Bonner County (Sandpoint Area) Economy (Hayden: ski resort, real estate market, hotel)

[Sage of Sagle]

Saw the report today that things are getting rougher here too...

From the Daily Bee:

"According to the Idaho Department of Labor, Bonner County's unemployment numbers almost doubled from 3 percent in September 2007 to 5.8 percent in September 2008. The 2.8-percent increase equates to 1,101 lost jobs in the county."

ARTICLE

[8 SNAKE]

Sage,

Has there been much impact in local tourism?

[Sage of Sagle]

That I don't know. The restaurants are as full based on how long I wait for a table at our favorite places...but I don't know enough about hotel occupany and other metrics to have an informed answer...

[8 SNAKE]

No problem, I was just curious to know if fuel prices and other economic factors were having an impact on tourism up there. My wife and I had planned a visit up there this year, but our schedules never opened up enough to allow for the trip. We will most certainly be making the journey next Summer, though.

[Sage of Sagle]

Fuel prices didn't seem to change it much. It was a very busy summer up here. LOTS of tourists as usual. And gas here is down around $2.35/gal, even lower in CDA/Hayden (they're always about $.10 cheaper)

[hluebner]

LOL! I saw gas yesterday in Hayden at $1.99/gal.

[jeffcrane]

Wouldn't winter weather months and areas such as Bonner County etc including the Priest Lake, Sandpoint, Blanchard slow down as well being heavy vacation and tourism areas and the unemployment rate rising due to more seasonal job positions? Perhaps it is just the workers taking unemployment vs. losing their jobs.

[Sage of Sagle]

Jeff,

These numbers are "seasonally adjusted" already...

I don't think it's "ugly" here by any stretch of the imagination. And winter tourism is very robust here once we get Schweitzer opening their season...

[newflowers]

Besides being green with envy over your gas prices (add fifty cents a gallon), the economy really scares me about moving. I was looking forward to the small town, but it may turn out teaching in the city is going to be a must. I'll have to keep a close watch in the next year.

[gpltlc]

As I was reading over this old post, it occurred to me that people like to talk, but don't like research. Anecdotal evidence is basically gossip. Every year since 1990 (which is as far back as I looked at the data) unemployment would go up from the transition of summer season to winter season. The change is virtually always 2 points, but has been as severe as 8% over the quarter. It is equally dramatic going down. It has gone down as much as 8.4% in one month with people being hired after the winter downturn. To see the exact figures, check this out: Sandpoint, Idaho Guides, Info, Resources, & Real Estate for Sandpoint, Schweitzer Mountain, & N Idaho Point is, this is a normal ebb and flow for Sandpoint and North Idaho. Jobs are more evenly dispersed now that Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort hires up to 700 people at peak ski season.

As far as summer tourism for 2007, it was one of our best years ever, and Schweitzer had record years in '07 and '08. In fact, though much of the country was suffering in the real estate market, it was also Sandpoint's best year on record.

2008 was another story. With gas prices approaching $4.00, fewer boats were on Lake Pend Oreille, and while most restaurants did fine the previous year, 2008 saw the closing, either completely, or most of the time, of Craggy Range, the Passtime, Sand Creek Grill, the Landing, and Three Glasses. The one thing these all had in common is that they were the most expensive restaurants. Lower priced eateries are finding success, and while many businesses are suffering, almost 20 new buildings were built, and are quickly filling up with new businesses.

Times aren't bad in Sandpoint...just normal.