Locals living in New England have come up with a new plan to keep leaf peepers from flocking to their towns during the autumn months. Fed up with dangerous traffic jams caused by the hotspots, locals have opted to close some roads, including Cloudland Road, which leads to Sleepy Hollow Farm, and Jenne Road, which is known for being the backdrop for the film Forrest Gump. Unfortunately, Vermont’s economy is dependent on tourism, regardless of how locals feel. Thanks to 15.8 million visitors visiting Vermont annually, tourism there is a $4 billion industry. Vermont's tourism and marketing commissioner said she supported the seasonal closure, but also emphasized the importance of the state attracting tourists. Still, local residents complain that it’s becoming unsafe, with people shoving their way through bottlenecks, going off trail, and leaving trash in their wake. “These crazy tourists have no etiquette and no common sense,” said one resident. Vermont locals say they’re tired of asking people to stop using their private property for photo ops of the picturesque annual phenomena. Most residents believe social media is the catalyst behind the influx of attention. Residents have also resorted to crowdsourcing to hire sheriff's deputies to manage the temporary road closures and have increased signage in the area.
