Pocono News Section

Poconos' Credit High Gas Prices for Busy Season

Poconos' Credit High Gas Prices for Busy Season - Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 4:06PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, Sep 2, 2008 @ 04:06pm EST
MARSHALLS CREEK, MONROE COUNTY- With Labor Day behind us tourist attractions are tallying up their summer receipts. It seems the "stay-cation" trend helped Pocono business owners.

Luz Vargas and her family vacationed near Marshalls Creek -- because it's not too far from their home in the Bronx. "With the economy, with the gas going up," she said.

They shopped for bargains at the Odd Lot Outlet. "With these little stores here it helps out the budget," she added.

One of the store owners tells us customers like Luz made for good summer business.

Paul Schuchman of the Odd Lot Outlet said, "We were set to do less business than we did and we were surprised to do as much as we did."

He credits the trend of taking vacations close to home - along with his unusual products. "We carry strange things and people want to see what we got," he said.

His number one seller is a urinal with a female attachment and in a close second are whoopee cushions.

The store also saw an increase in local customers - who live right her in the area - picking up basics like chapstick and cleaning supplies.

"It's a fun trip. You can fill a basket for $15," added Schuchman.

But it’s not all locals.

Kathleen Marcussen's family convinced her to come from Denmark. "I said why would I want to poke my nose into anything. They said no Poconos," she said.

And she loved her trip. "It is so fantastic. I'm going home to save my pennies and dig into my penny bank and I will be coming back next year," she said.

The people who run Pocono tourist attractions say business from travelers like Kathleen combined with business from locals -- made for an excellent tourism season.

Many Pocono businesses say this was the best summer season in years.