Why this small town is working to deter tourists' fall foliage photo ops
As the weather begins to turn brisk and tree leaves turn from green to shades of gold, brown and amber, many outdoor enthusiasts and travelers around New England may be inclined to stop and snap the perfect fall foliage photo to post to social media.
But one town in Vermont is asking people to stop using their private property for photo ops of the picturesque annual phenomena.
Sleepy Hollow Farm, near Woodstock, attracts leaf peepers from all around, but local residents Michael Doten and Amy Robb told "Good Morning America" it's gotten overwhelming.
"It's like, I can't even get to my home," Robb said, while driving around the area and taking video of a road congested with vehicles and pedestrians.
And both believe social media is the catalyst behind the influx of attention.
"All of a sudden we just saw this massive explosion in the numbers of people coming," Doten said.
"They are walking on the lawn, the property, to take their photo shoots," Robb said. "We definitely have a deluge of the drones that come by as well, and we ask them not to fly their drones over us and on the property."
"It is a private residence," Doten added. "I have been asked, 'Where's the parking area? Where are the bathrooms? Where's the food facilities?' There's none of that here."
Residents have also resorted to crowdsourcing to hire sheriff's deputies to manage the temporary road closures and increased signage in the area.
"This is a road that was not designed for large vehicles and not designed for multiple two-way traffic," said Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer.
Nearby fed-up residents also pushed the town to pass a measure that closes certain roads from Sept. 23 through Oct. 15, 2023, during the peak foliage season, effectively banning tourists from the areas.
Locals have said they're not trying to gatekeep the area, but rather manage the influx of newcomers. And as part of their pleas to preserve the area, residents have offered alternative places that are open to the public for fall foliage viewing.
"There are a lot of beautiful places in Vermont. There's a lot of beautiful drives," Doten said. "So really that's where we would implore, that people go there."
