CONCORD, N.H. — This year’s Fourth of July holiday was a big weekend for tourism.
North Country businesses reported an increase in visitors and sales this year compared to last year when rainy weather put a damper on turnout, according to a survey by the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce. And Michelle Cruz, the executive director of the chamber, said the North Conway parade had the highest attendance she’s seen in recent years.
“We still don’t have the exact number on it of how many attendees there were, but it was definitely, I mean, a number we haven’t seen in years,” she said. “It was great to see.”
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Alex Foti, who owns Bretton Woods Vacations, said rentals of the company’s properties were up 25 percent compared to last year, which he attributed to better weather.
Sales for tickets on the Cog Railway were up 10 percent, and restaurants in the area reported being extremely busy, too.
”The entire week was incredible,” said Pete Gagne, who owns Saco River Canoe Rental. “The weather was perfect, hot, and humid. Last year was a bust so it didn’t take much to improve.”
Tourism in the region “is always driven by the weather, no matter the season,” Cruz said.
That made for a tough summer in 2023, when Cruz said record rainfall caused last-minute cancellations. But the hot and sunny weather so far this summer has helped business pick up. Cruz said because the Fourth of July fell on a Thursday this year, some people came up as early as the weekend prior and stayed for an entire week.
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“The trend this season is that people are still traveling, but they are waiting until the last minute” to book accommodations, she said.
Most visitors to the region traveled by car from nearby states, including Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. There was some international travel as well, drawing tourists from Canada and the Netherlands.
This story first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you’d like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.
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Amanda Gokee can be reached at amanda.gokee@globe.com. Follow her @amanda_gokee.
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
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