Posted by: John_Hamilton on 09/05/2011 08:49 AM
Updated by: John_Hamilton on 09/05/2011 08:49 AM
Expires: 01/01/2016 12:00 AM
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Win-Win Solution Proposed for Sutter Gold Mine Tours
Vallecito, CA -- Sierra Nevada Recreation Corporation (SNRC) wants to work with Sutter Gold Mining Company to keep the successful underground tour operation at Sutter Gold Mine open while gold mining takes place, for a win-win solution to the current controversy....
In recent weeks, Sutter Gold Mining Company has been stating publically that the successful and popular tour operation operated by SNRC at Sutter Gold Mine in Sutter Creek will soon close to make way for gold mining. However, SNRC President Stephen Fairchild says: “As far as we are concerned, this not an either/or situation. We are confident the tours can be run while gold mining is occurring making for an even more thrilling and educational tour. This was our understanding when we took on the lease from the gold mining company in 2001.” His comment is based on the original intention behind Sutter Gold Mining Company's development of the tour in 1989. In fact, their former President and CEO, Mike Sweeney was quoted in a 2001 newspaper article as saying that these tours would continue once gold mining started.
Sutter Gold Mine Tours brings significant benefit to the local community. Recent News 10 coverage stated that the gold mining company would bring in 100 high paying jobs as opposed to the dozen or so tour guide jobs provided by SNRC. But SNRC’s argument is that neither need be lost if they could work together and bring both benefits to the community. Even so, if this were an either/or situation, News 10's coverage did not take into consideration all of the additional businesses that benefit from the Sutter Gold Mine tour operation.
SNRC’s 26,000+ visitors per year don't just spend their money at Sutter Gold Mine on their tour and souvenirs. They eat in local restaurants, stay in local lodging and take part in additional recreation. They buy gas locally and shop at the market for snacks. The accumulated benefit to the local community is much larger than a dozen tour guide jobs. In addition, the tour operation could conceivably continue indefinitely, providing guiding jobs for decades, whereas the mining jobs will go away once the resource is exhausted.
SNRC wants Amador County's premier underground gold mine tours to continue, and they want Sutter Gold Mining Company to be successful. They believe the tour operation is great PR for the mining industry and for Sutter Gold Mining Company in particular. SNRC’s marketing director, Lisa Boulton says: “It would be a terrible shame to lose the very positive impact on local and state tourism that Sutter Gold Mine Tours brings, a tour that has won accolades from the traveling public, locals, teachers, visitors from foreign countries and travel professionals, a tour that adds to the ambience of Amador County and gives visitors more reasons to visit.”
More information can be found on the tour operation at: www.suttergold.com.
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