Title: Drought Challenges Businesses Around Smith Mountain Lake
MONETA, Va. — For businesses surrounding Smith Mountain Lake, a robust summer tourism season is crucial for success. However, this summer has posed unique challenges due to a drought, which caused lake levels to drop by as much as five feet.
Business owners at Bridgewater Marina reported that the lower water levels have negatively impacted their profits, resulting in fewer visitors spending time on the water, and some tourists altering their vacation plans entirely.
Kevin Gray, owner of Smith Mountain Lake Coffeehouse, highlighted the importance of Labor Day weekend for his business. “We’re about 20 percent down from past summers,” he noted, though he remains grateful for the support from locals and vacationers. Gray emphasized that the revenue from the Labor Day weekend is vital for sustaining his business throughout the year.
As the summer concludes, local businesses are hopeful that the upcoming holiday weekend will help mitigate some of the losses incurred during this challenging season. For those reliant on lake tourism, this last major weekend of the summer presents an opportunity to end the season positively.
