Longer season boon to White Lake

JACK McDUFFIE
Bladen, NC Journal Staff Writer
8/30/2005

Business owners around White Lake say the longer season this summer has made a substantial difference in their revenues. The longer season is a result of legislation passed last year by the General Assembly mandating that schools in the state start no earlier than August 25.

The tourist industry-the state's second largest industry based on revenue statistics-has long opposed the earlier start dates school systems around the state had begun using a number of years ago. Some had started the fall semester as early as August 1 in recent years.

Business owners at White Lake and in Elizabethtown had unsuccessfully pled with the local school board annually to push the school start date back at least two weeks to help them stay open a little longer. They pointed out that their labor force is made up largely of students and teachers working part-time jobs.

In past years, most businesses around the lake were unable to stay open on weekdays after about the first week of August because of school reopening. This year virtually all of them remained opened throughout the week through last week.

All business owners contacted said the later start date had made a difference for them.

John Womble, who operates Goldston's Beach and Motel, said that the "extra days" has increased his total income for the season by at least five percent above last year.

"Even this week (August 22-28) has been much better than last year even though school started back on Thursday," said Womble. "I have been able to keep most of our facilities open throughout this week-something we have been unable to do in past years."

Womble said another aspect of the later school starting date is that it brings money into the economy by providing jobs for a longer period of time.

"We have a lot of people working and drawing paychecks that wouldn't have been working otherwise," he said.

Womble said the ideal would be to be able to stay open all week until Labor Day weekend, when most facilities at the lake have traditionally closed for the season. But he said he's satisfied with the additional days the new law has given him.

"We're fine with it," he said. "If we can get the three weeks we didn't before, it will make a world of difference in our overall summer, he said. "When you have as short a season as we have, the extra days are very important because it significantly increases the days you have available to produce income. In reality, it can increase it up to 25 percent.

"When you normally get 12 weeks, and then you get 15 weeks, it makes a big difference," Womble said.

Womble said the action the General Assembly took in passing the law was appropriate because of the overall impact it has on the economy.

"When you have the number two industry in the state, it's the responsibility of the state to protect it and prolong the time it has to produce income. I applaud the state lawmakers for realizing this and imposing a school start-back date of no earlier than August 25," he said.

"Years ago schools made accommodations for farm families-the state's number one industry-because the students were often involved in harvesting tobacco until late August," he said. "Tobacco-reliant families depended on their children for labor to harvest the crop.

"Now it is a different time and a different industry-the tourist industry-and we depend heavily on teachers and students for our labor," he added.

Womble said he is looking forward to Labor Day and the end of the season.

"During the season we like it to be as busy as it can be, but when it comes time to close after Labor Day, we're certainly ready. It's pretty hectic around here for about four months," he said.

Barbara Hollingsworth, who manages the Red & White Supermarket, said the extra days this summer have been valuable to her.

"It's really helped us," she said. "With us it's less an issue of labor and more of customers. If the folks don't come to the lake we're out of business. When school opens, everything around here is pretty much dead except on the weekend. This way, we're pretty busy except for the last few days before Labor Day weekend.

"This has been a good summer for us, much better than last year," she added.

Ethel Packer, who manages Langston's Motel, said the additional days have made a difference in her business.

"We're now staying open all year, but the additional days we've had because of school starting back later has really helped us this year," she said. "We've seen a big increase in business over the past three weeks. We're booked up through the weekend right now."

Packer said that the motel stayed open through the winter last year and did better than had been anticipated.

Elizabethtown businessmen have long contended that a longer season at the lake is important to their profit lines as well. They say that virtually every retail establishment in and around Elizabethtown-from gas stations to restaurants and others-see a reduction in business as the White Lake season winds down.

Ricky Leinwand of Leinwand's said his sales in July and August were better than for the same period last year.

"With three days to go, we have already exceeded sales for July and August of last year, and I'm sure that the longer season at White Lake has contributed to improved sales," said Leinwand.

"We combine the two months because back-to-school sales are tied to when school starts back," said Leinwand. "When school starts back in early August, most back-to-school shopping takes place July," he explained. "This year, most was in August.

"That, I'm sure, is one of the things that helps us when the lake season is extended," he said. "Kids (students who work at the lake) work longer and have more money to spend for back to school clothing."

Leinwand said it also gives the store two more weeks of out-of-area tourists who spend money in the local economy.

"We appreciate the legislators supporting the tourism industry," said Leinwand. "So goes White Lake, so goes Leinwand's."

He said that the longer season is helpful to the tourism industry throughout the state, not just the local economy.

"I hope they (the legislators) continue to support the tourism industry," he added. "And I don't think it (the later school start date) hurts the kids."

Robin Summerlin of the Front Porch restaurant said the later start date had been very positive for his business.

"We've had a very good summer and the extra two weeks in August has helped a lot," said Summerlin. "If they (the legislators) want to increase it a couple of more days, it would be good."