Dixie slowly shedding 'spring break' image

ST. GEORGE — Utah's Dixie could be losing its image as a party town for teenage "spring breakers," and that makes Mayor Dan McArthur deliriously happy.

"The first year I was the mayor, it was kind of scary," said McArthur, who grew up in St. George and is now in his third four-year term as mayor. "Kids were hanging out along the boulevard in huge crowds, and the ACLU was handing out pamphlets telling them what their rights were. I thought we were going to have a riot."

Spring break 2005 is this coming weekend, and it's already crowded with such events as the annual St. George Arts Festival, baseball tournaments and an RV show. Hotel rooms are nearly all booked.

And while that traffic warning remains true today, the potential for serious teen trouble has changed. During Spring Break 1994, McArthur said he made sure he knew how to call out the National Guard, just in case he needed their help.

"Crowds of kids were actually picking up pebbles and rocks and throwing them at the police. The fire department had its water cannons out and ready, but they didn't use them. It was kind of a scary time," he said.

Teenagers who decide to spend spring break in St. George this year will find a no-tolerance policy when it comes to even the smallest violation, he added.

"We were ranked No. 3 one year on MTV's list of spring break party spots, behind Palm Springs and Ft. Lauderdale, a few years ago," said Harding. "What a dubious honor."