Influencer Influx Forces Big Changes to Famed Fall Foliage Spot
Fall is finally here, and for many social media users, it's time to start snapping breathtaking photos of the changing leaves and sharing them online. One small road in Vermont has become a go-to location for influencers and leaf-spotting tourists over the years, but after an influx of badly behaved visitors, the road has been closed to non-residents for the season.
Cloudland Road connects the towns of Pomfret and Woodstock and is home to the frequently photographed Sleepy Hollow Farm. In recent years, social media users and photographers have swarmed the narrow tree-lined road to take selfies and other pictures of the gorgeous fall foliage surrounding the private property. But the street is also a crucial artery connecting the towns, and as a result of tourists clogging the road, the town of Pomfret has closed it to non-residents from September 23–October 15.
"Extraordinary tourism interest in private properties" has fueled the uptick in fall foliage season visitors in recent years, the Select Board of Pomfret said, causing "significant safety, environmental, aesthetic, and quality of life issues" in the vicinity.
In the past, the Woodstock and Pomfret area has been frequented by people like the beloved "Christian Girl Autumn" influencer Caitlin Covington. These large-following accounts have drawn hordes of copycats and other tourists to specific spots like Cloudland Road, taxing the rural infrastructure.
According to The Associated Press, there are now several signs along the farm property indicating no parking and no photos are allowed. If you're thinking about going anyway, be prepared to deal with the consequences, as local law enforcement plans to enforce the crackdown. Instead, residents want visitors to stop by other attractions in the area that have the space for them.
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but not potentially getting in legal trouble.