Residents of Pomfret, Vermont, have had enough. The small town of 900 people, famous for its stunning autumn foliage, has become a hotspot for social media influencers seeking the perfect shot of Sleepy Hollow Farm. But the influx of visitors has led to road damage, trespassing, and safety concerns, prompting local officials to close certain roads to non-residents during peak leaf-peeping season.
Deborah Goodwin, exhibits coordinator at the Artistree Community Arts Center, described the situation as 'out of control.' She said influencers would climb over 'No Trespassing' signs, set up changing booths for costume swaps, and leave bodily waste by the roadside. 'It was bad,' she recalled. 'The residents went to the [local government] and said, “We can’t have this anymore.”'
In 2022, law enforcement temporarily made the road past Sleepy Hollow one-way, but it wasn't enough. In 2023, residents turned to crowdsourcing, raising over $22,000 through GoFundMe to address the issues. The campaign cited 'Instagram and TikTok-fuelled tourist influencers' who had 'damaged roads, had accidents, required towing out of ditches, trampled gardens, defecated on private property… and verbally assaulted residents.'
This year, town officials voted to close roads leading to the farm from 23 September to 15 October to non-residents. The decision has angered some tourists, but most residents stress they are not anti-tourist—they just want respect. Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer highlighted safety concerns, noting that the narrow roads cannot handle the traffic, and emergency vehicles have been blocked.
Pomfret's story serves as a cautionary tale for other scenic towns grappling with overtourism. As leaf-peeping season approaches, locals hope visitors will seek out less crowded spots and treat rural communities with courtesy.
