Bishop - Effort to rebuild Visitor Center has solid foundation of support

The Schulman Grove Visitor Center in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest hours after it burned to the ground in September. In preparation for the 2009 tourist season, a “tiny bit” of the money raised for a new center will go toward rebuilding parts of the boardwalk and interpretive signs damaged in the blaze. Photo by Mike Bodine

Public support and fundraising efforts for the rebuilding of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center have been “phenomenal.”
“The support from the community and visitors has been very positive, particularly in these dire financial times,” Debbe Eilts of the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Center, the organization heading up the fundraising efforts, said Tuesday. “People just love the Bristlecones.”
Efforts to rebuild the center began almost immediately after a suspicious fire destroyed the visitor center in September.
Two major fundraising projects have been ongoing since that time: the Donate-A-Log program and a raffle that ended last month.
The winner of a week in Hawaii for two was drawn in December. Frances Cholewa of Swall Meadows will be going to the islands, enjoying a prize donated by George and AnneMarie Novinger. Eilts said Cholewa, a local artist, potter and avid outdoor enthusiast, was actually one of the first people to buy a ticket.
Cholewa bought her ticket at an art auction on Nov. 15, the kick-off for the raffle. The art auction, held at Mountain Light Gallery featuring a variety of local artists, was one of the first fundraising efforts and was “very successful,” according to Eilts.

Frances Cholewa of Swall Meadows (l) is the grand prize winner of the Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center benefit raffle of a week vacation for two in Hawaii. Debbe Eilts, executive director of the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Center, presents the prize. Photo submitted

John Louth, Bristlecone Pine Forest ranger and visitor center manager, said that while federal funding has not yet been secured, around $45,000 has been raised so far through the various local efforts.
He added that all of the money raised will go to directly rebuilding the facilities and restoring exhibits.
Louth added that “a tiny portion” of that money has been used already in the initial phases of rebuilding the outside boardwalk, railings and outdoor exhibits and interpretive signs. Louth said it will be a veritable “exhibit plaza.” He said he hopes to have these outside infrastructures operational by June, in time for the first summer visitors.
As reported earlier, a refurbished 34-foot trailer will serve as an interim visitor center, complete with a small theater and some exhibits.
The Donate-a-Log program is ongoing, with individuals or organizations able to donate logs for $285 each, or, more precisely, donate money for the new log cabin visitor center. Log donors will have their names proudly displayed at the new visitor center.
For more information, contact the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Center at 873-2411 or John Louth at 873-2514.