The Everywhere blog

The National Park Service is considering a plan to open hotels on Alcatraz Island, in San Francisco Bay. What will it be like for guests? Let the bad jokes begin!

Check-out time will be 15 years to life. Each room will have a private bath, but drop the soap at your own risk. Activities will include yoga, nature hikes, and stamping out license plates.

Ha! Now that we've gotten that out of our system... The current Alcatraz tour is one of those attractions that seems touristy at first glance, but in fact it's excellent. The site is fascinating, and the guided narration is very well produced. And given the views from the island, it's certainly a superb location for some lodgings. The plan is just in the concept phase, but according to today's San Francisco Examiner:

"The huge and dilapidated barracks building between the prison and the pier would become a new island centerpiece. Plans show that parts of the former barracks building would serve as a hotel or hostel for overnight visitors, while other sections might house shops, a post office, meeting and function rooms, classrooms and restaurants.

"Outlying buildings would be rebuilt or gutted and refurbished for use as special-events venues, restrooms, kitchens and exhibition spaces, plans show.

"While the first proposal is focused on improving visitor amenities, a second focuses on boosting ecotourism to the island and a third would have visitors “immersed in ... the federal penitentiary’s history” by recreating an atmosphere of confinement and observation, according to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area proposal.

(Alcatraz photo by Everywhere member Christina Hagle)