As hordes of photographers began descending on a small, rural community to capture its vibrant autumnal colours, local residents fought back – and won.
To enter the town of Pomfret, located in the US state of Vermont, is to be instantly struck by its bucolic beauty. From the north, Howe Hill Road winds downhill in a series of gentle curves, each sweep revealing verdant farm fields dotted with sheep, or swaths of forest in which the red and orange autumn leaves cling to boughs. At one home, a tree heavy with apples bends over a meticulously maintained stone wall, its slate top filled with decaying fruit.
"It's a beautiful spot. It's too bad it's been ruined for everybody," said Deborah Goodwin, the exhibits coordinator at Pomfret'sGoodwin says social media influencers would regularly climb over a gate plastered with"No Trespassing" signs, set up changing booths to accommodate their many costume swaps, get their"city cars" stuck on the narrow dirt road, and leave bodily waste by the roadside."It was bad," she recalled.
As a result, town officials voted to close the roads leading to the farm during the peak fall foliage season to non-residents, spurring the ire of travellers who had driven to the area in hopes of capturing a perfectly curated autumn photo.Most Pomfret residents stressed that they're not anti-tourist; they simply want people to treat their hometown with respect.
Things were different in the buzzy neighbouring town of Woodstock, where Cloudland Road ends. There, throngs of visitors dipped in and out of cute boutiques, their storefronts decorated with pots of mums and warty winter squash. Outside ofcocktail bar, patrons waiting for tables draped themselves over stone walls. On the town's sidewalks, people paused mid-step to capture scenic photographs of stately buildings erected by the Rockefellers. The town's eateries were jam-packed, too.
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