Originally Posted by camp guy
Maybe somebody should explore the parallels between Weirs Beach and Hampton Beach. Both of these locations had "their day" quite a few years ago, and both of these locations fell on hard times (for whatever reasons). Also, both of these locations began to attract a, if you will, "non-family" clientele which had the effect of driving away any remaining family visitors. This situation created a reputation which spread rapidly, thus solidifying the idea of not going there. Time passed, lots of time, and both locations sunk heavily into disrepair, financial despair, and loss of any viable investment.
More time passed, and slowly, ever so slowly, things began to turn around. At Hampton Beach the big push to turn around involved the local Hampton Beach Chamber of Commerce, and a ton of both local and State investment ($$$). The infrastructure was improved, the social climate was improved (with serious police intervention), and retail investment, to include both shops and restaurants, was improved. This took time and money, and a strong leadership.
Weirs isn't exactly the same as Hampton Beach, but the same formula might well apply. Weirs slipped, socially, to a location to which you didn't want to bring "your women and children", a location at which infrastructure was deteriorating rapidly, and a location in which investors were slow to make any investment at all, including State and local funds, let alone private funds. Again, time passed, and slowly, ever so slowly, things began to make changes. The rather rough and tumble (pronounced outlaw) crowd began to clean up its act, due to local policing; the infrastructure still needs work; and so does the retail situation.
The situation is sort of like the chicken and the egg, Which came first?, and who will spend the money first, the investor hoping to draw retail, or the retail dollar hoping to find a place to spend itself.
Weirs has a lot to offer, number one being Lake Winnipesaukee, and all it has to offer. It is also fairly easy to get to, either by land or water, and, actually, by air. Somewhere along the line there has to be a meeting of the elements involved to develop a plan which includes all elements to the satisfaction of all. Is this a pipe dream, no, but it won't happen overnight. Hampton Beach took a while to be re-born, and Weirs could enjoy the same fate.
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