Time to muster the troops again....

[John Winn]

Kinda of begs the question, At what radius from Gettysburg do you feel a development like this is acceptable? 3 miles, 5, 10, 20

It does get a bit sticky, doesn't it ? I'd be OK at ten miles. That way there's still whatever local economic advantage might be attached and people staying in Gettysburg who want to gamble can easily get there but it wouldn't detract from the battlefield experience visually or with non-associated traffic.

I really do feel that a place - and a national treasure - like the Gettysburg battlefield deserves a development buffer that puts some distance from non-compatible types of things. I suppose what's considered non-compatible is another question equal to that of distance but something like a casino or an amusement park doesn't seem so hard to understand as just not appropriate.

For me, it's a little like the question of statue removal. In the end it's up to the locals but that doesn't mean I'll agree with the decision they make. In this case I think since Gettysburg battlefield is a national park that there's a legitimate national concern and that citizens who don't live in Adams County ought to have some say too. Very much like many natural resource management issues I've been involved with - if it's federal land or affects a federally-owned national asset then non-locals have a legitimate interest in what happens there.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Look here, people visit historical sites because it amuses them to do so. Call the enjoyment given what you like but it still boils down to amusement.

No, no, no. I respect your right to express your point of view, but this is just plain wrong with regard to Civil War historical sites. My feelings when I am on a battlefield or cemetery are far from amusement or enjoyment. I am generally in awe of what has happened there or of the people who have sacrificed (on both sides). I find people on this site to be very accepting of varied points of view. It's actually quite refreshing. However, I'm not surprised to find that other folks who frequent this site don't find any "amusement" in your comment. I simply can't equate an historical site with an amusement park.

To be sure, there are some people who visit battlefields and cemeteries who do not express the reverence or attitude that I choose. I find that most people do.

 

[EJ Zander]

Use the link and click in the center of town it will plot a 5 mile radius
http://obeattie.github.io/gmaps-radius/?lat=39.808529&lng=-77.247451&z=12&u=mi&r=5
You can also increase the radius and click again to drop plot another radius
If you look towards the bottom of the map and see Fairplay at the RT15 interchange that is the area of the proposed development which is between the 7-8 mile radii. At the same interval/ distance is an existing large fruit processing plant in Ortanna.

 

[EJ Zander]

My bad when I zoomed in the processing plant is closer and is just in side the 7 mile ring.

 

[E_just_E]

This stuff just has to stop. I know that tourism and various "amusements" have been a Gettysburg tradition since July 1863, but someone, someplace has to put a limit and an end to it. As if it were not enough to have Pickett's Buffet at the ground of the left flank of the Pickett's charge and over the mass graves there. This just has to stop.

Pretty sure that there is some rezoning that is required (and that gets approved by the Township and the County) and license to operate a horse racing facility as well as a slot machine facility need to be given out at the State level. Not sure that there any regulations at the Federal level dealing with certain businesses and the distance of National Parks. So there are a lot ways of stopping it.

That said, I'd give priority to getting rid of the businesses that are operating on parts of the original battlefield and making that part of the National Park. Stopping this new stupidity might be a low hanging fruit, but we should not forget about the other wrongs that are already at Gettysburg in the name of profit...

 

[Irishtom29]

I simply can't equate an historical site with an amusement park.

A definition of amusement is an interesting and enjoyable occupation. I assume you find your feelings of awe and reverence interesting and enjoyable. But I should've said enjoyment rather than amusement, my meaning would've been more clear.

 

[E_just_E]

Look here, people visit historical sites because it amuses them to do so. Call the enjoyment given what you like but it still boils down to amusement.

It is not about visiting historical sites and whether that proposed race track and casino might interfere with visiting those sites. It about preservation of the battlefield and whether that proposed race track and casino might a. interfere with its preservation and b. might be build on a place that should be preserved itself.

Not amusement. Preservation. Edited by Chellers, Moderator

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

I will give David LeVan credit for one thing: he is persistent and he categorically refuses to take no for an answer.

Having been rebuffed from two prior efforts to place a casino within a stone's throw of the Gettysburg battlefield, this ignoramus is at it again. Here comes attempt number three.

This, by the way, is the same person that built the huge Harley dealership right next to East Cavalry Field and who is responsible for the hideous nightmare that is Bike Week Gettysburg. As if he hasn't already done enough harm....

Once again, we're going to have to muster the troops to fight this off. I've reached out to my contacts at the Civil War Trust to find out what will be the best means of fighting this, and will report back when I get a response. But be prepared--your help will be needed.

http://www.gettysburgtimes.com/news/article_f53a8f66-d918-11e6-889d-4736d0113ce8.html

Just as a quick note, my original post has been censored involuntarily and to my great unhappiness--I have no tolerance for censorship. I stand by my original characterization of the person responsible. However, on second thought, I've come to the conclusion that calling him a clown is an insult to all of the creepy clowns in the world.

See Post 88.

Posted as a Moderator.

CMWinkler

 

[John Winn]

A definition of amusement is an interesting and enjoyable occupation. I assume you find your feelings of awe and reverence interesting and enjoyable. But I should've said enjoyment rather than amusement, my meaning would've been more clear.

I'm not quite sure I really see your point. You seem to be saying that "enjoying" a place that has significant relevance to our country's history and where thousands died is no different than "enjoying" playing slot machines and thus one set of enjoyers should not receive any more consideration that any other set of enjoyers. Forgive me if I'm wrong but that's the way it appears to me (you've already said you don't see any difference between Arlington and any other cemetery where people just "enjoy" visiting). Do you feel there should be no limitations on what is allowed to be constructed in the immediate vicinity of the park ? Again, what is your point ?

It would appear that you have no sense of sentiment or reverence which, to me, is a shame (if not bordering on something worse).

 

[gary]

You'd think with a declining consumer economy that there'd be no demand for Harleys.

 

[EJ Zander]

If I am looking at the correct parcel in the Adams County GIS system its owned by the Mason Dixon Country Club. Article from Emmitsburg Journal in 2006 explaining alittle about the project they were working on at the time and the approvals that had been granted.
http://www.emmitsburg.net/archive_list/articles/ce/gettysburg/2006/mdcc.htm

 

[EJ Zander]

You'd think with a declining consumer economy that there'd be no demand for Harleys.

The Harley plant in York shed 115 positions recently.

 

[E_just_E]

You'd think with a declining consumer economy that there'd be no demand for Harleys.

What declining economy?

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

If I am looking at the correct parcel in the Adams County GIS system its owned by the Mason Dixon Country Club. Article from Emmitsburg Journal in 2006 explaining alittle about the project they were working on at the time and the approvals that had been granted.
http://www.emmitsburg.net/archive_list/articles/ce/gettysburg/2006/mdcc.htm

Thanks for finding this, EJ. That's useful information and insightful.

 

[EJ Zander]

Thanks for finding this, EJ. That's useful information and insightful.

No problem. The parcel I was looking at is just off the interchange and totals 672 acres .

 

[Jamieva]

What irks me from the article in the OP is that he uses the desecration of other historical sites with casinos to justify this one. multiple wrongs do not make it right.

 

[SilasConn]

Just what PA needs, another casino. I live near Bethlehem, PA and the Sands really hasn't done much other than bring more DUI and speeding stops at 3 am.

 

[E_just_E]

Just what PA needs, another casino. I live near Bethlehem, PA and the Sands really hasn't done much other than bring more DUI and speeding stops at 3 am.

Hi neighbor. Matter of fact methinks that Sands really messed up a historic WWII site....

 

[Irishtom29]

I'm not quite sure I really see your point. You seem to be saying that "enjoying" a place that has significant relevance to our country's history and where thousands died is no different than "enjoying" playing slot machines and thus one set of enjoyers should not receive any more consideration that any other set of enjoyers. Forgive me if I'm wrong but that's the way it appears to me (you've already said you don't see any difference between Arlington and any other cemetery where people just "enjoy" visiting). Do you feel there should be no limitations on what is allowed to be constructed in the immediate vicinity of the park ? Again, what is your point ?

It would appear that you have no sense of sentiment or reverence which, to me, is a shame (if not bordering on something worse).

I think you get my point, you just don't agree with it. But to be clear, I think people do things in their spare time that they enjoy. If they go someplace to feel awe or reverence it's because they enjoy the feeling. They do it for themselves and it doesn't make them more virtuous than the person who enjoys playing slot machines nor is their enjoyment on a higher level.

The park is the park and outside is outside. Is Gettysburg so different from Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, Vicksburg and Atlanta? Is Sugars BBQ joint on the side of Missionary Ridge a desecration to the sacred memory of Phil Sheridan? Or is it just Chattanooga getting along with life? People live in these towns and go about their business--the towns change, they grow or decline. That business is their business, not mine.

As for what I do feel sentimental and reverent about, I keep that to myself, it's none of your business.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

As for what I do feel sentimental and reverent about, I keep that to myself, it's none of your business, understand?

But it's okay for you to tell everyone else that they're wrong for feeling sentimental and reverent about the battlefield and opposing this for that reason?

I think not.