USDA Forest Service

1. Saving Endangered Historic Buildings Rocky Mountain Region USDA Forest Service

2. Investing in Our Heritage; Working Together • Preserve important historic buildings • Develop business opportunities • Promote intelligent management of unique and endangered structures

3. The National Recreation Agenda • Adopted agency-wide December 2000 • Emphasizes partnering with non-government organizations, other agencies, private sector • Social science plus market-based research = better decisions • Conservation education through heritage recreation • Collaboratively planning with communities

4. The Project • Identifies our best historic structures • Explores partnership opportunities for new and different uses • Strengthens local communities by supporting tourism and recreation • Links historic preservation with sustainable business practices • Uses principles of an “outcome-based” business model

5. Some Potential Outcomes • Historic preservation • Improved public access to agency resources • Enhanced recreation experiences • Long-term plans for maintaining buildings • Strong local economies through sustainable tourism • Positive image building • Financial return on investments • Tax benefits for partners

6. The Tools • Recreation Fee Demonstration Authority • Conventional special use permits • Unconventional special use permits • A centralized property management system for Historic Structures • Models for Public-Private Ventures

7. What’s a Public-Private Venture? • A private and public investment in recreation opportunities • A long-term partnership • Brings private sector expertise and capital to work for public benefits • Allows for Profitability for partners

8. Partnerships • Work together to develop a project • May include a 20-30 year commitment • Mutually shared expertise and investments • Fees go back into the investment, not to Treasury • NGO strengths enhanced by minimizing agency “red tape”

9. The Bottom Line FS Contributions Partner Contributions Historic Properties Appropriate Building Uses Great settings Possibly Capital Improvement Regulatory Assistance Property Management Modest Cash Matches Long Term O & M ___________________________________________ EVERYBODY WINS!!!

10. FS inventory: Over 275 buildings with many potential uses, a wide range of maintenance needs

11. How were structures chosen? • Historically/architecturally significant • Attractive building and setting • Good condition or restorable • Underutilized or not used • Management support for partnerships and alternative ways of doing business

12. Building Types • Bunkhouses • Cabins • Fire Lookouts • Houses • Lodges • Ranger Stations • Special places

13. Fire Lookouts • Remote mountain top locations • Ground level or towers • Overnight rentals • Fantastic views • Variety of settings • Ten available now

14. Scott Lookout Tower Nebraska National Forest

15. Custer Peak Fire Lookout Black Hills National Forest

16. Lodges • Many have associated cabins • Scenic settings • Group or family lodging • Large interior spaces • Rentals, special activities • Six available

17. Interlaken Lodge Pike-San Isabel National Forest

18. Arrowhead Lodge Arapaho–Roosevelt National Forest

19. Rainbow’s End Lodge Medicine Bow National Forest

20. Ranger and Guard Stations • Formerly Guard Stations or Work Centers • Multiple buildings • Usually secluded • Year-round recreation • Thirty available

21. Buckhorn Ranger StationArapaho-Roosevelt National Forest

22. Hardy Work Center Black Hills National Forest

23. Aspen Guard Station San Juan National Forest

24. Mesa Lakes Ranger Station Grand Mesa National Forest

25. Ward Lake Guard Station Grand Mesa National Forest

26. Basalt Work Center White River National Forest

27. Cabins • Usually single-room • Year-round access (most) • Quietly secluded • Rustic • Potential “Hut system” • Overnight rentals • Fifteen available now

28. Whaley Cabin Bighorn National Forest

29. Brown Cabin Pike-San Isabel National Forest

30. Ranches & Homesteads • Roaded access • Stables/corrals common • Perfect for family reunions • Start your day ride here! • Seven available now

31. Double D Ranch Shoshone National Forest

32. Rourke Ranch Comanche National Grassland

33. Mining & Railroad Communities • Boom and bust – now mostly dust • Explore with an experienced guide • Possible movie sets • Educational tours • Five available

34. Kirwin Mining Townsite Shoshone National Forest

35. Vance Coal Chutes Uncompahgre National Forest

36. Special Places • Interpretive space • Educational groups • Retail opportunities

37. Land’s End Observatory Grand Mesa National Forest

38. Mad Creek Barn Routt National Forest

39. For more information: Terri Liestman 303-275-5051 tliestman@fs.fed.us Doug Stephens 308-432-0333 dstephens01@fs.fed.us Jerry Wylie 801-625-5172 jwylie@fs.fed.us

40. MARKETING STUDYCurrent Uses of Historic Bldgs • Visitor Center/Tourist Information • Shop • Restaurant • Historic attraction • Training facility • Government office • Environmental education center • Overnight accommodations

41. Camping cabins ($20-40) Mountaineering huts ($22-35/pp, $150-200 cabin) Family camps ($48-270) Hostels ($8-27) Dude/Guest ranch ($95-300) Lodge rooms/suites ($200-235) B&B rooms ($50-130) Vacation cabin or Guest house ($50-150) Vacation/mountain homes ($150-325) Rustic or Historic Rentals

42. Ranking of Median Prices $210 – Dude/Guest Ranch $200 – Vacation/Mountain Home $175 – Mountaineering Huts (entire cabin) $100 – Lodge Rooms (1-2 persons) $90 – Cabins/Guest Houses (1-2 bdrms) $80 – B&B rooms (couple) $30 – Camping Cabins $25 – Mountaineering Huts (per person) $15 – Hostels (per person)

43. Demographic Trends • Increasing affluence • Rising educational levels • Household variety • Cultural diversity • Growing influence of women • Aging population

44. Trend #1Economic concerns will result in cautious behavior and affect all travel segments Consumers will stay a little closer to home, spend less, seek bargains and package deals, and are less likely to purchase “exotic” travel products. Weekend trips will increase, especially within a 3-4 hour drive of home.

45. Trend #2Internet technology use will increase significantly Fast, accurate, user-friendly planning technology is in demand by the consumer and will be the main travel marketing tools.

46. Trend #3Leisure travel will increase Weekend trips provide more than half of all U.S. leisure travel. Most have one long, 5-9 day trip plus 4 or 5 short “getaways” each year. Family reunions and vacations are important, especially for Generation X (25-35 yrs).

47. Trend #4Business travel will decrease The current economic environment will force businesses to reduce all unnecessary travel. (No known effect on USFS historic properties)

48. Trend #5Top attractions in 2001 match USFS sites and settings • Ocean/Beach • Mountains • Historic Sites • Outdoor Recreation Areas • Lakes USFS historic properties match this trend perfectly!

49. Trend #6 Off-season travel will increase • The 1999 travel pattern was 20% winter, 24% spring, 33% summer, and 24% fall. • Don’t overlook the growing spring and fall market.

50. Trend #7Group Travel is Changing • General decline in group travel. • Baby Boomers are unlikely to participate. • Cost is no longer a critical decision factor. • Fun and unique sells. • Look for an increase in group travel by Generation Xers (25-35 yrs) looking for deals and family experiences.