Social media is one of those technologies where you can find beautiful places in this world. But conversely you also learn about beautiful places in this world... to visit. And that's where the reality of human behavior meets the road. This is why the town of Pomfret, Vermont is closing its roads to leaf-peeping tourists. They can't behave. Lisa Rathke at AP News has more.
In recent years, social media users and photographers have clogged the narrow road for selfies and fall foliage shots of the scenic private property, drawn by its colorful hillside trees, the barn and classic New England home. One Instagram poster even tipped followers about how easy it is to go around the entrance gate to the private property, which also has surveillance cameras.
“Poorly behaved tourists have damaged roads, had accidents, required towing out of ditches, trampled gardens, defecated on private property, parked in fields and driveways, and verbally assaulted residents,” said the organizers of a GoFundMe site called Save Cloudland Road.
“It’s just a shame,” said local resident Nancy Bassett. “It spoils it for a lot of people.”
AP News
This is why we can't have nice things. People decide beautiful parts of nature are 'theirs' and nothing is going to stand in their way. Even a lack of bathrooms.