Two floods Storms that hit in July have crippled businesses and tourist destinations in an economically depressed area of northern Vermont, with some remaining closed as they repair damage and others urging weather-deterred visitors to make the trip.
The Kingdom’s trails, a popular destination for mountain bikers, attract tens of thousands of visitors each year. But storms that hit the area on July 10 and 30 destroyed roads and bridges, damaged homes and trails, and discouraged visitors at the height of the season.
Businesses and destinations are starting to pick up the pieces, with some still closed in nearby Lyndonville, while others want to spread the word that they are fully open.
“I can’t stress enough that we are open and our community is welcoming,” said Abby Long, Kingdom Trails’ executive director. “We encourage people to not only come to Kingdom Trails and have a great time but also to sign up to volunteer to clean and sweep houses in the morning and then relax on the trails in the afternoon.”
She said the storms caused $300,000 in damage to the trails — not including lost membership revenue. The trails were closed for about a day and a half as crews worked hard to reopen them. The cost of the repairs is in addition to the $150,000 in damages incurred in Last summer’s floods.
“This is not sustainable,” Long said.
So far, 341 Vermont businesses have reported flood damage in the state this year, according to Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein. About 1,100 businesses were affected by flooding last summer, she said.
In Lyndonville, a popular restaurant that has been in business since 1978 will not reopen after Damaged in July 10 stormsThe owner of Miss Lyndonville Diner is making repairs and plans to sell the restaurant. She told Caledonian Register The floods convinced her it was time to retire.
Nearby Village Sport Shop, which has been in business for nearly 50 years, has decided to close its flooded Lyndonville store and exit the skate industry, according to a post on the company’s social media.
“With the multiple flood events we have endured and the evolution we have had to take as a company, we have come to the decision that it is time to shift our focus to the summer side of the business and rid ourselves of the flood risk that the lower properties on the strip bear,” the post reads. The company has a roadside bike shop in East Burke.
A Walgreens drugstore and a donut shop remain temporarily closed as they recover from flood damage.
In May, Vermont became First case To pass a law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a share of the damage caused by the extreme weather that sparked the crisis. Due to climate changeBut officials acknowledged that raising any money would depend on litigation against the much better-resourced oil industry.
In Burke, a town of about 1,650 people that is home to the Burke Mountains ski area, Kingdom Trails is a huge economic driver, said town manager Jim Sullivan.
“It’s painful, it’s unbelievable to see the impact it’s having,” he said. “If Kingdom Trails can’t open, people are canceling their Airbnb reservations and their inns. We have restaurants that rely on all these people coming here. It’s just a cascading event that eventually diminishes where you have these absolutely beautiful days and you don’t have the people here that we would have had if we hadn’t had this devastation.”
East Perk Market had been having a really good summer, but when the aisles closed, “business came to a screeching halt,” said co-owner Burton Hinton.
All the storms Sullivan said the flooding caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to roads and property. The city lost a bridge in the July 10 floods and the entire mountain road in the storm that followed weeks later, he said.
“We’re still waiting for some guidance from the federal government. In the meantime, everyone has come together and done a great job helping each other. It’s a real community,” he said.
About 60 student-athletes who participate in cross-country mountain bike races with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling Association, and 40 coaches, were in Burke training at Kingdom Trails when the latest flooding hit on July 30.
Michael Morrell, of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, who was with them, said the group had to change their route to ride on gravel for several days, but then some trails quickly reopened.
“The trail system here and the trail crew are very efficient, and the trails, many of the trails, are very well drained,” he said on Aug. 1.
However, he said he felt sorry for those who rely on tourists to visit local trails.
“I feel very sorry that their roads are closed… We are happy that we can help them in any way we can,” Morel said.