press release - archive
Self Guided Audio Tour
- FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE -
New Self-Guided Audio Walking Tours Debut At Asilomar Conference Grounds Narrated tours highlight Asilomar's history, architecture, wildlife and ecology
PACIFIC GROVE, CA, April 25, 2005 - Visitors to Asilomar Conference GroundsSM now have a new interpretive resource available for their enjoyment: self-guided walking audio tours. As a joint venture between DNC Parks & Resorts at Asilomar and California State Parks, the narrated audio tours provide guests and local residents with an interactive tool for understanding and appreciating the story behind Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds.
The audio player, headset and an instructional map are available for a nominal $5 rental fee at Asilomar's Park Store. Guests are able to walk at their own pace and control the narrative by selecting from a series of subjects, such as: Architecture, Regional History, Wildlife, Nature, Forest and Ocean Ecology. More than 70 informative descriptions, which total approximately two hours in duration, are outlined by corresponding numbers on an instructional guide/map.
Several noted experts on related Asilomar subject matter make "cameo" vocal appearances, including: Retired Park Superintendent Dennis Hansen; Current Park Superintendent Stephanie Price; Asilomar Concessionaire General Manager Patrick Sheridan; Julia Morgan History Specialists, State Park Ecologists and Rangers.
"We are very pleased with the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the narrative," said Stephanie Price, Asilomar Park Superintendent. "The tour covers a vast amount of factual information in an entertaining, user-friendly format and is a welcomed addition to Asilomar's interpretive programming."
California State Parks will continue to offer guided group tours, on an advanced reservation basis. However, the convenience of a taped tour, which can be rented during the Park Store's operating hours of 7:00 am to 9:00 pm daily, will hopefully encourage many more visitors to explore Asilomar's fascinating background on their own.
About Asilomar Conference Grounds
Nestled on 105 acres of protected forest and dunes, this magnificent beach retreat has been host to thousands of groups, individuals, family reunions, and weddings since 1913. Asilomar features 312 guest rooms with private bath and forest or ocean views. Some guest room buildings feature public living rooms with fireplaces, perfect for relaxation and small social gatherings.
About Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts
Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Inc., a subsidiary of Buffalo, N.Y.-based Delaware North Companies, is a leading hospitality provider with significant experience in hotel, retail, food service, recreation and transportation operations. The company's portfolio includes the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Yosemite, Sequoia and Yellowstone National Parks, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa near Vancouver, British Columbia, Niagara Falls State Park, Robert Moses and Captree State Parks, the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia and Denver, The Lodge & Conference Center at Geneva State Park, Ohio and The Balsams Resort in New Hampshire's White Mountains.
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