Fall colors: visitors love it and leaf it

Stats aid county’s peeper tourism

By Leah Staudt | Manor Ink

Sullivan County, NY – After a long, dry summer in Sullivan County, it’s time to turn over a new leaf and enjoy the cool crisp days ahead.

In a recent interview with new Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association CEO Michael Martelon, one can learn how both statistics and weather play a big role in leaf tourism in our county. Admittedly a statistics geek, Martelon explained how using the Datafi and Key Data platforms helps with tracking tourists within our county.

“We didn’t have any data when I got here” Martelon said. “Datafi triangulates cell phone location data with credit card data while Key Data pulls in performance metrics from the lodging industry.” Martelon displayed eye-catching graphics on his smart board while speaking. According to the most current statistics, September and October rank fifth and sixth respectively in terms of revenue.

Many visitors love to come see the beautiful changing of the leaves in Sullivan County during these autumn months. Demographically speaking, ages 45-64 make up the largest leaf-peeping group. There are about 527,000 total trips made to view autumn leaves in Sullivan County, approximately 70 percent are in-state while 30 percent are from out-state.

Best viewing conditions

There are certain times of the year when it’s better to enjoy the fall foliage. The weather is a big factor. Rainfall and temperature, as well as extreme weather events, all affect this great experience. The best time to view the leaves is usually the second or third week of October, according to Martelon. The county’s proximity to major cities such as New York City, Albany and Binghamton make it a perfect place for the flow of people to come and see the fall foliage.

Ways to view the colors

Some suggested activities for enjoying the autumn leaves are kayaking and canoeing, hiking along O&W Rail Trails and taking scenic drives. Martelon noted the back roads of Roscoe, Jeffersonville, and Livingston Manor are picturesque, while views at the Neversink Reservoir are stunning.

Popular autumn events include Harvest Festivals at Bethel Woods, Holiday Mountain’s Oktoberfest with a fall foliage chairlift ride, many fall farm events and the Sullivan Catskills Farmers Markets.

What is on the horizon for the SCVA? Martelon is excited about launching a new SCVA website, printing new seasonal biannual travel guides and “articulating the soul of Sullivan County” to attract visitors.

Stop by the SCVA at 15 Sullivan Avenue in Liberty to pick up guides, maps and posters, or visit their website sullivancatskills.com for more information.