The hotel of the century - sounds like a plan!
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17797)
United States
June 15, 2008 9:04pm CST
A hotel on Alcatraz Island - they are considering building one since the visitors never stop and want to see more! The Island has a very interesting and amazing history...would you want to spend the night on Alcatraz?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080614/us_nm/alcatraz_hotel_dc
6 responses
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
4 Jul 08
Well, the prison part itself wouldn't interest me much, but the wildlife are might. I guess it will be something that some people would enjoy more than me and the idea seems good, specially when so many people seem to have manifested interest in it.
If well planned it is something that might work. On the other hand the flux of visitors with all it's ecological impact - and I'm thinking garbage everywhere etc - might not be beneficial to the wildlife sharing the spot.
I always have in mind some beautiful places that I have visited before and that are now such dumps once they were open to the public. It is unfortunate but it seems to be impossible to train people not to litter and pollute.
Last tuesday we went to a place we used to visit. It was beautiful and unspoiled. Now, with a few inns and hotels there, we visited the small beach by the lake and almost had a heart attack! It's Styrofoam cups, plastics, pieces of this and that regardless the well placed garbage bins. It sadness me, but I guess I have to accept that even though more and more people are trying to be careful, the hand full of people that aren't spoil it for everyone else.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Well, so far...garbage hasn't been a problem from what I have learned and seen on documentaries about the island. But with more people there more often...sure could be a problem. Maybe they will handle it wisely and have "prison stay" for litterers! Shame, tho...that is what ruins alot of wonderful places...I just don't understand why people have to be so trashy and dirty.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
5 Jul 08
Although in this case, they'd probably do it anyway just to stay! But I have seen shows about the island and the vegetation that they have there - all done by volunteer groups and organizations - and it is really rather pretty in a rustic kind of way. They are limited as to fresh water for watering, forget how they handle that I thought it nice that they really try to keep it "as is" or was.... and use the flowers that they know grew there all those years ago.
1 person likes this
@goldeneagle (6743)
• United States
16 Jun 08
yeah I would do it. I have heard the history of that place. I have also heard that the cell blocks are haunted. I think it would be cool to check it all out. I have always wanted to visit there. I like history, so it would be a cool trip, especially to study the history and lives of the men who worked there and were imprisoned there.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Yeah, I've seen so many documentaries about it and its "people". Pretty amazing. Started off as a military base, can't remember if it was the civil war or WWI but to go from military to prison..and now to one of the most sought after trips/excursions...gotta be something there! I think they should have done more to keep it up. There are things wrong that they don't fix nad it is effecting the structure. I wouldn't mind staying in the hotel, but not the prison itself! That's to spooky for me!
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
It'd be okay - a nice hotel. THey are NOT making the hotel IN the prison, it will be a new building on the island built to resemble the prison, but definately not IN the prison. I'd stay in it, but going into the prison is what spooks me!
@Liasonfan (1702)
• Canada
24 Jun 08
I think that is a great idea. Much better use of the land. A really tourist grab. Not that I would especially love to spend a night there, but I know that would be right up my hubby's alley! He is so into that kind of thing with amazing history and possibility of finding 'the supernatural'. Bet that island is loaded with 'secrets' and 'ghosts' from the past!
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Oh, it has quite the stories! THey have groups and socieites and such taking care of it. There was a special not long ago about it this guy goes around California showing us places we didn't know about California's Gold it is called...all about Calif's history. But they have gardens in full bloom and just a really nice display of the area and then there is the prison. The hotel wouldn't be in the prison, just built to look similar. They wont' allow anyone to stay in the prison. But it is such an amazing thing to see. I haven't but watch every special I find on it.
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
16 Jun 08
I would love it. That would be an insane place to stay. Definitely...
1 person likes this
@gwenns (255)
• Singapore
16 Jun 08
Hmm interesting, I had missed a chance of going there during my last trip 2 years ago. I am very amazed when I heard about the history of it from my uncle. I might spend a night on Alcatraz, it will be a totally different experience! Better if it is a "full-service-prison hotel" LOL!
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
The hotel will just be on the island, not IN the prison. My kids went to do the tour, but it was already sold out by 8am the day they planned to go. It does have amazing history.
