Car show, chili cook-off lift Elko County tourism

High gas prices last year curtailed some of the annual Carlin Sho 'N Shine car show, cutting the event to just one day. But event organizers are considering a two-day event this year with the popular drive-in movie and burnout events on a Friday night in August.

Heather Trujillo, economic development coordinator for the City of Carlin, says details of this year's car show are still being worked out. A $7,000 grant from the Nevada Commission on Tourism should help the city promote the event outside the area and increase its tourist draw, Trujillo says.

The state tourism grants have gone a long way in helping city officials promote special events. The annual Smokin' Hot Chili Cook-off received a $3,500 grant last year that proved invaluable in drawing tourists from a larger circle than Elko County and nearby communities.

"We had to really cut back (with the Carlin car show) due to budget constraints, and this will allow us to advertise more and get people from out of area," Trujillo says. "Last year we were focusing on local people, and the grant from the chili cook-off showed us what advertising outside the area can do for us. We hope to emulate what they did."

The Carlin car show funds are slated for advertising with television, radio and other media in Reno, Salt Lake City, Boise and Twin Falls, Idaho. Last year there were 136 entries into the car show, with about 800 people attending the event. Event organizers hope to draw more than 1,000 people this year.

And with a lack of hotel and motel rooms in Carlin, many of those tourists will book rooms in Elko, says Tom Lester, tourism and convention manager for the Elko Convention and Visitors Authority.

"It definitely stimulates the economy, especially in Carlin and Wells," Lester says. "A lot of people coming in stay in Elko and shop in Elko and will gas up here. When they bring in the car show they stimulate the economy of the whole area."

The Carlin Smokin' Hot Chili Cook-off is held September 17-18. Last year's event drew 27 teams and 750 people. Event organizers will apply for a similar NCOT grant, which could be awarded in July. Trujillo says that both events have grown each year and promote the small-town feel of Carlin, population 2,281.

"Compared to Hot August Nights, you are able to have a comfortable day with everything right there," she says. It shows what the city has to offer, and some people have even relocated here.

"Our quality of life is so much better. We are really a family-oriented town. Kids can walk to school and home and to ball practice. There's not many towns that can provide that."

Elko Tourism officials also are stumping to increase attendance at the two-day California Trails Day event, held May 28 and 29 at the California National Historic Trails Interpretive Center located eight miles west of Elko. Last year more than 800 people attended the event.

This year's California Trails Day should get a significant boost from the opening of a $14 million addition to the interpretive center.