OLD ORCHARD BEACH — A soggy start to the summer season has not completely dampened the spirits of local business owners, who have a positive attitude that there will be many sunny days ahead.
On rainy days, amusement park Funtown Splashtown, USA closes down, and Palace Playland in Old Orchard Beach keeps the arcade open but shuts down the rides.
Ed Hodgdon, marketing manager for Funtown Splashtown USA, said that the rain had an effect on early season sales, however, he is optimistic that a steady stream of sunny weather will make up for the early season.
“Once this weather pattern breaks, it’s going to be great,” he said.
Fred Golder, business manager at Palace Playland, had similar sentiments.
“Palace Playland is in it for the long haul. We feel worse for people who come here and save up their hard-earned money to come here,” he said.
When the sun is out, people will come, said Golder.
“We’re not even concerned. In the end, it all evens out,” he said.
When looking at the entire season, rainy days are expected, said Hodgdon.
“You have to factor in rain-outs, because it’s unrealistic not to,” he said.
Derek Roberge, manager of Pier Fries in downtown Old Orchard Beach, said that the rain has definitely slowed sales in June. Like others, he remains positive, and said that the rainy days will make people appreciate good weather, and when the sun shines, more people will come out and enjoy the beach and downtown.
“It just makes the nice days more busy, because everyone decides to come out,” he said.
Bud Harmon, executive director of the Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce, said he was hoping to see a long stretch of sunshine to encourage people to come to town.
The rainy weather, he said, has been discouraging.
The people who have reservations are still coming, but Harmon said he’s not seeing the day-trippers. Harmon said the season typically starts to pick up around July 10, but still, business owners do rely on proceeds from the earlier stretch of the season and he hopes they’ll be able to recover any losses.
Harmon said he remains “hopeful and positive” for the rest of the season.
Both Harmon and Roberge said that Old Orchard Beach was bustling on the Fourth of July, which they found encouraging. Roberge said his staff at one point was serving a line of customers that ran across the street.
“It was pretty incredible, the town was mobbed,” said Harmon.
In Wells, the rain did put a damper on activities and vacations during June, according to Eleanor Vadenais, executive director of the Wells Chamber of Commerce.
“June was terrible,” Vadenais said. “Business was off. The weather really hurt the shoulder season with all the rain.”
Vadenais said July and August are typically busy and she has heard hotel reservations are on par with last year, but the chamber has some events to try to pull visitors to the area this summer.
The annual chili fest has been moved to August, instead of the usual September weekend, and a Las Vegas-themed night is planned for August also.
If all else fails, Vadenais hopes a lot of praying to the weather gods may help.
For some, business was steady despite the weather.
Rose Gani, owner of Dy-No-Mite Boutique in downtown Old Orchard Beach said that Old Orchard Beach is a small town, and shopping is one of the few rainy day activities available.
“When it’s raining outside, people don’t have anywhere to go,” she said.
At Apache Campground in Sanford, Denise Houle, who manages the 150-lot RV and tent property with her husband David, said business is looking good for July and August. Houle said 90 percent of the campground’s business is with seasonal campers, who return annually to spend the summer. For the rest, she said weekend reservations are up for this month and August ”“ though Houle noted that if the weather forecast is poor, reservation cancellations can pour in as quickly as they were made.
Despite the soggy June weather, Houle said campers came anyway and were eager to participate in outdoor campground activities.
“People are saying ”˜the heck with it,’” she said, pointing out that campers went swimming and joined in on campground baseball games even when it was pouring.
At Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce President Richard Stanley said the cool summer has brought more people away from the coast, looking for entertainment.
“Many of the tourists have migrated inland, looking for activities,” he said earlier this week. “There was a man in here today looking for where he could go brook fishing. We’re seeing more inquiries into what people can do, whether it is sunny or rainy.”
— Staff Writers Robyn Burnham and Tammy Wells contributed to this story. Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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