Summer’s heavy rains putting damper on New Hampshire tourism businesses

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

This summer’s torrential rains are hurting the businesses in the tourism-dependent Lakes and White Mountains areas in New Hampshire.

The New Hampshire Off-Highway Vehicle Association’s operating manager, Steve Wilkie, has seen ATV routes destroyed across the state, from recent storms in the north to flooding in the south. He claims that whereas the epidemic drove people outside, this summer’s weather has driven them back inside.

He further stated that rentals are down, usage is down, registrations are down.

Kirk Beattie is the Mayor of Laconia, which is located in the heart of the Lakes Region. He claims that the number of day-trippers has decreased.

“Good weather certainly benefits many of our businesses that are tourist driven,” he said.

Callum Grant, who supervises the railroad attraction at Lincoln’s Clark’s Bears amusement park, agreed with Beattie. He stated that while total attendance has decreased, lodging bookings have remained stable, indicating that short-term travelers are remaining at home.

He and other company owners believe that foreboding forecasts are scaring away visitors. While Lincoln has escaped the worst of this summer’s storms, Grant said he has received worried phone calls from guests concerned about hazards such as severe downpours and tornadoes.

“Generalized forecast for New Hampshire doesn’t necessarily specifically tell the story up here,” he said. “We don’t see a whole lot of the flooding impacts that some of the southern communities get.”

Due to road restrictions, Torin Stegemeyer, owner of Wake Winni Water Sports in Wolfeboro, had to cancel bookings on Sunday and Monday. He claims to have witnessed a decline in rentals since clients appear to be more concerned about the possibility of adverse weather than in past years.

Visitors who have come out, however, have frequently been pleasantly pleased by their experiences, according to Stegemeyer, who notes that the lesser crowds have improved boating conditions on the lake.

The deluge this weekend has made other waterways in the state, notably rivers, more perilous. The head of the White Mountain Attractions Association, CharylReardon, cautioned tourists to be mindful of unusually strong river currents induced by the high water level.

Some have benefited from the rain, notably indoor shops, who have reported increased foot traffic.

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