Little Snow Brings Little Business
The lack of snow may make for an easier commute to work, but business owners in Island Park say it’s hard on the local economy.
Snow is what every business in Island Park is praying for.
Pond’s Lodge general manager Carl Solden says the lack of it has really slowed things down.
“We have cancellations on our rental units,? Solden said. ?People who typically come in December and January each year are pushing their reservations back and or canceling them.”
A mile up the road from Harriman State Park, the assistant manager of Henry’s Fork Anglers, Jake Wells, said he is waiting for a good snowstorm so he can rent out his cross-country skis and snow shoes.
?I have been seeing less visitors as far as people snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snow shoeing compared to years past,” Wells said.
The lack of snow doesn’t just concern business owners for the winter months but also when fishing season returns if there will be enough water here in the reservoirs and rivers.
“The snow pack during the winter time will affect the conditions of the rivers in the summertime,” Wells said.
As of Friday, the Island Park reservoir was at 82 percent full.
Even if it doesn’t snow much more, Wells said he still anticipates a good summer.
“We’re still benefiting from good snow pack the last couple of years,” Wells said.
Despite the lack of powder, Island Park Chamber of Commerce President Jay Bailey said the community still plans to see an even bigger showing at this year’s annual Island Park Winterfest this weekend.
“We all wish we had a little bit more but as far as the parade of sleds, which goes on tonight, we have plenty of snow for that,” Bailey said.
“To us locals up here, it’s a bad snow year, but really we have a foot and a half in our parking lot and 5 feet in the mountains,? Solden said. ?People are just used to a lot more.”
Winterfest festivities begin at Pond’s Lodge at 6:30 p.m. Friday and ends at Hungry Bear Market where a fireworks show will begin at 8:30 p.m.
For more information on the weekend’s events visit islandparkchamber.org.
