by Lin McNulty
Do Eastsound streets and sidewalks seem unusually crowded this summer? Lance Evans from the Orcas Chamber of Commerce says that everywhere he goes on the island these days, there is talk about how busy this summer has been.
Traffic at intersections controlled by a stop sign has been congested on multiple occasions, with Main Street traffic occasionally backed up from North Beach Road all the way back to Orcas Road.
According to an August 16 report from WSF, the entire ferry system carried more than 2.5 million riders during July 2013. System-wide, this was the busiest July since 2007.
Jason Linnes of Island Market states it has been “a fantastic summer” for the local grocery store.
According to Stephanie Tillman of Orcas Outfitters it has definitely been busier this year than at least the last couple of years. “There have been a lot more people coming through the store,” she says.
Is it the weather? Is it growth in the overall economy? Is the recession over? Are most of our visitors Washingtonians who can’t afford to go to far-away vacation destinations? There’s really no way of knowing the reasons folks come to Orcas unless we ask them to fill out questionnaires before disembarking the ferry (which might make for an interesting project for some enterprising high school senior).
San Juan County Sheriff’s Office also readily admits they has been extremely busy, although specific statistics on number of calls is not readily available. Orcas Island Fire and Rescue reports year-to-date responses have increased 33 percent from 2011.
Chimayo’s Bill Patterson quickly noted that it is, and has been, very, very busy, with no time to go into details.
An anonymous source at Rosario states it has been “crazy busy” with many, many events going on.
Madrona Bar & Grill manager Michelle Troutman says, with a sigh, “it has been very, very busy.”
Country Corner Manager Dave Mowrey has noticed a definite increase in business and estimates their business is up by about 12 percent over last year.
And what about The Lower, which every summer expands seating capacity by adding “the beach” to the parking lot? I have personally seen wait staff running between tables to keep up.
While all agree it has been an extremely active season, it is perhaps for this very reason that they don’t yet have statistics available on percentage increases. It will need to slow down a bit before there is room to breathe and collect that data.
A lot more people renting out their houses online might be helping provide this boost to the local economy. Regulation should be gentle to encourage this.
While waiting at the international gate for my flight home from the Netherlands this July, I sat next to a young couple from Switzerland on their way to Orcas Island! They heard about Orcas and decided to come… had never been to the US before. On the plane, I was so surprised to see a promotional article w/photo to ‘Visit Orcas Island in the San Juans’ in the Delta Airlines in-flight magazine! Perhaps this made a difference this summer.
I think our Chamber of Commerce is to blame for all this!
And I say hoot, hoot for the Chamber!
Lots of world-wide attention to paradise-Orcas Island. We have had guests from all over in our vacation rental homes. Thanks to Chamber of Commerce too for the increase. Already booking for next year.
Tourists, Tourists Everywhere
Why not Visitors, Visitors Everywhere
The Visitors make it possible for us who live on Orcas Island year around to enjoy our Art, Stores, Cafes, Tavern, Retruants,etc. Without Visitors most of the things we love about Orcas Island would not be here. We year around people could not support all the businesses we are fortunate enough to have on “OUR ISAND”. Those cities and countries, I have visited who talked to me as a ”visitor” made me feel better and want to go back. It also made it much easier for me to spend “money” in their community. I believe that it is up to all of us who live here year around to do everything we can to make visitors enjoy our home “Orcas island”, and want to come back
and what a lovely crowd of varied and interesting people the majority of our visitors are; friendly, curious, worldly, and appreciative of the natural beauty. it’s always a breath of fresh to see the visitors (and the return of our lovely college kids) because it makes me see Orcas through their eyes and appreciate it all over again.
the one difficulty i experience as a gardener working at commercial buildings is the increased traffic congestion from delivery trucks and general increase in cars. it’s polluted and noisy and i wonder about my health while breathing all that. i sure wish Eastsound could become a walking village (with shuttles) that some of the original people working on the ESAP and Comp Plan envisioned. just recently we lost a great old Italian Prune Plum tree at Ray’s pharmacy – hit by a small delivery truck Very sad!