The Lone Star Motorcycle Rally is a yearly event on the island city. An estimated 250,000 motorcycle enthusiasts ride down for a long weekend. It's the biggest and most profitable event the city has, even bigger than Mardi Gras. But with so much Ike damage, there is doubt whether the city and its hotels, restaurants, and other tourist attractions will be ready. The mayor says the city can't afford to miss it.
Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas said, "We've had a severe blow here and the Lone Star Rally is a bright spot for us, so we're counting on that one event early on to raise the hopes of our citizens who've suffered so much loss here."
The event is scheduled for October 31 and rally organizers say they plan to donate a portion of their proceeds to Galveston's recovery effort.
