Re: Williamsburg vs. Preserved Adventure

The comparison with an outfitter is a good one, for the reasons that you outline. And those are basically the reasons that I am uncomfortable with the Williamsburg or Steamtown model. But one problem is we can't afford a "short cue". Our fixed costs are too high, not to mention are variable costs. But hopefully we can make the train ride an attractive enough experience to attract the volume of customers we need, while keeping the rest of the "ranch" much as you describe it: real railroaders doing their job in a generally well preserved environment.
I share your skepticism regarding the effectiveness of planning and zoning, expecially in a small village such as Chama that has no tradition (or tolerance) for that sort of bureaucratic meddling in their lives. On the other hand it's a starting point, and if nothing else might support existing attempts to think in terms of a "historic district". Eventually we probably need to think in terms of purchasing property, and creating other economic incentives (tax relief?) to encourage appropriate actions. But it won't be easy and I'm not all that optimistic. Perhaps some new altnernatives will develop if we keep raising the issue.