn, of course.

Anonymous said...

I left Eureka in 1995 and could never imagine moving back. I am so glad I was able to raise my daughter away from the tweakers, especially during her high school years.Yes, she was raised in Suburbia with a choice of 5 high schools. I never had any problems with her as far as drugs or drinking. The best thing I could have ever done for her was to move away. We visit Eureka every Christmas and stay in a local motel for a week. Naturally it seems to rain the entire time we are there. I just hope the road doesn't wash away this year leaving us stuck for an extra week!

Anonymous said...

What I read: "...The best thing I could have ever done for her was to move away. We visit Eureka every Christmas and stay in a local motel for a week. Naturally it seems to rain the entire time we are there..."

Yes. It IS natural for the rain to fall at Christmastime in Eureka. In fact, rain often falls all along the Pacific coast during this time of year.

Perhaps a visit during August, when the Humboldt County Fair for over a hundred years has consistently enjoyed sunshine, would be a good choice.

By the way, we all have the choice, wherever we live, to associate with people of our own choosing. I'm sorry you felt you had to leave Eureka to find good people with whom to associate. But naturally, I am glad you did find the social environment you and your daughter needed, even if you felt the need to leave Eureka.