GUILFORD — The Vermont Welcome Center at Interstate 91’s southern gateway, unlocking its doors after four months of Covid-19 closure, had reason to prepare for the worst. Then unexpectedly, thousands of travelers arrived over the weekend at their best.
Operators of the state-run rest area, seeing recent headlines about tourists from prohibited places swarming recreation sites without masks, had placed warning signs on the windows, taped directional arrows on the floor and roped off drinking fountains and every other bathroom stall to keep people in order.
But surprisingly, visitors came not only with face coverings but also an understanding of state guidelines.
“We’re really trying to be careful,” said one Connecticut woman who had quarantined at home with her husband for 14 days before driving north for a week at the Sugarbush resort in Warren.
“We don’t want to spread it to anybody,” said a fellow Connecticut woman who had sheltered in place with her spouse for seven days before taking a Covid-19 test for a trip to the Smugglers’ Notch resort in Jeffersonville.
Eight of the state’s rest areas — in Bennington, Fair Haven, Guilford, Hartford, Sharon, Waterford and two in Williston — have reopened with limited hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. after being shuttered since March.
“We’re noticing a broad level of appreciation by the traveling public,” says Christopher Cole, commissioner of the Department of Buildings and General Services. “We want people who come to Vermont to see our brand, and with Covid-19, it’s safety and being responsible for others.”
The Guilford Welcome Center — the most visited rest area in the state — reported as many as 1,500 people each day this past weekend, with steady in-and-out traffic never exceeding the “temporary occupancy limit of 77” sign at the door.
A count of vehicles Saturday and Sunday found almost half from Connecticut, with the second-highest number from Massachusetts and the third-highest from New York and New Jersey.
“I was looking for brochures?” asked one woman, disappointed that people can’t finger through the usual array but instead must settle for a map.
Everyone else voiced thanks that anything was available.
“I needed a bathroom for the last 50 miles,” said one traveler who, like others, volunteered every personal detail except their name.
Many visitors said they traveled to Vermont regularly because of a second home or vacation timeshare. A majority said they had logged onto the state’s website to learn what they needed to do.
“We’re taking the necessary precautions,” said the Connecticut couple who has visited Sugarbush for 30 years.
Many others were on day trips. Take the family whose teenager is learning how to drive and needs time on the road. Or the man hungry to order from Andrzej’s Polish Kitchen food truck in Brattleboro. Or the woman wanting to shop at Hot Glass Works in Jamaica.
“It’s important that artists make it through this,” she said.
Most travelers were aware of Vermont’s low Covid-19 numbers — the state currently has the fewest cases in the nation — but said their decision to visit was based more on personal preference or the fact that family members lived here.
“We haven’t seen them in quite a while,” one said.
A few people said they were interested in looking at property.
“I love the way of life here,” one said.
But not everyone said the state was their first choice.
“We can’t get into the beaches at home,” said one Connecticut woman. “They’re too crowded.”
Others had planned to fly to such places as Colorado, Georgia, Canada and Portugal, only to opt for such drivable destinations as the Crafts Inn in Wilmington, the Equinox Resort in Manchester and the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee.
“I’m in an age category,” one older woman said, “where I’m not messing around.”
Amid national news of sickness and social unrest, visitors found a stop at the Welcome Center was indeed welcome. Consider the mother of three young sons cavorting on the grass.
“This is our favorite rest area,” she said. “It’s good for getting the wiggles out.”
Nearby, two women traveling to celebrate the fact they’re cancer survivors were equally grateful.
“I’m glad things are starting to open up,” one said. “It has been a rough road for everyone.”
Get the latest statistics and live updates on our coronavirus page.
Sign up for our coronavirus email list.
Tell us your story or give feedback at coronavirus@vtdigger.org.
Support our nonprofit journalism with a donation.
