Gas prices, foliage falling for leaf-peepers

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By Jeff Canning, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Despite the economic downturn, sharply lower gas prices are keeping customers coming to businesses that depend on the tourist trade during fall foliage season.

Many lodges and campgrounds in the Mid-Atlantic region are seeing steady business, and lodges in Shenandoah National Park are filled to capacity for the next few weeks.

The average national price for a gallon of regular gasoline has dropped from a peak of $4.11 on July 14 to $2.91 last week, according to the Energy Information Administration.

People feel like maybe they can afford to travel again.

"Even though people are holding their money back, we're not an expensive getaway, only being 75 miles west of D.C.," said Sherri Fickel, owner of Hopkins Ordinary Bed & Breakfast in Sperryville, Va. "It's just beautiful to come out here, and we have a lot of return customers that come back every October."

The bed-and-breakfast industry is seeing visitors comparable to last year's numbers. Ms. Fickel said slightly more than half of her guests come from the Washington area, but the B&B attracts visitors from all over the world.

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Foliage Visitors Remain Steady Despite Economy

Shenandoah National Park remains on track with visitor numbers despite the price of gas and downturn of the economy.

Leaf-peepers Diana Deyo and Russ Henshaw, a retired couple from Cincinnati, planned their camping trip to Shenandoah National Park after reading about the splashy foliage on display in the Blue Ridge Mountains each fall. Gas prices during their trip steadily increased as they traveled east.

"It was around the $2.40s in Cincinnati, so gas prices have gotten progressively higher along the way," Mr. Henshaw said Wednesday.

Shenandoah Valley businesses say they depend on increased tourism during the fall. Jim Davis, interim president of the Chamber of Commerce for Winchester-Frederick Counties, appreciates the importance of tourism to his community.

"The changing of the colors is a huge benefit to our area because we are far enough away from the highly populated areas of Northern Virginia, but we are close enough to get there and back easily," Mr. Davis said.

He does not expect the economic slowdown to play a big role this fall but thinks businesses will feel the impact later on.

"As of about three weeks ago, before some of these really bad economic issues came out, visitors to the area were up over the past year," Mr. Davis said. "I have not checked since then, but I doubt very highly that we've seen a drop-off, since reservations are made two or three or more months in advance."

Greg Johns, a 54-year-old software engineer from Philadelphia, took a slight detour down Skyline Drive as he worked his way south to Florida to visit relatives.

"I got tired of driving up and down I-95, so I thought I'd take a side trip down Skyline Drive," Mr. Johns said. "It is the right time of year to be here with all the leaves changing."

The Shenandoah Valley is not the only nearby hot spot for passionate leaf-peepers. Catoctin Mountain Park in Thurmont, Md., is also seeing increased visitors this month. The park's campground and all of its cabins were full last weekend.

Park Superintendent Mel Poole said the weather has been great for fall color this year.

"Not being in a drought has given us a lot of good color, and we're seeing significant numbers of people," Mr. Poole said. "There is at least another week of good color before we close out for the season."