The town of Pomfret in Vermont, US, has resorted to banning influencers and other visitors from its most scenic road during the peak autumn foliage season, after residents grew frustrated with disruptive tourism.
Pomfret, a community of just over 900 people, becomes a hotspot every autumn as crowds of 'leaf-peepers' arrive to photograph the spectacular red, brown, orange, and gold displays. Some residents report visitors being rude, disrespectful, or selfish in their pursuit of the perfect picture.
Residents' complaints
Local farmer Cathy Emmons told news.com.au that she and her husband Bill saw a visitor set up a portable changing booth on their private property, emerging in different outfits for selfies. She also witnessed tourists stealing tomatoes from her farm. Another resident described a drone hovering a few feet above his head while he dined outdoors with his family. In a separate incident, a visitor parked unlawfully in a driveway and used a garden shed as a toilet.
Road closures and fundraising
Sleepy Hollow Farm on Cloudland Road is a popular destination, but the road cannot handle the traffic, with visitors blocking lanes to take photos. In 2023, officials closed the road to non-residents from mid-September to mid-October, a measure repeated each year. This year, the closure runs from Saturday, September 26, to Tuesday, October 13, according to the Express.
The Town of Pomfret Selectboard acknowledged the measures "cannot fully address the significant issues created by fall foliage traffic" but said they "will significantly improve safety and quality of life for residents most severely affected."
Last year, locals set up a fundraising page called 'Save Cloudland Road' to cover the costs of closures and traffic enforcement. The page states that the road has seen "an unprecedented surge in Instagram and TikTok-fueled tourist 'influencers'" and that crowds can surge to hundreds at a time. It estimates more than $12,000 (around £9,000) is needed for signs and sheriff deputies to man temporary closures, to "bring peace, safety, and civility back to the families who live here."
