Profiting from the Prophet?
 
The Eldorado Success
 
I listened with interest this week as Ross Chatwin offered ideas for ways to make money off the ongoing saga at the YFZ Ranch. He is the man who defied FLDS Prophet Warren Jeffs and refused to leave his Colorado City, AZ home after being kicked out of the church.

Chatwin, his wife Lori, and daughter Kimberlina, spent much of Monday and Tuesday in Eldorado, visiting with people, and seeing for themselves the progress at the YFZ Ranch.

His thought of building an observation tower and charging admission to tourists was unique, but it wasn’t the first idea I’ve heard that involved making money off the situation at the YFZ. The prospect of profiting off the Prophet’s adventures seems to have struck a chord with several people here in town.

Not that there’s anything wrong with making money. It should be obvious to one and all that the size and scope of the building program at the YFZ Ranch translates into the sale of thousands, if not millions, of dollars worth of lumber and building material.

Then there’s the sale of electrical power that should directly benefit the electric co-op. Not to mention the folks in San Angelo who are charging to take wastewater from the ranch while a new sewer plant is constructed.

Of course, here at the newspaper we’ve seen a jump in circulation, and we’ve even sold a couple of Legal Notices to the ranch.

So, as I listened to some of Ross Chatwin’s other ideas, I found myself, if only for a moment, seriously considering some of the options.

First of all, County Road 300 is getting a lot of traffic these days, and not just from the folks at the YFZ. A steady stream of newspaper, TV and radio reporters cruise out the road for a glance at the now famous gate. But, so do a lot of other people, and by no means are they all locals.

Just the other day, I escorted a reporter from a national newspaper to the YFZ gate. At least ten cars passed by during the three or four minutes we were there. Several of them stopped to ask what was going on and to inquire where they might find a vantage point from which they could get a glimpse inside the ranch. All of the vehicles proceeded past the gate before turning around and heading back to town.

That’s where one of Chatwin’s other ideas might come in. Along with the observation tower he wants to build next to the YFZ gate, Chatwin says that a restaurant and gift shop would probably be a good idea.

I suggested he call it The Apostate’s Pasta Grill and Visitor Center. (Apostate is a term FLDS members use for those of their group who leave or otherwise cease to follow the Prophet.)

Hey, the idea might sound strange but if the food is good the world will beat a path to his door. Remember the man named John Zentner who opened a little steak house at Lowake? Well, the old timers remember.

Anyway, in conjunction with Chatwin’s restaurant he could sell souvenirs. Things like decks of FLDS trading cards and collector spoons with all the prominent family names from C-City/Hildale.

And binoculars, let’s not forget binoculars, cameras and film. Surely some of the tourists will want to rent a set of binoculars to take with them to the top of the observation tower.

Years ago, an economic development survey determined that Eldoradoans thought tourism might generate some new dollars for the local economy. Back then, most folks thought that meant promoting the Woolen Mill. But, if Chatwin is right, attracting tourists in the YFZ era might very well mean erecting a 100 ft. observation tower complete with a whatnot shop and tin-type photography studio.
 
MyEldorado.net
Originally published Thursday, September 2, 2004
 
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