Valley has places to see, things to do By JONATHAN DALE, Staff Writer
Sunday, February 24, 2008 1:06 AM PST
IMPERIAL VALLEY PRESS FILE PHOTO
Cecilia Campos operates a personal watercraft with Joaquim Ramos riding on the back at Sunbeam Lake. Both are from Calexico.
Ariel Jutras is typical of most Imperial Valley teens in that she thinks there isn’t a whole lot to do locally.
“Here in the Valley, there are a couple things to do,” Ariel, a 17-year-old Central Union High School senior, said. “There are activities for students such as PAL and school activities.
“We also have places like the mall that are fun to hang out with friends,” she said. “There’s also Glamis, but other than that there’s not really anything to do.”
It’s a common misperception by many local youths who have for years complained of there being “nothing” to do, even with the building of the mall and the upcoming Brunswick bowling alley in El Centro.
It’s a common misperception that Brawley Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Nicole Gilles would love to see put to an end.
“The Imperial Valley is a beautiful place,” Gilles said. “We have a tremendous amount of resources.
“For instance there are some places that I know that are ancient places with rock carvings and things like that,” she said, “and in the Superstition Mountains there is a place during the summer solstice where the sun lines up with this ancient area perfectly.”
Last week’s Salton Sea International Bird Festival, which pulled in nearly 200 people from around the world, is just one of more than 150 Valley attractions that for some reason are overlooked by local residents.
Many residents would rather stay indoors or travel out of town than see what the Valley has to offer, and part of the reason is that many young folks simply aren’t well-informed.
“Outdoors, I wouldn’t say there is that much to do,” 18-year-old CUHS senior Edgar Castillo said. “We have parks, but not a lot of people go to parks.
“Mostly they go to Glamis or Heber Beach to the dunes, or go to Mexicali, or San Diego or Pine Valley,” he said.
In recent years, Gilles has taken it upon herself to help spread the word of what the Valley has to offer, helping create the “Escape to Adventure” pamphlet available at the Brawley chamber.
“There is a tremendous source of information, and it’s very popular with the snow birds and visitors that come through,” Gilles said of the pamphlet.
The lengthy handout lists everything from dozens of local lakes to mud volcanoes, Spanish forts and obscure areas reserved for those with four wheel-drive vehicles such as the smuggler’s cave by Desert Shores or ancient rock circles in the Superstition Mountains.
Castillo and Ariel were shocked to learn that historic sites and world-renowned locations were just a handful of miles from their doorsteps.
“That really does surprise me that the Salton Sea, what we think is a stinky place we drive by on the way to L.A., is actually a place of interest for people,” Ariel said.
“I know the Valley has its historical features, but I didn’t know a lot of people come down here for that,” Castillo said.
Each and every one of those 151 outdoors places of interest in the Valley would be tremendous adventures for any Valley resident, Gilles says, which is why she said she finds it extremely important to push education of the subject.
“I think it’s extremely important, because I didn’t know about half that stuff until I moved away and came back here to the Valley,” Gilles said. “People come from all over the world to see our dunes and wildlife.
" I know where we can put a water park. Right next to the Walmart in Brawley that is never going to open. "
a.dupre wrote on Feb 24, 2008 4:53 PM:
" glowstar: i agree with what you've said in these posts. I went to highschool in the valley, and hated it. as soon as i graduated, i moved to LA and then to NYC. now i'm back! finishing school, and i can agree with you that there are so many things i appreciate about the valley that i never gave consideration to in my formative years.
lately i've been able to explore past the bars and restaurants and let myself be guided by the wind (so cheesy, i know). it's just that most kids have such negative attitudes towards this place because they see the 'cool' stuff on tv and think they're missing out on something awesome. but what they don't think about are all the kids growing up in crowded places wishing they could get out into the open and see stars! its not about which place is "cooler", it's about appreciating the place where you grow up and all it's local treasures.
I would be more than happy to help spread the word if Ms. Gilles needs some help! "
oct1969 wrote on Feb 24, 2008 1:49 PM:
" We need more cafes, shops, and restaurants. You no what we need in this valley? We need a water park. I think it would be perfect near the I.V. Mall. Yeah, the malls great, but that's 4 grown-ups. I do not understand why we don't have one in this 100 plus degree summer heat. Not 2 mention it would bring $$$ 2 the local economy. Hopefully a county or city leader will read this and follow thru with any chance of this becoming a reality. Thank-u "
glowstar wrote on Feb 24, 2008 12:05 PM:
" joselopez - is there a way to get out there to do all these things if you have no car like me? not that i can't afford to buy one. i just don't really need one where i live (and parking here can really suuuuuuuck). "
glowstar wrote on Feb 24, 2008 11:56 AM:
" ok, just watched the video. i LOVED how there was commercial for budweiser right before this story about TEENS! gotta say...when i was a teen, i could care less about ancient rock formations or being out in nature or any of that stuff. it was boring to me. i wanted to do more big-city things like i saw on tv. i wanted to go to a punk or rock show and then go eat at some noisy 24-hour dive where all the cool kids were at. i wanted adventure and excitement. i wanted to meet a variety of people from all over the states and the world. and so...i guess i got to fulfill all those things. and yet...here i am, sitting over 600 miles away from the valley on a sunday morning, writing comments on here. i guess you can never really leave home.... "
joselopez wrote on Feb 24, 2008 11:40 AM:
" How about a liitle change of atmoshere. Get out grom the grip of civilization and explore the real world free from "helping hands" of a money greedy society. Get that free feeling with a visit to our local desert areas.....BLM open desert, Temco Mine, Plank(wooden)Road, Gordon Wells, Holtville hot Mineral Spa,(go on a camping trip-don't need the kitchen sink; just youself and some matches, food, etc)
Then there is Slab City where several events like SOLAR CVEN COOK-OFF, TALENT SHOW, SALVATION MOUNTAIN, ULTRA LIGHTS, BICYCLING, FISHING, LIBRARY, CHURCH SERVICES, RV PARKING, CAMPING......All Free of charge. "
glowstar wrote on Feb 24, 2008 11:33 AM:
" i don't mean to diss my beloved hometown (i speak highly of calexico to this day!). if i was a teenager and living there now, i might be less apt to leave. back when i was living there (left in '89), we didn't have the internet or netflix or the new mall or any of those new places. perhaps the interviewer, mr. dale, should have asked the kids what it is they reallllly felt the valley was lacking. what do they personally wish they had there? what is it that they want to do that they can't find there? "
glowstar wrote on Feb 24, 2008 11:22 AM:
" well put, ariel! actually, though...i never learned to appreciate what there was to do in the valley until i moved not just out of it, but out of the country as well. and though i appreciate it a lot more, i still can't see myself wanting to move back there (well, maybe if i have kids). what do i appreciate about the valley now? carne asada, bombay beach, the unique border culture, desert life, blue skies, safety, and, of course, family. what do they have where i live (san fran) that they don't have in the valley? a variety of shopping malls, a variety of international restaurants (not just mexican and chinese, but ethiopian, salvadorean, pakistani, thai, etc.), restaurants with good wine lists, theaters that show independent movies, a variety of dance clubs and bars (you have a huge choice of places to go even on a tuesday night), live theater, bookstores galore, the beach, etc.... to be fair, not all is great outside of the valley (over 100 murders in s.f. alone last year, and even more in oakland). but i dunno...all the pluses outweigh the negatives for me personally. "
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ledman wrote on Feb 24, 2008 6:45 PM: