TREASURE TRAILS RETREAT - CHAPTER 12
If you are not of legal age OR do not like same sex relations LEAVE NOW Again Thanks to Bill H for editing
Several office trailers had been purchased and situated just off the construction entrance with signage reading "Treasure Trails Retreat" on each trailer. Also each trailer had different signs according to purpose: Office, Supplies, Deliveries, Employment, Directions, also 2 Women and 4 Men restrooms. All paperwork and equipment for the casino, hydro-electric plant, and the cabins were to be checked in here. This site was closer to everything and keeps the house much cleaner and quieter for the triplets who are just starting to crawl. We also had a trailer set up as an Infirmary in case of injuries.
Ads had been posted in several papers for laborers wanted for ongoing construction work lasting several seasons, lots of long term employment available. One of the first men to apply at the site was Thomas Anakalea, 49 years old of Hawaiian, Chinese and English heritage; he stood 6 feet tall and weighed in at 275 pounds. He was big boned, had tanned skin and was always smiling. He was also a fully trained paramedic. We called the good doctor, who came and interviewed Thomas. During the interview one of the braves working on the casino was injured; the Doctor and Thomas treated him together and had him patched up like new. Doc said all Thomas' credentials check out and his work is superior, so hire him before he gets away. That's exactly what we did.
Thomas was a lot of fun to be around; he helped in the office when not needed to patch up workers. It turned out that Greg and Thomas both played guitar. Thomas also knew how to sign, loved it and was good at it. So the next Friday night we had a big barbeque and campfire, the two of them sang and everyone loved them. Several others joined them and we had quite an amazing group-sing going. Two of the local ministers asked if the duo would be willing to sing at church services for them in the future. They agreed and set up times that they could practice. Thomas told us he loved to entertain people; he said he had lots of stories, exciting ones, scary ones and funny ones. Being of different heritages he was able to learn of many things and backgrounds and loved to use his stories to entertain. We also learned that not a lot of people wanted to cross Thomas due to his formidable size.
It was ascertained that we could buy 250 miles of railroad track and right of way for 100 million dollars and half the cost of a natural bike pathway alongside of the right of way. That included the train station and turn-a-round in Calgary, two club cars and twelve coaches, all needing repairs and updating. What we needed now were a couple engines and a turn-a-round and station at this end. The track was about halfway between the casino location and where we had planned to build the hotel. So that's where we built the `Track End' station, with a monorail service to the casino and in the future the hotel. The monorail was to be electric, making very little noise while running. That way it would not disturb any of the animals in the area or the people sleeping in the nearby cabins or in the hotel.
((Note: we did find in the future that the train brought people to the area even in the dead of winter to take advantage of the first class hotel with 200 rooms and several types of dining available, and the casino, also with several dining areas, all accessible from the station and out of the weather.))
When this was passed on to all the different crews working on the many projects, they all had a few ideas to add. Aaron, the stable manager, wanted to be able to put a pasture or grazing area under the monorail so people could see all the fine horses we had that they could ride. Jordyn and Uncle Tom wanted it to run close to the falls because they had planned to light them with colored lights and have the steam from the turbines add a little drama to the area. Naturally we would have a station in the area of the amusement park for use when it was open.
Several of the Indian workers asked if we thought a stop could be built as a station for a snow ski area that could also be used for hikers and picnics in the other seasons. I said, "Yes and you are no longer just laborers, you are in charge of helping us design, build and run that area. That also means staffing and maintaining it. The room came to a complete stop. I asked what was wrong and the answer was, "We are just Indians." In response I said, "No you are the ones that had the idea and it was a great one. I want you to help us and I feel no one would do a better job than you and those you pick to make sure it runs smoothly. If that will be your families and friends or whoever, it is your project and for you to make it work. Your pay will be the same as a laborer as will all of your help. Any profits from this area will be split 50/50 between you and Treasure Trails Retreat.
"I would also like a small Indian village in the Retreat area acting out the old ways. Making sweet grass baskets, baskets and other items out of oak sections, selling authentic Indian foods, like corn soup and breads baked the old way. This type of village must be completely authentic and be a labor of love. I think if we do this properly and the older people have the little ones helping and showing all the outsiders the old ways, it will help everyone. The young will learn the old ways and the elders will feel more useful and everyone will get paid. You can even help me make a birch bark canoe. After you get this all set, I will help build the first teepee. With proper planning and thought, you could have thousands of Indians from other reserves coming to see your village. Your elders could be the first of many helping all the younger Indians who want to learn more about themselves and be proud again. For years much has been taken from you but the most important thing you have been robbed of is your pride. We want to help you get it back."
Steve and Matt our pilots and the five pilot-mechanics from Denver reported on the construction of the hangars for the planes. The footings were all poured, even for the hangars for the jets. The hangars for the five fixed-wing planes and the two helicopters, and the workshop/storage buildings can start to be erected tomorrow. We are still waiting for some of the support structures for the hangars for the jets and the extra building. The floors can be poured after the buildings are up, in case we have an early winter or just a bad spell of weather. We would like to get at least one concrete runway done before winter hits.
Chief Gilbert Joseph and Willow explained that the casino would be ready to open in 10 days, "It will be running on temporary generator power till the hydro-electric plant can power it. Jordyn and Uncle Tom say that is no problem; the staff has been trained and is ready, all they have left is just a bunch of tiny last minute details. The delay for the casino opening is mostly in waiting for the pavement to harden after it is compacted. They say if we park on it too soon it could leave depressions where every tire sat for over an hour. So we are waiting.
"Tonight we are going to light the parking lot. Try the normal evening lights, the lights that highlight the many different trees and try the plugs for the seasonal lighting. We tried the sprinkler systems earlier and all worked perfectly. We want to invite all of you to watch this tonight if you can and also watch what they have been able to make the fantastic display sign on the roof do. The casino cooking staffs have been busy making snacks and refreshments for us.
"A week from this Friday will be the Grand Opening and we expect many guests. The additional construction to the building for the monorail entrance, at least the part that would affect the casino and its operation will be done before we open. All the rest can be done at any time; all we will have to do is open the sealed doors. The addition of the train station will add a great deal of traffic to the casino. Many from Calgary will come here in the winter months knowing they will not have to drive or be out in the weather for any length of time."
We all went to the checking of the lights and sign at the casino and had an unexpected surprise. Thomas and his new group of musical friends came and set up and entertained us for roughly an hour, as the lighting crews went thru the different lighting features. Chief Gilbert wanted to pay them but they refused. Tom said, "If you want to, give it to the needy of the area." The lights that the men had installed were just fantastic; the basic lighting was simple but beautiful. The top of all the curbing had small strips of LED lights powered by both solar and hydro-power (generator for now) these strips light the drive and walk ways so everyone could see the road direction and sidewalks. The flood lighting and back lighting of the trees and shrubs was just out of this world. But the best display of the evening was the sign on the roof.
The computer whiz William and his trained staff from the reserve had worked hard and the things that sign did were unreal. They had been secretly filming many things and people so besides the different messages they had designed they showed many funny and beautiful things. They had filmed the naming ceremony and had many shots of the triplets. The funniest was of the President and the Governor General both holding the babies with their feathers hitting them both in the face. They were both helpless the leather holding the feathers was just longer than their arms and no matter what they did the wind changed and they had a face full of eagle feathers. What made it funnier as I held the third baby, I was positioned so the wind had the feather just off to the side of my head all the time.
The lighting and technical crew had even set colored lights in the shrubbery around the casino and these lights changed colors and patterns. They could be blinking, running like a marquee or just flashing in what they told us could be twenty different patterns.
We all were given a sneak preview of the inside of the casino. All the steel posts now looked like marble pillars. The walls and ceiling also looked like marble. The hidden outlets for the heating and cooling were covered and made to look like part of the floral and shrubbery displays. The lighting was very dramatic with crystal looking chandeliers hanging from the ceilings concealing the mini spot lights that were lighting the tables below so no shadow of any kind could be seen.. The really weird thing was even with the crystal and marble, the furniture and the wall hangings and the uniforms of the staff, it had a peaceful Indian feeling. It may have been the huge teepee in the center of the room and the campfire burning in front of it with the small stream running all around the center display.
Some of the tribal workers wanted to wear buckskins but the Chief and Tribal Council said no, that it would look degrading. They decided on Tan slacks or skirt with a dark brown shirt. A `Feather War Bonnet' monogram over the heart and nametag under it completed the outfit. The casino would be opening in one week a full month ahead of schedule. Training had gone well and everyone was ready to go. Those that were not to be employed at the casino now would be working on the railroad right of ways and the several trestles that needed repair.
We had poured all the cement embankments we could at this time for the hydro-power plant. The weather had been perfect for everyone working: sunny but not too warm. We had been working five 12 hour days and for those that wanted to, eight hours on Saturday. Sunday no one worked, except the security crews and the office staff to have every thing ready for Monday to start all over. It was a demanding schedule but one that the men had set.
We started to build the log cabins for the Treasure Trails Retreat in earnest. We had planned on 200 cabins, but now with the railroad, the casino and all of the advance publicity because of the Naming Ceremony, we are planning for additional cabins to be built. Lately we've read almost daily articles in the papers about reviving of the railway, so that contributed to our decision. Adding the international food court, the amusement park, ski lodge and canoe center has helped. We continue to add new areas that we feel will make life more enjoyable for a short time, or a dream come true for many.
We have ten very talented men and women working in the Public Relations section of Treasure Trails Retreat, making sure the name and the idea is seen every day by the masses. This includes sending information all over Canada and the United States. We had found a way that if you lived in Toronto, Ontario, you could take a train on a vacation to the Western sections of Canada and make a side trip in Calgary to Treasure Trails Retreat. Soon it will be possible also to fly here from Calgary. The small planes are set and the jet will be ready next summer.
The last we checked we have roughly 1,000 people working and are hiring more daily. Building is going on at a rapid pace by we are always checking for safety and proper building code enforcement. Digging the smaller trenches under the trails to the actual cabins requires quite a bit of hand work, as well as using the trenching machines. These cabin trails are smaller than the main ones, giving a feeling of being in a remote area. The workers are clearing only the necessary trees and brush for the cabin sites and the approach trails. These trenches will contain the conduits that will carry the phone, cable and internet wiring, as well as the water, the gas, and the electric lines. All trenches will connect into one and lead to the power plant and the control center.
In another area we have started construction of the amusement park and International food court, as well as areas for the Canoe Center, Ski Lodge and Nature Hiking. All of these will have a stopping point on the monorail system running through and around Treasure Trails Retreat.