Bed and Breakfast Gears Up For Fall

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Created on Tuesday, 18 September 2012 18:24

Written by Jessica Walsh

BARNET - The leaves on the trees are slowly but surely starting to change colors here in the Northeast Kingdom, and this means booming business for one local Bed and Breakfast. The Old Homestead, nestled right in the center of Barnet, is gearing up for the fall season.

Even with the ever-slipping economy, the NEK relies heavily on the fall foliage to bring in tourists from all over the country. "Ma and Pa" grocery stores, family restaurants and gift shops profit the most when the usually slow streets are full of out of state cars with passengers ready to spend. The Old Homestead, which is open year round, sees about two hundred guests a year but the leaf peepers represent a good amount of that number.

Gail Warnaar, the owner of the one hundred year old Bed and Breakfast, says there are many benefits of having a full house,"It's only about three weeks of time but I will be full every night, completely full every night of the week for those three weeks and it will pretty much pay my taxes."

Warnaar works hard to cook her guests homemade meals and baked goods during there stay and can even help them find local scenic hot spots to see the foliage. The Old Homestead sees many people from all over New England, across the country and even over seas. One English couple, who has been coming back for years will be returning in the next couple of weeks, and this time bringing friends.

The Old Homestead isn't the only Bed and Breakfast that is busy during this time of year. Waarner advises visitors to book their rooms in advance and during their stay to eat locally and mingle with the community.