Why this Instagram-famous US town banned influencer tourists
As photographers flock to the small rural town of Pomfret, Vermont in the United States drawn by its vibrant autumn colors, residents are pushing back. The town—known for its picturesque beauty with rolling farm fields and colorful forests—has become a hotspot for out-of-state visitors during fall. These visitors frequently stop on the narrow, winding roads to capture images of the landscape, causing traffic disruptions. In response, the 900-person community is taking action to protect their town from the seasonal influx.
Sleepy Hollow Farm an internet sensation
Pomfret a typically quiet town with just a few local businesses, has seen a dramatic influx of visitors each autumn. The surge in tourism is largely attributed to the viral popularity of Sleepy Hollow Farm, a 115-acre private property. Images of its picturesque winding road and historic farmhouse have flooded social media, making it one of the most photographed locations in the state. On TikTok alone, videos tagged with #sleepyhollowfarm have garnered over 800,000 views.
Residents' concern over tourist influx
According to Deborah Goodwin, the exhibits coordinator at Pomfret's Artistree Community Arts Center, social media influencers frequently ignore "No Trespassing" signs, climbing over gates, setting up changing booths for multiple costume changes, getting their cars stuck on narrow dirt roads, and even leaving waste by the roadside. "The residents went to the [local government] and said, 'We can't have this anymore," she said.
Measures taken by residents
During 2022, law enforcement made the road past Sleepy Hollow a one-way street, but the issues persisted. In 2023, residents turned to crowdsourced funding to address the problem. In response, town officials decided to close the roads leading to the farm from September 23 to October 15, during peak fall foliage season, restricting access to non-residents. This decision angered many travelers who had made the trip specifically to capture the ideal autumn photograph.
'Not against tourists...': What residents say
Many Pomfret residents emphasized that they are not against tourists but want visitors to respect their town. Beyond concerns over private property, safety issues for both Cloudland Road residents and tourists have become a significant worry. Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer explained, "This is not a road that's designed to have multiple vehicles...[In 2021 and 2022] there were lines of traffic parked...[along]...roadway...you couldn't get fire apparatus or an ambulance through. It was just overwhelming the infrastructure in the area."
