location for Bonneville museum in Wendover

[crawford]

OK folks the City of Wendover is working on a site for a Bonneville museum. We feel the Idea spot is just east of the Carquest autopart store. Would love to hear from everyone about this plan. Also be aware that there is a group connected with the Historic Wendover Airfield, they want the museum to be on the Airbase, which is not backed by the City. As everyone knows Wendover and Bonneville share the same history.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Wow, Mike.  For a tall guy you catch on quickly.  It's only been a dozen or fifteen years since this website was set up -- maybe less than ten years for the Forum -- and sha-zaamm!, you're a member.

Seriously -- thank you very much for signing up, and for the news about the potential museum.  I got your email about it a little while ago - and hadn't yet had a chance to post it on the Forum or put it on the front page of the site.  You've saved me half the task - thanks.  I'll still put it on the home page.

Folks, in case you don't recognize him, Mike Crawford is not only the mayor of Wendover, Utah, but also the proprietor of the Corvette Museum on the easgt end of Wendover.  It's otherwise known as Car Quest.

Welcome, Mike.

[Dynoroom]

Having been to the "original" museum that was in the building that CarQuest is in now I'll vote East of the store.
Seems more folks might stop there than drive down to the airport?

[ol38y]

The idea of a museum sounds great to me.I'll be happy to see one wherever it is. I have some ideas but I'm curious why the city opposes the airfield site?

[crawford]

Some one asked why the city opposes the airport site. Well we feel that the museum would be a great way to get people off the Freeway and into town, plus it would make that section of town  much more attractive and open it to business. Plus we feel that Bonneville racing is a big part of our history, spanning over 80 years and should be a gateway for our town. Once I get the site we will need all the help we can get from all the racers.

[ol38y]

Much better visability was my thought as well. Thanks for the info.

[hotrod]

I agree when I first went out to Wendover for speed week I was surprised there was not Bonneville salt flats related museum in town. I expected to find something on the Utah side of town and was surprised not to find anything.

It should be right off the highway to entice the folks to get off I80, and would be like an anchor store in a shopping mall.
They always place two high traffic stores at opposite ends of a large shopping mall, as anchor stores and that drives lots of foot traffic past all the smaller stores that are along the mall in between them.

Larry

[nrhs sales]

I just want to see a museum in the next 2 years no matter where it is located!!

[Glen]

I went to the old museum every year I was on the salt until it closed. I always enjoyed it and what was inside. A great collection of LSR and other automotive goodies. I hated to see it shut down. As a rule they don't make a lot of money and 99% of the help is volunteer.

There are many things that can be donated and vehicles put on loan/display and I am sure it would draw a lot of travelers off of I-80.  T he  LSR people should do everything they can to make it happen. Let's all help Mike Crawford how ever we can. Pictures, programs, bikes and cars tapes, DVD's etc. And donations.

[fredvance]

After missing a few years, I was shocked to find the museum closed. Like Glenn every time I came to the salt I visited the museum. I will do anything I can to help Miuke get this going.

[crawford]

Before I go tonight I would just like to say how it makes me sad that Wendover has not embraced the idea of saving its history, we have the salt flats and the railroad and the historic air field just to name the top three and here we are 103 years later working on a place to show it, just makes me sad. But that will change if I have my way.

[joea]

east of auto store..Utah....for Bonneville museum...

Airfield has its OWN history and museum..!!

additionally, this is something that should benefit the CITY not a GROUP.....

[Milwaukee Midget]

I really like the idea of this being on the Utah side - it should be.  Attractions in Wendover, DISTRACTIONS in West Wendover.

By keeping the two separate (airfield/salt flats museum), you end up with more bullet points on the press releases and promotional materials.  That said, cooperation between the two creates synergies for marketing once a person has stepped into one place or the other.

[salt27]

I think it would get visited more being by Carquest and if it had a motel attached that would get a lot of use too, for one week in August .

Don

[MiltonP]

I went ahead and voted for east of Carquest.  I really like the idea of potentially being able to walk to it from the motels.  If it has a library/reading room/lounge I would definitely spend time in there as well as spending money on refreshments there versus in the casinos.

That said, I do think there may be more potential for highway visitors; however, if it is located by the airfield museum as folks going to one museum are very likely to visit another if it is within a short walk.  There are also large buildings/hangars already in place should the possibility arise to bring in some of the big streamliners that are scattered in various collections.  You will need a large building and good parking to pull it off up by Carquest?  Is that available or will you have to tear down and build from scratch.