by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 11:35 AM ET, Fri October 13, 2023
Leaf-peeping isn’t as harmless as you might at first expect, and one small town in Vermont learned that the hard way in recent years, leading to the townsfolk getting creative in how to deal with overtourism.
It’s not just Venice that’s seen a dramatic increase in overtourism that can tax residents’ patience and overcrowd critical infrastructure. According to an article by the BBC, the scenic town of Pomfret, Vermont has seen a marked rise in tourism in the past three years as influencers discovered and shared the scenic town’s autumn glory, however, it's something that it cannot keep up with.
The town, the population of which numbers less than 1,000, is overrun as travelers come to photograph themselves against the backdrop of autumn colors, historic farmhouses and other scenic areas, especially of Sleepy Hollow Farm, which has since become known as one of Vermont’s most photographed places.
The influx of leaf-peepers and social media influencers got so bad that a group of residents created a GoFundMe to fund a seasonal road closure that would close the road to Sleepy Hollow Farm for anyone who wasn’t a resident.
"[We have] experienced an unprecedented surge in Instagram and TikTok-fuelled tourist 'influencers' ... [who] have damaged roads, had accidents, required towing out of ditches, trampled gardens, defecated on private property … and verbally assaulted residents,” the GoFundMe page explains.
They raised over $16,000, funding a seasonal road closure for non-residents from September 23 to October 15 this year.
“This is not a road that's designed to have multiple vehicles on it,” Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer told BBC. “[In 2021 and 2022] there were lines of traffic parked up and down the roadway, and you couldn't get fire apparatus or an ambulance through. It was just overwhelming the infrastructure in the area."
So how does one leaf-peep responsibly in a destination that’s not equipped to handle large numbers of tourists?
There are a few ways. The first is to make reservations for accommodations and experiences, giving residents the time to prepare for your arrival. The second is to contact a local chamber of commerce to provide info on local spots that a lot of tourists don’t know about.
If you’re seeing a specific location all over social media, it’s probably better not to follow the herd and find somewhere else to take fall photos.
It’s also paramount to be respectful of people’s private property, and obtain permission before entering private property or photographing it. The largest issue with Pomfret’s many fall tourists was their disrespect.
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