Our future is our choice
“I’ll do anything to avoid Main Street.” This was the lament of a longtime resident of Ramona. So how are outsiders feeling about the every-increasing roadblock in Ramona?
Perhaps ours is the generation chosen to decide what sort of Ramona will be left for future generations. Can we dream big?
One suggestion was the Dye Road Extension proposed for 2008 to 2012-13. It didn’t happen, apparently because it would “route traffic through your neighborhood...subjecting you to noise, pollution, motorcycles, cars and large trucks.”
San Diego, hemmed in with the Pacific Ocean, Mexican border, Los Angeles and the mountains, has cast its future with tourism. Perhaps we could do the same.
Our location halfway between two large destinations is ideal, and nature has already designated us a Riparian Woodland. Long before there were human beings here, many northern creatures made yearly migrations south to escape the cold. The native plant people have given that name to the rest stops where plants were different, so there was always food and water available.
In my dreams I see Ramona as a rest stop, the jewel in a crown of huge encircling freeways. If these were each one-way, there would be no head-on accidents. If they were divided into lanes one might become a racetrack, but there would be fewer pile-ups resulting from frustration. The off ramps into Ramona would be obvious and easy, with welcoming parkades, perhaps with eateries on top to lure weary travelers.
To encourage a more prolonged stay there would be a transit system to escort the people from the parkades to hotels, and later to the various areas of special interest and the specialty shopping.
Ramona is already noted for antiques. The Ramona Transit System would be — off-duty SCHOOL BUSES. When an international equestrian event brought thousands of visitors into Lexington, Ky. a few years ago, this was how they coped with the added pressures, much to the delight of all involved.
To ensure that tourism would eventually give everyone the luxury of earning a living where they chose to reside, we would need to lure people into regular repeat visits. My personal suggestion of a lure would be Ramona’s horses.
How many places are left in California, or the world, where city folks can get up close, maybe even pet, a real live horse? The popularity of The Kentucky Horse Park and the Old Friends where people can visit famous horses in retirement are proof enough.
For starters we have now-deceased Best Pal, a member of the Racing Hall of Fame. Stallions at stud here in Ramona continue to send out winners worldwide. Racing’s famous would be joined by a Show of Horses where the various breeds could demonstrate their talents.
Horses are just one option. What “lure” would you suggest? Perhaps the Ramona Chamber of Commerce would like to know.
Edalee Orcutt Harwell is a Ramona resident.