Way in the beginning, when we first started our Open House Tour (in the early 1990's), we had terriffic weather and gasoline was cheap. Open dates went as planned. . . Nice, sunny enjoyable days and great attendance. Thinking this was too good to be true, we added a Rain Date to the schedule and, just in time. We were then in the "Rainy Years". Year after year, we found ourselves using the rain date for Open House and not the date intended. Sure, we expected it once in a while but, it happend a few years in a row. Wet layouts suck! The weather DID cooperate for the next few years but, it started getting hotter and hotter. The reason we picked the first Saturday in June was because the temps were still cool and the rains were still in April. Those days are gone!
We had blazing sun on June 7th (First day of a 4 day heat wave) and out of control gas prices for the 2008 tour. I spoke to all of the guys who opened, and their attendance was off by almost 50%.
One new GR had about the same count as an older GR did..... I think it should have been more.
Was it the heat? Was it the gas prices? Was it geographic location? Or, was it all three??
ANYWAY....
We were thinking of splitting us into TWO Open House dates. While some still prefer the first Saturday in June, others are toying with the idea of the Saturday after Labor Day (in September). The reasons are:
A) We, the owners, can visit each other's Garden Railroads when open and vice-versa.
B) You can spend more time at the layouts because there will be fewer to see. No rushing.
C) You will save on gas.
What do you think?
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