Fall River has much to offer: Battleship Cove, the Marine Museum, the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast, or just the stunning water views many of us have long taken for granted -- especially those driving through the city on their way to the Cape.
The first Fall River Dinner Train blew through the city in April. A great idea to spark tourism, but a temporary one. The city and its waterfront businesses need a staying tourism force, something to make people want to come here consistently.
“Fall River is a diamond in the rough. It will shine. It’s a ‘can do’ city – it has to be.”
The Battleship is putting a lot of energy into its unique outdoor Pearl Harbor Experience. They will have a swing dance on the fantail of the battleship in August to celebrate the Spirit of ’45 and in between, King said they will have many great things for kids including the “Hunt the Rats” that took place during school vacation week.
Friends of Heritage State Park put on family-friendly concerts and festivals each year though some are in jeopardy due to a lack of grant funding this year. Plans are in the works to make the Heritage State Park Visitor’s Center into more of a tourist information stop like they used to have on Swansea 195 before the state shut it down a few years ago.
Fall River City Councilor Dave Dennis, Chairman of the Council’s Committee on Economic Development & Tourism said Fall River will need to make a long term commitment to establishing an effective infrastructure to support a concentrated and focused effort on tourism development.
“We need to inventory our tourism assets and prioritize them to take maximum advantage of the city’s full tourism potential,” said Dennis.
With the recent dinner train, and additional daily train rides for children during school vacation dubbed the “Hobo express” as well as a potential for a high speed ferry service out of the state pier, these plans and ideas will energize local interest and enthusiasm by highlighting some of the potential the city has and its connection with the past and how the past can and should be part of the future.
read the entire article in the May issue of South Coast Insider
