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The chatterbox: Local venues boom |
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Friday, 18 July 2008 |
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — As many families take off for their summer vacation, they can’t help but consider the cost of gasoline when determining their destinations.
For visitors to amusement parks and campgrounds alike, the decision may sway more towards local venues simply as a way to save money. Visitors to the campgrounds at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park said the cost of gasoline played a major rule in their choice of campgrounds.
“That’s why we travel from the south end of the lake to the north end,” Montezuma resident Doug Forsthoefel said. “We used to drive to Gettysburg (near Greenville), but at $4 a gallon, we don’t do that anymore.”
Dayton resident Lyndsey Barbian said she was staying at the campgrounds with family and friends and was also was taking a shorter trip compared to last year.
“We normally go to Myrtle Beach, but because of the cost of gas we came here instead,” she said.
Grand Lake St. Marys Park Manager Craig Morton said the number of visitors to the local campgrounds does seem to be slightly fewer compared to 2007, but official data wouldn’t be available until the end of the year.
“It looks like we might be down a little bit,” Morton said. “The cost of everything going up is affecting everyone.
Recent warm weather has prompted more boaters onto the lake.
“It’s been hot — lake activity has increased,” Morton said.
Auglaize and Mercer Counties Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Donna Grube said tourists are still visiting the area. Grube also said those visiting are choosing less expensive forms of entertainment. Grube said the visitor’s bureau has seen a new trend for families.
“We’re getting so many requests for hiking and biking trails,” Grube said. “I’ve never gotten so many requests of ‘Where can we hike, where can we bike?’”
Grube said hiking and biking may be a popular way for families to spend inexpensive quality time together.
“We have a lot of options — just not a lot of challenging hills — but they have the view of the lake,” Grube said, citing trails along the Miami and Erie Canal, East and West Banks of Grand Lake St. Marys as well as from trails Celina to Coldwater as possible options. “It appears to us a lot more people are using the state park. I’m seeing more people at the beaches. It’s been hot, but it’s also inexpensive.”
Grube said that while many people are opting to visit less expensive restaurants, they are still eating out at.
“Economically, we’re still in that mode where we feel we need a treat,” Grube said.
Grube said hotels in the area are doing well because of events such as races at the Eldora Speedway. However, hotels are also seeing an increase in the number of people who cancel their reservations due to inclement weather.
“People are canceling faster if there’s a bad weather report,” Grube said. “They’re not going to drive there if they think the event will be canceled.”
Grube said the visitor’s bureau won’t have any figures on the number of summer visitors to the Grand Lake St. Marys Region until September or October. However, for spring, the number of visitors has remained strong.
“Actually right now our numbers are up, but our figures are always two months behind,” Grube said. “For the first months of the year it’s up significantly.”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 23 July 2008 )
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