Fair Banks County finally brings in tourists: internet towers for the industry first, then the tourism progression with an observation tower, water park and Ferris wheel on offer. An entertainment area grows by the Grand Hotel, a raised berm with lindens acts as a natural sound barrier, crowds of walking tourists justify the first bus line that really helps, and a second turn lane fixes the traffic.
What happens in this episode
The last episode added more oil industry, an automotive plant, which doesn’t look great from up close, cargo terminals and a new commuter station connection. Episode 25 of Fair Banks County brings something the city never had: tourists.
How it was built
Where tourism can go
The pollution view shows where the wind carries industrial pollution, so homes and tourism shouldn’t go there. The better spot is near the large Grand Hotel by the coast. First, though, three communication towers, upgraded straight away, give the industry and the farms better internet.
Choosing attractions
Unlocking the tourism progression shows the options: an enormous observation tower (it would be the tallest structure in the city), a water park, a medieval castle, a statue, a church and a huge Ferris wheel. The tower would look best near downtown’s high-rises, but there’s no room there. It ends up across from the Grand Hotel, a bit like Toronto’s CN Tower, which also isn’t right on the shore.
A berm as a sound barrier
New commercial high-rises and small shops (a pharmacy, a clinic) fill in. I wished for a hotel DLC. The terrain next to the road is raised slightly to act as a natural sound barrier, planted with lindens. Small lots complain about high rent, which I can’t change. The road layout and landscape are adjusted to support tourist businesses, and greenery keeps people from parking on the road. I wish there were a simple no-parking option.
A new on- and off-ramp, meant to take industrial traffic away from the roundabout, also changed regular traffic. Not that surprising, in hindsight.
Tourists on foot — and a bus line that works
Crowds of people walked through the area, many heading to the Grand Hotel. For the first time, a bus line clearly made sense. Until then my impression was that buses barely help in Cities: Skylines II. A new bus depot near the industry and an upgraded police station follow. One business lost pedestrian access until a path was added, and a building got demolished along the way. Paths behave strangely sometimes.
Turn lanes
A second lane, so drivers turning left and right each have their own, improved traffic straight away. As a first tourist destination it looks good, even without proper hotels. Next: more rail, more educated workers and the land around it.
Video chapters
- 00:00Where can tourism go? Wind and pollution
- 04:27Tower, water park, castle or Ferris wheel?
- 12:34A berm as a sound barrier
- 21:54Greenery against parking, a busy new ramp
- 27:07Walking tourists and the first useful bus line
- 31:34Turn lanes and the view
Clicking a chapter starts the video above at that point.
FAQ
Where should a tourist district go in Cities: Skylines 2?
Away from where the wind carries industrial pollution, with good road and transit access and some existing attraction — here the Grand Hotel by the coast.
Can terrain work as a sound barrier?
That was my hope: I raised the terrain slightly between the road and the buildings and planted lindens on top as a natural sound barrier.
Do bus lines help in Cities: Skylines 2?
For a long time I had the impression they didn't. In the new tourist area, with crowds walking to the Grand Hotel, a bus line finally made an obvious difference.