PLATTSBURGH —
With plenty of lakes, campgrounds and golf courses in the region, summertime gives North Country residents a chance to forget about the cruel winter and get some sunshine.
Poor weather and a hurting economy have kept many people home in recent summers. But, the 2010 summer season is nearly half over, and recreation businesses say business is improved, with more people returning to the outdoors.
MORE BOATERS
Chad Lambert, manager at Plattsburgh's Treadwell Bay Marina and Resort, is noticing a change in people's attitude when it comes to boating.
"People are starting to buy boats again because there is a slight reduction in fuel costs."
Lambert has seen a noticeable influx in the number of boaters, in large part due to the economy beginning to level out.
"I think people waited to see what the economy was going to do."
At Treadwell Bay, Lambert said, about 90 percent of the members are from Canada, where the economy has not affected them as badly.
Still, he said, overall business at the marina has increased.
"Business has been excellent. It's the fullest we've been since we took over ownership in 2002."
NATURE DESTINATIONS
Ausable Chasm General Manager Tim Bresett said this summer has seen an increase in visitors, from not just the North Country and Canada but around the world.
"We've seen a lot more Chinese and other international tourists come here."
According to Bresett, several factors are drawing more visitors this year than previous summers, including fair weather and the strength of the Canadian dollar.
"There's a lot more families this year, which is wonderful."
Bresett said the "rubber-tire vacation," where travelers are choosing cars over planes, has been more popular of late, making destinations like Ausable Chasm more enticing.
He said nature-oriented destinations have also become more popular with families.
"We have been fortunate. This type of destination has been on the rise."
CLOSE FOR MILLIONS
Though Lake Placid is famous for its winter recreation, summer is when the village sees most of its visitors, according to Jon Lundin, spokesperson for the Olympic Regional Development Authority, which operates the world-class sports venues.
Like Bresett, Lundin said people are taking more car trips than plane rides, which has helped the Lake Placid area improve, business-wise, from last summer.
"We're slowly climbing out of the recession, and people are looking for value," Lundin said.
With more people driving, Lake Placid's relatively short distance from several metropolitan areas has been a key factor to its success.
"We're six hours from 4 million people. We're situated in a good area."
Lundin said the most popular summer activities in Lake Placid and Wilmington are the bobsled run, the Whiteface gondola and Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway, which allows visitors to drive to the mountain's peak.
CAMPING FANS
State and private campsites are reporting strong numbers for this summer.
Ken Bellows of Ottawa has been coming to the Cumberland Bay State Park with his family since he was 2 years old. He said he learned how to swim in Lake Champlain.
Every year, he and his family spend at least a week in Plattsburgh, swimming on the lake and golfing at Bluff Point. "I can't remember the last year we didn't come." Bellows said. Reminiscing about past years, Bellows remembered hay rides and dances at the campground and music events on Saturday nights.
He said he notices more empty spots than in those earlier years.
"Places still have a lot of fun and organize things, but it's a challenge because of money."
BEAUTIFUL WEEKENDS
Though the North Country has plenty of campgrounds, boating opportunities, natural wonders and unique excursions, golf remains one of the most popular summertime leisure activities in the region. And like the others, that business has increased this year.
Paul Dame, owner of the Bluff Point Golf Resort in Plattsburgh, said that when it comes to golf, weather is everything.
"Weekends have been beautiful. People enjoy the weather, and it motivates people to get out and play golf."
Dame said the forecast is the most important factor that determines whether people are going to golf or not — and fortunately for Bluff Point, Dame said, the predictions have been pretty accurate.
Despite losing a few trees to the small severe thunderstorms this month, Dame said, this summer has been better than the past.
"People are back in the buying mode."
PEOPLE FEEL BETTER
At the Barracks Golf Course, located on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base, business has also improved, even though, co-owner and Director of Operations Dave Vivian said, the unusually wet and warm summer has been somewhat of a nuisance at times.
"A lot of water and humidity can cause a lot of stress for the greens. It's been a problem on some of the greens this year."
Vivian said fungus can cause damage to the course, and insects attract birds, which can hack at the grass.
The Barracks also had the same problem as Bluff Point, with several trees falling due to storms. The downed trees, along with power lines, even caused damage to cars.
But, Vivian is seeing more and more new faces on the golf course this summer.
"For things I can't put my finger on, I can't tell you why, business is good. I think last year when the market was tanking, people were concerned. It has rebounded, and now people feel better, just based on spending habits."
AFRAID TO JINX
Still, Vivian does not want to be too optimistic because he wants to remain prepared if anything starts to turn for the worse.
"Every operator wants to have a good season, but nobody wants to brag about it and jinx it. We still have three more months to go (in golf season). Anything can happen."
Though Vivian said the majority of golfers are over the age of 45, he enjoys when people decide to hit the links with the family.
"What's encouraging is that I see a lot of families that take the kids out to play golf. There's not enough of that."
— Staff Photographer Kelli Catana contributed to this report.
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