FOX44NOW.COM - Burlington/Plattsburgh News, Weather and SportsCampers Out In VT Despite Economic Storm
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Many Vermont campgrounds opened for the season over the weekend, and the economy didn't keep people away.
People enjoy camping in the Green Mountain State for different reasons.
"Cooking out, starting a fire, hanging out," Wesley Mercy said.
Dave Byrnes said he likes it for the relaxation.
Byrnes divides his time between Vermont and Florida. He said the economy isn't affecting his summer plans, but he knows some people are selling their campers because of it.
"We're finding the same thing down in Florida that people just can't afford two locations, they can't afford to travel back and forth each year," Byrnes said.
But it seems many people aren't willling to give up spending time in the great outdoors to save money.
"We've got a lot of reservations for July, quite a few for August so it really is looking pretty good," Robert Thompson, of Mallets Bay Campground said.
Thompson said a few new seasonal campers have even moved in. Nearby, the economy has surprised workers at Lone Pine Campsites.
"We we're even shocked at last year because you know the way the economy was and everything things weren't supposed to be that well but they turned out very well and it's looking very promising this year," Tom Fischer said.
Lone Pine is even pretty much booked for Labor Day weekend. Even though they are getting a lot of reservations, Fischer says more people seem to be staying closer to home.
After this first weekend, some folks like Mercy plan to do a lot more camping.
"We're going to Grand Isle next weekend, we'll probably head to New York the weekend after that or something hit up every camp ground we can," Mercy said.
