Letter to the editor for Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016

State Prison could be a tourist draw

Well, another year has come and gone and still the old Nevada State Prison in Carson City remains closed to the public. On the other hand, though, city officials have no problems opening it when extra money is needed for their special interests.

I used to attend meetings of those who are trying to save the old prison, but as months passed and meetings became less frequent, I felt in my heart those meetings were only a scam to get the governor to pass a bill, protecting the old prison from the wreaking ball and it would never be opened to tourists or the public.

There are so many other states, who have opened their old and decommissioned prisons and if I might add, have made a lot of money off the tourist trade by doing so. But no so for Nevada. Why our city’s movers and shakers would pass up the chance at making money by opening the old prison is far beyond me.

Lets face it. There is not too much to see in Carson — there is the railroad museum, the state museum, a ghost walk. And for those who are really interested in our state history — they can watch our yearly Nevada Day parade and even take a few pictures of our Capitol Building. Gosh, but it really doesn’t get that much more exciting in Carson City. With nothing else to see in Carson, we really need to open up the old prison. But that’s just my opinion.

Donald Paetz

Carson City