This is an open letter to the Mariposa County Business Association (the organizers of the recent Butterfly Festival), the Chamber of Commerce, and the general business community of Mariposa.  I write this as 1) a member of the Board of Directors of the Coarsegold Chamber of Commerce, 2) a volunteer at the Yosemite Sierra Visitors' Bureau and 3) the owner of a local business whose vitality relies heavily on tourism.

 

Over the past weekend, I had guests from the Bay Area.  While they did not come specifically for the Butterfly Festival, upon seeing the notice in the Sierra Star for an antique show and sale at the Courthouse Square, we decided to make the drive to Mariposa on Saturday, despite the nearly $4 per gallon for gas.  We arrived about 11 a.m., saw the parade, had a hot dog and bought some raffle tickets on the way to the Courthouse.  We tried to shop at a few stores and try the wine tasting, but were mostly met by closed signs or merchants who simply said, "we're not open now, come back later."  Upon locating the Courthouse Square, there was no indication of an antique show or re-direction to a new location.  The folks at the library didn't know anything about it, so it obviously wasn't there earlier.  We also met 2 women from San Jose who came specifically for the show/sale (350 miles plus hotel), as well as a few others looking for the event.  We asked at several other places in town (that were open), as well as the Chamber of Commerce/Visitors Bureau--no one had a clue. 

 

For the organizers of this event--I understand that "stuff happens," but to not have signs posted at the Courthouse with an update is unforgivable--and why did the Visitors Bureau not know what was going on?   To the merchants with the closed doors--why have a local event to attract tourists and then not use that opportunity to relieve us of our dollars? Sponsored by a Business Association, and "looking to attract between 5,000 and 7,000" (Sierra Star article), it appears not everyone is in agreement as to the goals of the Butterfly Festival.  I, for one shall not return, and cannot recommend this event in the future for anyone other than residents of Mariposa.

 

Sherri Smith
Coarsegold, California