North Dakota’ Efforts to Attract Tourists

Scott Kraft’s article (Nov. 5), “N. Dakota: Taking Chill Off Image,” and the state’s effort to promote tourism prompts this letter.

I was born in Bismarck, N.D., in March of 1936. My grandfather MacDonnell was a state railroad commissioner, walked to work, blizzard or no, and ate an apple a day for lunch. Aside from my birth I expect his daily apple was the most exciting thing that ever happened to him in the state.

At a tender age I moved to Baltimore, Md., and then, thanks to the moving gods, to Spearfish, S.D., which is “west of the river” and a place that puts Bismarck and Baltimore to shame--an easy task.

I formed the Black Hills State Teachers College tennis team so we could go on spring road trips to recover from South Dakota winters, which had a tendency to leave snow on our Easter lilies.

Today’s finest tennis pro hasn’t suffered the agony of defeat to the fullest measure until he has tried to serve into the gale force wind of a North Dakota spring breeze. Downwind, returning the ball is like trying to hit a big bullet.

When the wind stops, one is blanketed with mosquitoes that make the B-1 bomber look like a Piper Cub. It does take your mind off the game.

I must be honest and say that I am jealous of Jim Fuglie, North Dakota’s state tourism director. Getting tourists to come to the state is the kind of job most of us who work for a living would love to have. Any improvement would be a big improvement.

I wish Jim well and offer these suggestions on how to increase tourism.

Have the Fargo International Pinochle Playoff. Residents could judge the “Games” since they know the rules and there’s nothing else to do.

For those pressed for time they could count the Hefflefingers of Hettinger. Most of this famous family has moved to Southern California so it won’t take much time.

People love contests and since residents of North Dakota have inherent skills that can be put to use to run these events we could increase tourism and have some fun at the same time.

“Staring at the Horizon” is a favorite North Dakota activity that could be made into at least a national competition.

That could lead to a ready-made core of civil defense wardens or even to a discovery of another Angie Dickinson, which is the best thing to come out of North Dakota since Peggy Lee and me.

BRUCE DAVIS

Alhambra