If you read the Globe and Telegraph articles, it's reported that the slowdowns are at least regional if not national. Mt Katahdin did not lose a third of it's visitors because of 150' violations on Winnipesaukee. I don't know if there is even enough data to compare the drop in Winni visitors to the general drop.
When you think about reasons and trends for a general slowdown, you have to think beyond our local arguements. I'm sure gas prices have some effect. Sure if you think about it rationally, it's only a few dollars more than last year. But when you see those big jumps in prices, it makes you irrational. This may be just a normal economic cycle, things go up and down all the time.
Maybe it's just changing tastes, why is the Winnipesaukee Pier (aka Irwin Gardens) full of pinball machines instead of a swinging nightclub with big bands. Why is the Alton Pavillion changing to residential condo instead of roller skating. Why did Camp Alton stop being a summer camp and sell. People found other interests and those old uses were no longer viable.
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