In an effort to boost tourism in Sheet Harbour,
the Sheet Harbour Board of Trade organized public meetings in October
1996 to ask the community for suggestions as to how to make the
area an attractive place for tourists.
Twenty five local residents attended the meeting with consultants
from a consulting firm called Environmental Design and Management.
Early in the new year, the suggestions of the community were drafted
into a plan of action . The draft plan suggests that most of the
development take place around the West River and MacPhee House.
The following projects were cited as proposed improvements:
Marina
Development- A marina with services was recommended
to attract the more than 2000 private yachts that cruise up
the coast each summer past the Eastern Shore on the way to Cape
Breton.
Sidewalks
- The purpose of the sidewalks would be to connect nodes of
activity within the village. The plan suggests that these sidewalks
extend the entire length of the village from West River to East
River hooking up various tourist attractions.
Walking
Trails- Several kilometers of hiking and bicycle
paths are proposed with a trail head adjacent to MacPhee House.
Walking
Bridge across the West River- A bridge spanning the
West River is planned at the sight of the old highway 7 bridge.
This bridge will connect up with the walking paths and sidewalks
and keep the West River Falls as an attractive focus for tourists.
Interpretive
Signage- The signage will be designed to tell the
story of the community's ship building history, connection to
the War of Independence, lumbering and pulp and paper industry.
Highway
Signage- According to the study, new signs are needed
for tourists entering the village from the Guysborough side
and new signage is needed to promote the MacPhee House as the
centre of tourism activity.
Scenic
Look-Offs- Two scenic look-offs are planned to allow
visitors a chance to pull over and take pictures. One will be
at the entry to the village from the Halifax side and the other
will be across from the Sheet Harbour Motel.
The
Arctic Trader as a Dive Site- The Arctic Trader was
a vessel that sank near the Government Wharf in Sheet Harbour
in 1990. It was suggested that the wharf would allow divers
access to the Arctic Trader as a dive site.
Expanded
Operating Season of Taylor Head Provincial Park-
Taylor Head Provincial Park is presently only open from May
to October.
