As the summer 2024 visitor season breathes its last gasp on the long weekend coming up, it may be worthwhile to look back on what made this summer so unique.
Well, the weather was pretty good for most of it. While much of the country broiled in the recordbreaking heat, temperatures locally have been up and down with comfortable temps rarely going above 90.
Without a doubt, it was good for the economic bottom line here in Leelanau County where red ink began turning into black ink for many local businesses due to the return of transient visitors including our “summer people” and their money.
On the other hand, this seems to have been “The Summer of Visitors Behaving Badly.”
For example, a surprising number of them have been doing things like camping out at local municipal parks where camping is not allowed — and even along public rights-of-way.
We’re hearing reports from local municipalities and chambers of commerce that public restrooms have been overrun and in some cases trashed by summer visitors whose sins have occasionally gone way beyond not flushing.
We’ve even seen more reports of violence or threats of violence against and among visitors and locals alike, including a spike in domestic violence. That’s especially disturbing, of course.
As the summer of 2024 approached, there was a lot of pent-up frustration over the ongoing national/local political turmoil. This continued into the busiest part of the season with allegations of “sign stealing” and the removal of political activists from the county Senior Expo.
Many found solace communing with nature in “The Most Beautiful Place in America.”
Summer doesn’t begin for many year-round residents until after Labor Day.
We hope all our readers enjoy a pleasant September.
