Megan Nisbet: Choice Topic #2: Wilderness RESORT?!

I Googled wilderness to see if I could find some good articles for my outside reading journal entries, and one of my results returned me a link to a resort's site that is named the Wilderness Territory. The Wilderness Territory, "America's largest waterpark resort," is complete with an indoor waterpark (with the message that you can tan inside, no matter the season!), golf courses, fitness centers, and a luxurious spa that you are transported to in a limo. I don't know about you, but this is the farthest thing I've seen away from "wilderness" in a while.

The entire theme is centered around wilderness terms, down to the restaurant names, which range from an Italian restaurant named Sarentos at the Wilderness, to the Wild Canyon Cafe, which serves guests all meals in a "Gold Mine" theme. The golf course is even included in the theme, and is named Wild Rock Golf. Though the idea is cute, the use of wilderness in this way is very incorrect. However, I started thinking about ways that this place could be seen as a wilderness, some comical, and some more thoughtful.

I'll start with the thoughtful--> This resort can in a sense be seen as a wilderness because of the escape it offers it's guests from everyday life. Many people go to the wilderness and hike the AT to get away from problems in their life, to celebrate an important event, or just for the fun and adventure. It is obvious that in this age, many people aren't willing to go out into the wilderness to escape and relax, so in this way, this resort is slightly comparable to wilderness. Of course it is the exact opposite physically, but the mental relaxation they both can offer people are comparable. People are different, and the times are different--some people don't enjoy walking trails and not taking showers, so resorts are their way of escaping life.

Now on to the comical--> This resort can also be seen as a wilderness because of the people that visit it. This resort is obviously very upscale and expensive (note that they escort you to the spa in a limo), so the people that will be visiting it are mainly going to be rich people. Now, I haven't met many extremely rich people, but I did get my taste of them when I went to private school for a few years in elementary school, and when I continuted to attend the church and youth group associated with the school right up until high school. I've also seen many movies and TV shows that depict rich people as snobby people that talk behind each other's backs and ruin each other's lives with gossip. I know I couldn't survive long in a place like this, and in this way, the people in this place can be seen as wild animals that are out to get each other, but over gossip instead of who's for dinner. The people in here that devour each other's lives with gossip can be seen like wild animals in this "wilderness."