The small rural community of Pomfret, Vermont, has historically been a popular destination for tourists and photographers because of its idyllic fall landscapes. As the BBC However, reports have increased the number of visitors since pictures of Sleepy Hollow Farm, a private farm in the city, went viral on social media.
The farmhouse is now considered one of the most photographed locations in the state. However, in recent years, local residents have been faced with problems such as traffic delays, property damage and trespassing on private property.
Influencers behave badly in Pomfret
Residents told the BBC that the situation was “out of control”. Tourists, especially social media influencers, ignored gates with “no entry” signs, got stuck on the narrow road and left their belongings on the side of the road. “It was bad,” recalled Deborah Goodwin, the exhibition director at Artistree Community Arts Center in Pomfret.
In the fall season of 2022, local police tried to alleviate the situation through temporary traffic regulations – with limited success. That’s why the residents decided to take a new approach this year: They raised money through a crowdfunding campaign on the GoFundMe platform. In their call, they stressed that the “Instagram and TikTok-driven tourist ‘influencers’” had damaged roads, trampled gardens and polluted private properties.
City council closes access roads – much to the annoyance of tourists
The GoFundMe campaign was successful and raised $16,068. Councilors then voted to close the access roads to the farm to non-residents during the peak season (September 23rd to October 15th). However, the restrictions were met with displeasure from tourists who had traveled to the region in search of the perfect autumn photo.
Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer underlined the need for the measures to the BBC: “This road is not designed to accommodate multiple vehicles. There were traffic jams and emergency services couldn’t get through. It just overwhelmed the area’s infrastructure.”
The residents of Pomfret emphasized that they were not against tourists in general. However, they wanted visitors to respect their hometown.