We are going into hiding around here

[contender]

Well, the World Equestrian Games are due to start tomorrow. The event center is just about 9 miles away from me. Between traffic, the lack of available facilities close to them, the huge increase in LEO presence, (and ALL of the alphabet agencies) etc,,, Miss Penny & I are choosing to avoid as much of this CRAP as possible.
From what I was told, the Prince of Dubai is arriving today, and has an entire hotel booked for him & his group.
A local B&B burned down a few days ago, and there were 19 rooms there,,, those folks lost a place to stay.
A guy from Tx who had a reservation, arrived with his horses,, and was told; "No, we don't have a reservation for you.
Homeland Security is all around,,, as well as all the big agencies.

I'm doing my rain dance,,, hoping for 12 days of steady continuous rain. I can hide & not have to work as much,,, with a good excuse. Oh, and the rain can park itself right over the games.

Now, if y'all think I'm bad,,, let me delve into why I feel this way.
Polk County has about 16,000 residents.
I-26 passes through it. US 74 also passes through it, and that 4 lane road is right beside the Equestrian Center.
Where I-26 & US-74 interchange,, in the little town of Columbus,, it was determined that these horse folks needed a better interchange to get from I-26 onto US-74. An estimated $19 million dollar expense,, paid for by the State taxpayers. yet, it has been delayed, isn't finished, and is over budget. Traffic is going to be a nightmare.

They keep throwing estimates of 25,000 to 50,000 people daily will be there. For a total of upwards of 500,000 people.
The infrastructure to house, feed & move all these people is not here. There are not enough eating places, motels or hotels, or heck, even parking for all this.

Next,,, if just 1% of the attendees choose to visit the area,,, and eventually buy land to bring their horses & all here,,, that will be an additional 5000 people who will boost the population to well over 20,000, AND they will push their attitudes, regulations etc upon the rest of us. Farming, hunting, etc will be pushed out. Not to mention the increase in property taxes to give them the amenities they demand.

As for jobs,,, they have imported many people to work who are not local. The only local people who work there are cheap laborers. Not really helping the economy. And while some say the increase will also bring in tax revenue,, it will not go to local stuff enough to offset the demands.
So, I expect an increase in land sales, followed by an increase in taxes, and a small special interest group forcing their ways upon the county.

Sometime growth & progress is not as good as they make it seem.

 

[Big Old Boy]

Looks like a storm is coming up the coast, may your rain dance be a success.

 

[Bob Wright]

Here in Memphis there was a local singer, now long since dead, but each year people come from all around to celebrate his birthday, date of his death, whatever they deem important. And Memphis is flooded with these folks. But we are far enough from his hose that we don't feel crowded by the activities. Folks do seem to have a good time, though. And Beale St. flourishes from the flow of beer and other libations.

Bob Wright

 

[Dave P.]

Florence may come and visit you folks.
You might be far enough west to miss
some of the water, maybe not.
Good Luck
Dave

 

[Pat-inCO]

Well contender, you sure there is not another place in your state where you
would just love to live? If all those people want to move into your area then
you should be able to get a premium price for yours. If you can get a
premium enough price, you can have someone else move you and get
away from all those people and increasing prices.
- - - - Well you can at least dream can't you?

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Any place "worth" living is experiencing the same types of things.

 

[Cholo]

Looks like your rain dance worked. Look at the extended forecast for Mill Spring

 

[Fox Mike]

I have pictures in my head of them hauling horsey trailers around that little rotary near the Days Inn. That is a PITA in a car, I can just imagine someone that isn't sure where they are going going around it. Sounds like a great time for some of the 'honey-dos' that always seem to get put off.

 

[jimbo1096]

Sounds like a good place to bring a food truck, may be a entrepreneur's dream. I avoid places and events like that like the plague. My time spent in San Diego and Los Angeles cured me of wanting to drive on freeways with heavy traffic and being in large crowds. Good luck at keeping a low profile,

 

[graygun]

Make as much gun noise as possible.

 

[dougader]

Hang in there, Contender!

We went to the area's biggest Oktoberfest last year, and don't think we want to do it again. We don't drink, and there is better bratwurst (honestly, made by a Portland company) available at the grocery store. The crowds get insane, so we went early, ate some brats, watched a few traditional dances then scrambled to get out of town...

 

[RoninPA]

Pat-inCO,
You have to visit Tyrones place. I would not move from there if I lived there, it is just a fantastic beautiful area (and he has a super great shooting range).

That said, the wife and I (and a number of people from the forum) have been there when things were going on and it is just STUPID how these people act. Even in a grocery store. You get the distinct impression from them that they feel they are better than the old "hillbillies" that live around this area. I have heard them complain that a store doesn't carry something that their store back home does (no matter where it is) and doesn't the store know that they should carry it just for them when they come to the equestrian happening. (I have actually heard that statement).

These aren't normal horse people, these are the hoity-toity "well bred" people that think the locals should bow to them and cater to their every needs.

I'm not a local, (the high and mighty probably would not consider me any better than the locals) and I am so turned off by these attitudes they bring.

 

[Mobuck]

Crawl in a hole and pull a rock in behind you.
BTW, I hate "hoity toity" and avoid at all costs.

 

[blume357]

My joke was: " Dern, I was thinking about coming up that way and begging a bunk for the show."

If you and Ms. Penny want to come down to Prosperity for a day or two and camp out... the S.C. Chimney sweep guild is hosting an event Friday and Saturday... finishing the pizza oven we've been building for 3 years,,.. installing gas burners in our metal Sweep Man.... and here's the big draw... Friday morning our infamous stump shoot.. we'll be shooting a lot of different weapons including a number of full autos. And probably blowing a few things up. Saturday night we have one heck of a fireworks show. Too much good food.

 

[graygun]

My sister who lives in SC is one of those horsey freaks but not affluent. She'll probably be there.

 

[Cholo]

As long as they're gone when I get there

 

[Coogs]

TY, know what ya mean. We have a thing called appelfest( I have termed it A$$holefest) That brings about 100,000 people in to a town of 8,000. Started out as a venue for local non profits to sell their wares and get some extra $$. Spots were $25. Now spots are $350 local groups can't afford it and the only people making a profit are bars, local eateries and hotels, as well as the groups that do come in, from out of county and state....and by the way they take all that $$ out of the town, It last three days. As a service industry business I lose about $3-5,000.00 out of my pocket that weekend. All employees off with pay for a day plus the profit they would bring in.....Feel for ya Ty.....Be careful down there, I think old Flo is going to hit your coast at a Cat 4......good luck....

 

[contender]

Well,,, I'm watching the weather closely,, and yes,,, we may get some stuff off the hurricane. It rained pretty good last night,, then again this afternoon. More forecast as the week progresses.

Bob,, that singer you speak of,,, we are fans,, but NOT stupid & crazy like some. But,, we do have tickets to a tribute show this coming Friday at the Flat Rock Playhouse. The only tribute show authorized by Graceland. And,, the singer,, Donny Edwards,, a very nice young man. We saw his show last year,, and he was very humble to be doing his work. It was a good enough show for us to attend another one this year.

Pat,,, I am a deep-rooted hillbilly. I was here long before most of the transplants. I will admit that my Dad came here right after WWII,,, for R&R on Uncle Sam's dime,, and decided to move here. Selling out is not my way. And as Ron mentioned,, I have a lot invested in my place,, and it's been a long labor of love,,, building my range & enjoying it all. Nope,, not moving.

Frank,,, one of the traffic things I was speaking of,,, those derned round-a-bouts,,, that can be a problem. THAT'S one of the road construction things we've had going on,, and it's still not "complete." But,,, they say things are as ready as they can be. It has been a nightmare for the last several months putting up with their road work,, and it's ALL been done just for these snobby horse folks.

graygun,,, I actually do plan a bit of gunfire,, frequently,,, around here. In fact,, our monthly USPSA match is supposed to be this coming Saturday. if the weather doesn't flood us out,, we'll have a fair amount then. But,, Hey,, I want them to understand I was here first,, and so was my range.

Ron is right,, we do get a lot of "visitors" who think we should bow to them. They get upset when things aren't the way they are wherever they came from. Well,,, I have told MANY of them; "If you don't like it here,, go the H*!! back to your home & leave us alone here."
I'm their worst nightmare, an educated hillbilly.

Blume,, many thanks for the invite. But,, I'd have to pass through this insanity to get to you. Avoiding any southern route for the next 14 days.

 

[contender]

Ken,,, most of them should be gone by the time the Gathering rolls around! Any stragglers can listen to the gunfire!

Jack,,, We have so dern many festivals & such in Trashville,,, (Asheville to the non-locals) that I know exactly what you mean. This past weekend,, it was "Goombay Fest." Two weeks ago,, it was the event where women protest,, and go topless. (Most of the women we've seen on TV were the types I'd say: "Put a top on you are scaring the kids!" )
But our NC Apple Festival,, at 72 years long,, is still about the local apple farmers,, and such. Much of the early apple crop is sold during that weekend. But,, we avoid it too,,, but it's nowhere nearly as bad as many other things.

 

[CLAYPOOL]

I know one thing that will be there in abundance, Horse Manure.....

 

[gramps]

I know one thing that will be there in abundance, Horse Manure.....

Yep, you know they will clean up after that! Those well fed equines will turn expensive feed into fertilizer constantly. :shock: :lol: Ty, I think your man cave is a good place to hunker down!
gramps

 

[contender]

There was a lot of manure flying around here,, LONG before the games arrived,,,,,,,,,,!

 

[mohavesam]

All those "event tourists" will be paying the tax monies, so you don't have to.
Your electeds have already spent that money, rest assured.

As to the PITA factor, its the same everywhere.
BTW, why aren't you selling something to those well-monied hoards? Take the opportunity!!!

 

[Fox Mike]

Just watching the Weather Channel and it looks like the ponies might get wet. Now we have a REAL nightmare. Horse trailers, rain, and screwed up 'roundabouts'.

 

[contender]

"All those "event tourists" will be paying the tax monies, so you don't have to.
Your electeds have already spent that money, rest assured.

As to the PITA factor, its the same everywhere.
BTW, why aren't you selling something to those well-monied hoards? Take the opportunity!!!"

First off,,, I'm more worried that a small percentage of the tourists (the 1% I spoke of,) buying land & all then moving here and changing things here.
Their tax money right now is nothing. Sure,, the state and the county will get some,,, but it will sopn be gone. But the "profits" made by many right now will be lost when we are forced to pay higher property taxes in the coming years.

As for selling that crowd anything,, Nope,, NADA,,, ! My business is a service business. I don't have a product to sell. But if I do get a call from any of them,,, needing me,, you can rest assured,, they will get inflated fees because of the headaches & lost time I'll have to endure just to get to them.

 

[Fox Mike]

Well you find out some things 'after the fact'. I found out just a few minutes ago that my son in law was working for Land Rover. ...at the horse show. The rain dance worked. They were told to leave. His crew was told to evacuate to Atlanta. He went the other way. He is on his way home as I type this (11:25) heading north on I-81