Don McCombs
501 Club
Labor Day weekend is just about over. Most of the idiot tourons have gone back from whence they came. Tomorrow, the lake does a big sigh of relief until Memorial Day.
The End of Labor Day
- Thread starter Don McCombs
- Start date
T-Mo
501 Club
Yesterday, my wife and I were walking a couple of miles in town (we have a specific route starting with this little creek side park) and we must have counted 50 RVs headed east through town (not in a row, but within about 35 minutes). There are a few parks and a few camping areas west of town, so they must have been headed home from the weekend, headed back to the St. Louis area. Summer is officially over (well in about 15-16 days).
ricky racer
501 Club
Now that the holiday weekend is past, kids back in school and before the autumn color peak, I'm heading to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I'm going to go exploring the UP and camping on my motorcycle. Hopefully, the 90° heat shoud be done and the temperatures more comfortable next week.
My inlaws have a house at Badin lake, we've been one time all year to visit because we work so much. We worked Saturday, went to church Sunday morning, and headed to the lake after church. Our kids were so excited to finally get to the lake. I brought our son back to church for his worship service Sunday evening and we went back and spent the night with the inlaws and came home Monday. It's nice to get away from home and visit family and friends and some people can only do it on Holidays, not everyone going somewhere is a "touron".
My son and I got up at daylight Monday and took the kayak out, I caught the biggest fish I've ever caught. A 3-4 lb catfish and he was as excited as I was.
I wouldn't trade that for anything on this Earth.
My son and I got up at daylight Monday and took the kayak out, I caught the biggest fish I've ever caught. A 3-4 lb catfish and he was as excited as I was.
I wouldn't trade that for anything on this Earth.
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Don McCombs
501 Club
Shane, I agree that not everyone that visits your lake or ours is a touron. However, Badin Lake looks to be far less developed than our Deep Creek Lake. They appear to be very comparable in size. With the exception of one small state park, our entire shoreline is developed with vacation rental, second home and commercial properties. The draw for these properties is the Pittsburgh, PA and Baltimore/Washington markets. It’s interesting that the lake visitors come here to escape the city, but demand that every possible amenity that they have available at home, be provided to them here. We have narrow two lane roads here, but they drive them like the freeways they left behind. One anecdote that I frequently use is that when they rent a house for the week or weekend, they think they’ve rented the entire County. It is true, that despite the issues that I’ve described, we do choose to live here. Fortunately, the remaining seven months of the year make it worthwhile. Enjoy your lake, when and while you can.
In the 1980's I owned a resort on Lake Huron. In late September the lodging association held a "summer survivors party". However the busiest non holiday weekend would be the weekend closest to October 10th. This would flood the area with leaf peepers. I closed for the winter after Thanksgiving which was near the end of firearms deer season. (Muzzle loading season did come later.) The operator I sold to stayed open year round which in winter the area had snowmobile trails and cross country skiing. To those who live in a tourist area, don't underestimate the the money poured into your local economy. Jobs, although not generally the best paying, money and jobs into restaurants, gift shops, gas stations and almost all business. This offers locals more choices and more business competition. This is a part of your local economy just as sure as heavy industry is in some cities. Vern
Don McCombs
501 Club
We get the leaf peepers. too. We even have an Autumn Glory Festival, which is really a three day beer bust, to entice more. I fully understand the benefits of tourism on our local economy. But, it's not all upside. There are plenty of downsides for the locals, too. The financial benefits go to a select few, who hire the locals at rock bottom wages. Don't get me wrong. I'm not anti-business. But, the financial windfall doesn't trickle down very far.
Don McCombs":189wp19r said:
Don, I have been off line for a few days. Computer problems. I do believe that you are badly underestimating the impact of money spent by tourists. I said wages were not the best but I always paid above minimum. Money is also left at restaurants, bars, gas stations and your local Walmart. These people also have employees. Most economists feel money turns over 4 to 5 times before leaving the area. That is your total impact. Money sent out of the area like to Amazon must be returned. It can be from manufactured products, services or outsiders. Actually one of the worst is business like Walmart where profits are sent elsewhere, this is also an outflow which needs to be returned. I doubt I can change your mind as to the benefit to the area but not to worry. As long as the money keeps coming in it will trickle down farther than you may realize. Vern
Don McCombs
501 Club
Vern,
I totally understand the trickle-down economic benefits of the tourism industry. People from the Baltimore/Washington and Pittsburgh markets come here and bring “foreign” dollars with them. And they leave a lot of those dollars here. Dollars that wouldn’t come to the area without tourism. It’s what happens to those dollars after leaving the tourist’s wallet that is important. We are a “year-round” resort area that is more of a wannabe than a reality. We have a mediocre ski area; an artificial whitewater sports complex, funded with tax payer dollars, that was supposed to rival the one in Charlotte, NC (another wannabe); a medium sized lake that is so crowded with boats in the summer that you could almost walk across it on the boats; a few mediocre restaurants; one golf course and a ton of vacation rental houses. The ski area, whitewater complex and the golf course are owned by a big sports venue conglomerate from out West. The majority of the restaurants are not locally owned. Same with the several local motels. The big vacation rental agencies are about half and half local vs out of state. There are a fair number of locally owned small retail establishments, typical in any area. Two boat fuel/rental/dealerships that are not locally owned. The majority of the employment generated directly from these businesses is seasonal, so virtually no benefits other than cash. The out-of-state businesses (including Walmart, the only supermarket) send a big chunk of their revenues to their owners/shareholders, wherever they may be. What remains in the County does then trickle down through several levels providing some income for those locals willing to work. Our unemployment rate is 5.2%, as compared to the national rate of 3.7%. So, yes, the tourism is very important to the County’s economy. It would never survive without it. But, it’s not comparable with most of the better known resort area economies. The majority of the locals dislike the lake and the people that it draws. The tourists are demanding and create terrible traffic congestion. This is true, even though most realize the economic benefits derived.
In reading what I have written above, I suddenly realized that I sound like a Democrat. Believe me, I’m not.
I totally understand the trickle-down economic benefits of the tourism industry. People from the Baltimore/Washington and Pittsburgh markets come here and bring “foreign” dollars with them. And they leave a lot of those dollars here. Dollars that wouldn’t come to the area without tourism. It’s what happens to those dollars after leaving the tourist’s wallet that is important. We are a “year-round” resort area that is more of a wannabe than a reality. We have a mediocre ski area; an artificial whitewater sports complex, funded with tax payer dollars, that was supposed to rival the one in Charlotte, NC (another wannabe); a medium sized lake that is so crowded with boats in the summer that you could almost walk across it on the boats; a few mediocre restaurants; one golf course and a ton of vacation rental houses. The ski area, whitewater complex and the golf course are owned by a big sports venue conglomerate from out West. The majority of the restaurants are not locally owned. Same with the several local motels. The big vacation rental agencies are about half and half local vs out of state. There are a fair number of locally owned small retail establishments, typical in any area. Two boat fuel/rental/dealerships that are not locally owned. The majority of the employment generated directly from these businesses is seasonal, so virtually no benefits other than cash. The out-of-state businesses (including Walmart, the only supermarket) send a big chunk of their revenues to their owners/shareholders, wherever they may be. What remains in the County does then trickle down through several levels providing some income for those locals willing to work. Our unemployment rate is 5.2%, as compared to the national rate of 3.7%. So, yes, the tourism is very important to the County’s economy. It would never survive without it. But, it’s not comparable with most of the better known resort area economies. The majority of the locals dislike the lake and the people that it draws. The tourists are demanding and create terrible traffic congestion. This is true, even though most realize the economic benefits derived.
In reading what I have written above, I suddenly realized that I sound like a Democrat. Believe me, I’m not.
Since the topic is recreation and "holiday" events put on by locals.
Iowa and Missouri are in the process of converting old railroad beds to bicycle paths. Personal observation, the bicyclists visit the small towns along the rail bed bringing dollars. Dollars into the community that wouldn't be there if there were if no bicycle path.
Guthrie Center, Iowa, old home town, puts on River Ruckus in lat August. Mile long traffic jams. Positive financial impact on Guthrie Center is tremendous.
Iowa and Missouri are in the process of converting old railroad beds to bicycle paths. Personal observation, the bicyclists visit the small towns along the rail bed bringing dollars. Dollars into the community that wouldn't be there if there were if no bicycle path.
Guthrie Center, Iowa, old home town, puts on River Ruckus in lat August. Mile long traffic jams. Positive financial impact on Guthrie Center is tremendous.
Don, Let me retract my statement of your understanding of trickle around. Trickle down has a bad name so I will start using trickle around. It is suprising how many people will understand that to keep spending they have to refill their billfold once in a while but do not apply that concept to community. I go so far as to ask my local hardware store to bring in things they don't stock that I could go to KalamaZoo or Battle Creek big boxes and buy. It does take a little advanced planning. I use my small non chain drug store too. The Galesbburg area is not very big. Four traffic lights
Eugene, There is a converted trail/bicycle path from Kalamazoo to South Haven (Lake Michigan shore town) and thirty years ago I walked it. I do not have any real info on it but I would not think of it as a destanion attraction. I think it is something like 43 miles so a bicyclist could ride both ways in a day. It does get used and probably some of the lake vactioners use it. It helps to have several things in the area to do. The trail goes thru three small towns and close to another and we did stop for soda or ice cream cone so even the almost locals donate to the comminuties.
Vern
Eugene, There is a converted trail/bicycle path from Kalamazoo to South Haven (Lake Michigan shore town) and thirty years ago I walked it. I do not have any real info on it but I would not think of it as a destanion attraction. I think it is something like 43 miles so a bicyclist could ride both ways in a day. It does get used and probably some of the lake vactioners use it. It helps to have several things in the area to do. The trail goes thru three small towns and close to another and we did stop for soda or ice cream cone so even the almost locals donate to the comminuties.
Vern