I guess technically this could fall under travel. But I decided I wanted to treat this separately, because:
“What Owning a Love Hotel in Japan is Like”, from the “Abroad In Japan” channel.
I don’t think this is a business opportunity for FotB RoadRich, as I have another much better opportunity for him that does not involve moving to Japan.
Bonus #1: since I’ve touched on the Mongols before (in the context of the Feds trying to seize their trademark) and since I received some positive feedback on my last biker war post: a documentary about the Mongols from “Hidden In America”.
Bonus #2: This is another one of those people who is right on the edge of annoying me, but: I’ve posted about copper mining before, and, frankly, if I’m ever up near Butte, I’d absolutely pay the $3 to see the giant toxic waste pit that used to be the world’s largest open pit copper mine.
Gift shop? I’m sold!
We took a road trip to Yellowstone a few years back.
I floated the idea of taking a day trip to Butte to see the Berkeley Pit.
“What’s that?”
“A giant toxic waste pit that used to be a copper mine.”
Wife used her veto.
I saw the pit when it was in operation. Tiny tinkertoy trucks would come up the road to tower over humans. Amazing.
I’ve heard the acid water can be treated and small amounts of copper, gold and silver extracted. That would be one way to pay for the process.
That must have been something to see. I have trouble visualizing a mining operation on the scale I’ve heard the pit described as.
I know we traveled in the West when I was younger, but I’m not sure we ever went through Montana. I think my dad would have been the kind of person who would have taken us to see the pit if we were anywhere near it.
This was also a time when “industrial tourism” was more of a thing, and big companies would actually show off their work to random members of the public.
Joe, I’m not sure what to say. I guess everyone has at least one veto they can use, and maybe the kids were a little young to appreciate a giant pit of toxic waste…
Grew up in Montana (Great Falls), but for years we’d go down to Butte with my grandmother for vacation so she could visit her sister. Back when it was operational, the observation platform was free, and I’d sp4end hours just watching all those huge machines putter around like Micro Machines (which actually didn’t come out until long after we stopped going).
The other regular stop was the Museum of Mining, which was nowhere near as interesting to a kid. :V
Years back I heard that the flooding in the pit had infiltrated the old tunnels under the city and was causing issues – obviously hasn’t devoured the city yet.
The big tourist draw was always the St Patrick’s Day drunkapalooza, though. Oh, and related to that, Evel Kneivel. (So don’t say it’s the Pit, just say you want to participate in a traditional folk festival and honor an iconic American.)