JACKSONPORT, Wis (NBC 26) -- The official numbers could take months to crunch but Destination Door County leaders already believe that many businesses likely did much better than they anticipated they would this summer.
"Just from viewing traffic and hearing some anecdotal evidence from innkeepers, it does seem like all things considered we came out through the main summer part of the year a little better than we maybe thought we would about six months ago," says Jon Jarosh the Director of Communications with Destination Door County.
Jarosh says while many seniors likely opted not to travel during the pandemic, a new demographic of tourists who may have been wary of traveling too far seem to have shown up to Door County during the pandemic.
"We've seen a younger demographic come to Door County and a lot of times for the first time ever. We've heard that over and over from our business community."
And small businesses noticed the trend too. Barbara Lautenbach, the owner of the Innlet Motel and Mikes Port Pub in Jacksonport says with the exception of May, she's seen business remain steady.
"The motel has been a bit slower than other years but the bar and restaurant has been going very good, very good."
Lautenbach has been providing tourists a place to sleep and eat for nearly 30 years now and the amount of younger folks showing up this summer did surprise her.
"Mostly it has been younger people this summer looking for the outdoor activities. We haven't seen a lot of the older couples yet."
