Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 2:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"The tourism council of the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce could work to create hotel packages, get downtown shops to stay open longer and bring in entertainment, she said."

This is the same old song, same old dance. If you are a shop owner, you owe it to Natchez to give up any family life or at least make your employees do without one, to stand around til all hours on weekdays, all day on Sundays and every holiday.....NOT! Be not so busy making a living, that you forget to make a life. Besides, it will never be enough for these people. Not only do they want your life, they will come knocking to get your merchandise also....you know you want to donate to every tom, dick, and harry event coming down the pike.

Do not forget to pay your inventory taxes in January. You know that is the one where you pay tax on all inventory in your shop and all fixtures whether they have been there ten years or not. This is not double taxation, but triple, quadruple, yada, yada, yada. The mayor and all his "henches" are depending on it.

Posted by NatchezBell (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 5:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

That's a wonderful idea about the packages...bundles...etc. People have to get on the computer to plan anything now-a-days...Use it or loose it as they say. Put it on Google, etc. if it's not already there; make it happen Natchez. It's about time everyone started working together instead of feeling alone and cheated. Good Luck and Hard Work Natchez. Amen.

"I Wish You Enough"

Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sorry but I totally agree shops should open till late and on Sundays for the tourist season at least. Case in point, Old South Trading Post is open non stop and late every night in the summer, and he doesn't complain about no shoppers. That man WORKS!

Posted by presby (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They didn,t worry about this back in the 60,s when they turned away all the industry they could.

Posted by presby (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Tourism around here is dead. What little remains won.t ever be the same..maybe the money counters counted too long..The economy is dead...We,re struggling at best over the whole USA

Posted by presby (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Since Ronnie Cox quit playing at the Ramada,their is no dancing entertainment that has the room or band that is was then. Crackerheads and hardcore partyers is the only thing keeping the night life afloat around here.

Posted by presby (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You can,t make milk out of tea.

Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Tourism is not dead . Our economy is just sleeping very soundly. It's waiting for "The Chosen One' to save us. Oprah said so ,so it must be true. I can't wait!!!!

Posted by eawprops (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Since the theme of this article is "all working together" I want to see that happen. I think that those of us directly involved in Natchez tourism should be included in advertising. Let's see a proof of the billboards before they're paid for. I would hope that the same old shot of a home with a carriage in front isn't going to be the bold new approach. It was bold 75 years ago. If that theme is used then there need to be bullet points to the side that give more info. A point for each of the following: fantastic B&Bs, great hotels, unique shopping in our bustling downtown, history tours, ghost tours, gambling on the river, exciting night life, and enough history and architecture to choke a horse. By now people know this town has a lot of beautiful old homes but they need to know we are more than that.
The Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville is the number one draw for the town and singlehandedly draws thousands yearly because of the ghost tours. The Myrtles is solidly booked year round and their ghost tours are sold out continually. Take advantage of our local ghost tour as a draw. People are very interested in ghosts these days.
We need to use every tool at our disposal.

Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA!

Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I like the way you think,eawprops

Posted by eawprops (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Something else that has bugged me for a long time is our lack of television exposure in Natchez. This town is a living museum and deserves major attention. We supposedly have a film commission so why doesn't it do anything? There have been 12 different travel and ghost hunting episodes filmed at the Myrtles Plantation. We can't get even one. Why is that? If we had that kind of national advertising we could get somewhere.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the book, breathed new life into Savannah Georgia. The movie didn't hurt either. I'm not asking for a successful book or movie just some travel channel episodes that highlight Natchez. Is that too much to ask of our film commission?

Posted by eawprops (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

thank you southernbelle and I like your line of thinking too

Posted by riverat (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree that promoting the "ghostly" history of Natchez is a good idea. That draws families- kids love that stuff- and not just people antique shopping. There are very few antebellum homes in Natchez that don't have some tale attached to them and for those of you who knew Jaqueline Stephens who started the Ghost Tour, she said many times that there were many, many other houses that had ghostly tales. I have always thought that FAMILY tourism made a lot more sense. Living history tours are what keeps places like savannah, Charleston, etc. so popular. We can easily do that here.

Posted by bombingeight (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So sad... belle, el, and eaw...whose Natchez is a bit like a petting zoo with snarling animals...It's time to get to work again. The grown-ups are now in charge.

Posted by been_there (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

eawprops & riverat, This is what I've been SCREAMING for days on other blogs on here. Perhaps if more people SCREAM, something will be done.
Here is something totally off the subject, but just got a newsflash!
The lower cost of gasoline per barrel is costing the Arab's a billion dollars a day. This should brighten up your lives. Hit them where it hurts. And now that gas is lower, perhaps more people will come back to Beautiful Natchez!

Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why is tourism drying up in Natchez? Maybe because the generations that had a vested interest in the civil war, visiting antebellum homes and coming for Pilgrimage are dead, dying and almost gone! Do the baby boomers (and those born after 1950) care about the Natchez history? Not really, why should they, the days of packed streets and tourists for these events are dwindling each and every year. Gamboling….well when times are good people blow extra money to gambol, this is not Biloxi, Atlantic City or Vegas, check their revenue, Vegas is in the trash can with a high rate of foreclosures and jobless rate climbing every day . My friends in construction are moving….no jobs; he built casinos and strip malls, all construction on hold or stopped. So again, what does Natchez have to offer that even the big cities can’t at this time in our economy…Nothing This is not Carmel, Santa Barbara, La Jolla, Martha’s Vineyard, Naples Florida where mom and pop boutiques thrive. Why, because they cater to the wealthy.

If the local government can’t see the writing on the wall then hopefully its citizens can. If you want better schools, hospitals and revenue you have to start somewhere…higher educated professionals would never move here for lack of the above. If you want to make money for this city you don’t cater to the poor, uneducated, minimum wage person. You cater to people that have money!

Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ideas:
You need to think out of the box, search out clean air industry…offer tax breaks to industries that will employ locals, tax cuts to move people here, move clean GREEN industry here. The movie industry could bring in short term revenue, tax breaks lure! Mississippi has land, lots of beautiful land…USE IT

Put proposals together to other existing rehab. centers across the country for a private Betty Ford type facility. They require families to stay in local hotels (and they eat out) for a week of their loved ones stay. That would not only bring in professionals that would buy houses and live here but add to the city’s revenue big time. You have a small airport that would be used/and improved over time, and could put the facility away from town, these patients can’t leave the facility and could also employ local medical personnel.

Look in the back of every Town & Country magazine and you will find at least one or more pages of private camps for children who are over weight, Facilities for over weight adults, children that have disciplinary problems, facilities for cosmetic and specialty surgeries.

If you want to cater to wealthy retirees build a Leisure World concept, NOT ON The BLUFFS! This town is no more ready for seniors than a truck stop, the facilities are not here!

I have lived in Natchez for almost 4 years, I have seen for myself that your tourism business is NOT what is going to pull this city out of the grave it has dug for itself! By allowing ultra conservative special interest groups run city politics for so long you get what you put out. More money wasted on tourism is just that…wasted. Monies should be spent on searching out ideas like the above. If you continue to focus on recreational things for middle America you will continue to go broke, they DO NOT have disposable money. The road is a long one, like a domino theory, you need to fix existing problems before anyone will want to move here, there are 5 houses on my block for sale, let alone all over town…why. For those that grew up here and relish memories of a quiet picturesque little town, get over it, it’s time to move on and make money for your families and the city…it will never be the same again it’s time to accept that and move towards what will revitalize this town.

Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh dear lord Elgoodo, all of the above are green/clean air industry, including the tourism and gamboling that this town has put all of it's marbles into one basket to support this city. R/D development ie: Chapel hill NC are clean/green air. how do you think the research triangle went out and got all that development in the 80's? They sent out city fathers to investigate other cities that were doing the same thing, and having problems like Natchez. They offered tax incentives to bring the companies there, how do I know, because I was involved in researching the area for a firm based in Beverly hills that did build and move several business' there. Any business that does not spew garbage into the atmosphere can be considered green/clean air.

Posted by friendofjimmy (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Southerngirl,

Obama won. Get over it. Sore loser.

Posted by kpage (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

2008...I agree with almost all of your post. If local government would lesson their focus on catering to the wealthy, as they have done for many years in this area, then Natchez may have a chance. That's why the place is in this shape! Forget the "regular" person and care only for the money man. Typical here in Natchez.

Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Kpage not sure I understand your post? Obviously Natchez has never catered to the wealthy or retirees. The facilities are not here. Middle America/families no longer have disposable income. Seniors unless wealthy don't have disposable incomes either. The business as usual way of government here in Natchez over the last 20 years has brought us to this point. Educated, wealthy people spend money, their money is not going away, why would they come here, move here, invest here? This town needs alot more than mom and pop stores, old houses and history to draw people here for more than afew days. It needs JOBS, INDUSTRY and forward thinking local government. The "regular" person here in Natchez is going broke, Ya have to make money to spend money. With a city filled with a small minority of professionals and a huge population that depends on minimum wages to survive their is no middle class. What maybe worked in the past is in the past, it isn't working anymore, here or in other communities that depend on casinos or history. This city needs jobs, the citizens need jobs....tourism isn't going to provide jobs.

Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

well ogoodo, sink or swim, no progress no growth. all of the ideas I proposed wouldn't even be in the city or downtown. If the city continues on it's path you won't have to worry, Natchez will never prosper. It's obvious that the powers in control over the last twenty years have really made the right decisions to keep Natchez in the past. See how prosperous it is, Why is anyone complaining?

Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am for the gost tours, good idea. But, you have to have something else. Kpage you speak of going after the money people. Well if you have plenty of money where would you spend it Natchez or why would you even come to Natchez to spend it. If you have plenty of money you want to put it to good use when it come to leisure time. You have to offer a lot more than we have here. Natchez is going to have to get a good draw if they want more people to come here. What does Natchez have more of today that it did not have 20 years ago??? There lies the problem I always speak of. Look at Vicksburg and the Gulf coast, are they the same today as 20 years ago? If a man with his family came here and wanted to buy a nice suit downtown where would he go? Mom wants to go to the spa, where would she go? Where would she go if she wanted to buy some high end name brand clothes?, J.C. Penny? These are simple questions that I can't understand why our leaders don't ask themselves when thinking about getting more people here. It's always the same old thing, an old house, a buggy ride, and a hoop skirt. We have more historic houses and historic places that have been refurbished than we have ever had in the history of Natchez. Still the numbers decline in tourists. Not to mention we have spent more millions and millions in promoting the "tourist industry" than a lot more places with a lot less return. Our streets, crime, hospitals, schools and workforce gets worse and worse, and still none of our leadership can come up with any new game plan. The whole country is hurting and it's tight, but when the economy does come back it will come back for everybody. What will we have different when it does. Even when the economy was half way decent our numbers were still lackluster and going down. Again, keep what's left of the tourist industry but come up with a plan B. It has gotten so bad I would be willing to try anything different if I was in this towns leadership.

Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

On the contrary, Jimbo, I am not only over it, I want him to succeed . He has a lot of promises to keep and like most politicians, I'm afraid he was just blowing smoke. For the good of our country I hope not . I am keeping an eye on him though. People he has associations with are too often perceived in a bad light. That bad light keeps falling on him . How many times can he say these thugs weren't important in his life. Still now that he is the pres-elect I will support him but I may not agree with him . I hope I can .

Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You got that right,Mr. Goodo!

Posted by Bobaloo (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ronny Cox sets the bar for entertainment.... ouch.

Posted by Bobaloo (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

elgoodo the prophet..... still glad you can only impact your own life.

Posted by kpage (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

2008...have you been under a rock? You don't believe Natchez caters to the wealthy? I could post a huge paragraph in defense of my argument, but if you don't see it, no words of mine will make you see it differently.

Posted by BlessMyMule (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

http://www.colin.edu/nlcc/

That's the link to my favorite Literary Festival and it's only a couple of months away. I attend each year but most people I know aren't even aware it's in Natchez. I bring as many people I can if only to spend a day and attend the luncheon at Stanton Hall. We'll take in the play at the NLT, this time - To Kill A Mockingbird. I am sure you all know about this, however I live just this side of St. Francisville and unfortunately it is not well known even to those who attend the Louisiana Festival of the Book or who plan to follow the Southern Literary Trail beginning next March.

http://www.southernliterarytrail.org/tra...

I worked as a tour guide/director for 20+ years and I really think Literary Tours could be of great interest to many different focus groups. I'm retired now and I plan to follow them and enjoy all the hard work that goes into them.

I also attended Tommy Polk's SongFest this past October - This man is a genius.

Natchez is my second favorite city on the whole MS River and that's what the passengers on the AQ, DQ and MQ use to say, too.

Anyway, we'll see y'all in February for what promises to be the best NLCC, yet. - Can't wait...

Posted by whataboutit (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

to you 2008...four years is not nearly long enough for you to have lived in our town for you to make so "knowingly" comments, you my friend no Nothing.

The Literary Tours have turned to nothing but about African American writers. NOT trying to be a bigot by give me a break.

Posted by Bobaloo (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i do enjoy....

Posted by whataboutit (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Before the spell nazi gets me. "my friend know nothing"
"but, give me a break"
Mr. Goody two shoes(elgoodo) tourism jobs may be mean nothing to you and indeed the pay may be low, but it is a job and it does pay. Do you ever tip a good waiter enough?
Do you look down on these people for having such a meaningless job, then shame on you. Do you travel to other cities? Who do you think is the back bone to any town that has resturants and hotels and b&b's?
Please, please stop putting down jobs of any kind. It is what it is.

Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Elgoodo, I to “detest religious fervor”, I am not talking scams, Follow me here, why is solar power so expensive, does it need to be? It isn’t only economics. Would it not be great to come up with an economical way to build new construction and also be able to retrofit existing homes in areas that have lots of sun, selling back excess energy, storing power for cloudy days. If a person had the qualifications to do r/d, (maybe retired) or the capacity to apply for grants, or took the initiative to find others and network/or business’s that are also trying to do the same thing because they care that our future existence on this planet depends on these kinds of technological advances and many more that affect every aspect of our daily lives. My belief as to why the cost effectiveness at this point for solar power and other much needed clean air industries is GREED, GREED and more GREED. What has happened to our society’s ingenuity, creativeness, a desire to be innovative, our engineers, garage inventors, scientists etc. Did that all go to China or have we just become a society of lazy, let someone else do it, so what people? Until our country and it’s people get off of the me wagon and see the potential for the we generation it will not generate people to take the bull by the horns and fight big business, (like the auto industry) our local and state agencies or our politicians. We need to teach education in conservation, teaching our children and their children not to throw garbage out of the windows of cars or on the city street. It is time to take RESPONSIBILITY for why we are where we are today in all aspects of our lives. Our country has not been responsible in a lot of ways nor has it promoted and educated it’s young to be responsible. 70’s-now have as we are now being rudely shown, brought us several generations of me citizens. It’s a thought process in taking responsibility, moving away from the greed, rebelling against being taken advantage of, the power of people and their voices can be heard, the baby boomer generation has been implicit in allowing this to happen it’s time to take responsibility to be able to move forward. There for until Natchez is willing to grow in other directions and away from offering it’s people nothing more than minimum wage Wallmart, restaurant and hotel jobs we are where we are. My opinion only

Posted by BlessMyMule (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

2009 is focusing on Women Writers of very diverse backgrounds - Eudora Welty, Julia Reed - JoAnne Morris will be discussing her new book about another woman's fascinating career who happens to be an African American. All of these women are treasures.

I am having an easy time of generating interest among family & friends, all of whom I want to share the NLCC experience because they are the ones who plan the vacations and the day-trips - they are the woman of house. Focusing on women and what women want is good sense.

Literary Festivals draw the gamut. Writers and want-to-be writers and voracious readers and parents who want their children to become fine readers and or writers - it just goes on and on. I called to get tickets early so I don't miss out on a thing. My dilemma is how many to buy because everyone wants to come when I ask if they're planning to travel up to Natchez for a day.

Spreading the good word is imperative to continued success.

Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

kpage
how long does it take to see empty store fronts, business going out of business, houses for sale on every block, houses in foreclosure, local mom and pop business complaining because no one is shopping, Empty parking lots at the mall most of the year, tourist business in trouble, It only takes a pair of eyes to see the obvious, not a lifetime of living here.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 9:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Southernbelle, ElGoodo,
May I join you in everlasting praise?

O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA!

What a hoot!

Posted by oldsaw (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jim Coy resigned and this group can't seem to get it together. Jim kept them moving. The powers that be thought they knew it all. I guess we see now what they really know. Not much.

Posted by presby (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 11:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No industry is coming to Natchez..or anything of any size..They have to pass rigid standards,rules,hogwash,and whatever the committee,s can dream up around here to make them struggle...aka Fat Mama,s Tamales..

Posted by presby (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 11:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

. How many times can he say these thugs weren't important in his life.?????????? ..Our Prez???

Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on December 18, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

2008, you can't stop man or beast from being greedy . But it is so unattractive . And presby, It's very important to preserve our historical value. It's also important to live in a good clean environment , and its also important to be able to make a good living . Sometimes its hard for us Monday morning quarterbacks to realize that sometimes you have to be a little extreme to get even a little bit done . There are so many good things to be thankful for . They far outweigh the bad . I don't even have to tell ya'll that . We do need and want aggressive leaders . We need leaders with foresight as well as hindsight. We are not suppose to keep making the same mistakes . But sometimes we do . Sometimes it is hard to think outside the box . It's called being in a rut. I think the powers that be need to get in gear and get us out of this rut. That's why they make the big bucks . I don't think they are lazy just a little too self-absorbed sometimes . Ya gotta work together . Co-ordinate things that are important to bringing us progress and not losing our assets along the way . You know I mentioned in an earlier post that this is a good time to introduce some of these homes,gardens and parks to our youngsters . Let me add the ghost tours to it . What's more fun than that ! While Mom or Dad is finishing up the shopping and baking ,the spouse not doing those things could take the little darlings out and make some memories. we might even come back thinking outside the box .

Posted by BlessMyMule (anonymous) on December 18, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with the posts from southernbelle - The Goat Castle Murder story is amazing and yet remains such a secret to most who do not live in or around Natchez. My husband’s family is from Natchez – we spend some of our time there and also in the Kingston area. I once thought about a tour having to do with the GC Murder story and incorporating the beginnings of the Pilgrimage even to touch upon the Big Mammy which was originally built symbolize a Southern Belle as per Pilgrimage. That the Garden Club connected their reasoning to the publicity being brought down upon Dockery & Dana and the owner of BM did also and then all of this eventually evolved was pure genius. You have all the elements of a great 'southern' draw - Moonlight, magnolias, madness, mayhem, race, opulence...Calm, chaos, calm.

Embrace the Ghost Hunting craze. Invite the group that holds Leisure Classes on how to find and love your local ghosts. I was thinking of enrolling in the one at LSU just for fun. I'll probably be amazed at 'who' the participants turn out to be. Invite their head ghost busters for a tour of Natchez, treat them to drinks at King's Tavern; enlist your finest, friendliest local tour guide to entice them - the groups they have influenced will follow them with their film crews. Roswell N.M. has made an entire industry with less.

The ghosts will love the attention. I understand ghosts are very self-centered. So much for evolving.

Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on December 18, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

to whataboutit: the four years of living here has shown me plenty. a person does not even need to live here to see the deterioration of this town, all you need to do is drive through it, or read these blogs. When you say “it is what it is” you are showing all that you accept the status quo and acceptance for a way of life here in Natchez based on minimum wage jobs whether in retail or tourism or any other occupation. Don’t you want more for your town, your family, your friends your life? Everyone references Mama’s Tamales as an example of the problems facing a new business, or moving a business in Natchez. Why? Because of the business practices and small groups of outdated, no growth, living in the past, selfish, short sighted organizations stuck on their own agenda’s. So many people complaining all the time about the problems here in Natchez and yet nothing changes month after month year after year, Why are these organizations allowed to continue running this town? You don’t like it…stand up and take RESPONSIBILITY to make the necessary changes, how can such a small minority hold this town hostage. Talk about being an ostrich with heads in the ground, does no one feels any sense of remorse for allowing this to happen to Natchez. If the governing powers have been making such great decisions why are their any complaints? Yes it is what it is because people like you just accept it, so I must assume you are perfectly happy with the economy and have no complaints. So be it my friend, if you have lived here so long and don’t see all the problems and have not contributed to make changes you know nothing.

Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on December 18, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

From kpage: 2008...have you been under a rock? You don't believe Natchez caters to the wealthy? I could post a huge paragraph in defense of my argument, but if you don't see it, no words of mine will make you see it differently.

Well I don't live under a rock, but I don't see where the wealthy are being catered to. One fairly expensive (for Natchez) restaurant, The Castle at Monmouth. Over priced small rooms at the Eola, high end rooms at Dunleith and Melrose. Other than that where are the facilities that cater to the wealthy? Where are the high end retailers, (not talking about over priced items on Main Street) or antiques because your average minimum wage earner or locals don't for the most part shop for antiques. Can't put Belk's or JC Penny in category of catering to the wealthy. The real estate market (with the exception of a few 1/2 million and up homes) is inexpensive compared to the rest of the country. This town can't support high end, the business would be out of business before it even opened. I have a lot of company and family from out of town visiting year round, if I have missed something please let me know; they would surely spend the money, and would gladly appreciate your referrals.

NatchezEnema (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 2:14 p.m pretty much summed it up!

Posted by presby (anonymous) on December 19, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

These tourism articles are like the politicians that have their campaign speeches set on automouth..They spit and spatter and lot of hogwash,but nothing ever really changes....same thing here....no forward motion..economy is dead ,,tourism is dead...plus their is a vast difference in the tourist of yesteryear and the tourist of present day. I don,t think younger people are as interested in the piligramage and old homes anymore..Gone With The Wind has kinda gone with the wind..i don,t care how you slice it.

Posted by presby (anonymous) on December 19, 2008 at 7:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If the economy world wide is suffering why would anyone think a lot of tourists are coming to town..It,s bad all over,,really bad...even in the towns that have much,much more to offer than Natchez...

Posted by presby (anonymous) on December 19, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Worth repeating
If the local government can’t see the writing on the wall then hopefully its citizens can. If you want better schools, hospitals and revenue you have to start somewhere…higher educated professionals would never move here for lack of the above. If you want to make money for this city you don’t cater to the poor, uneducated, minimum wage person. You cater to people that have money!