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This may come as a surprise given the volatile weather of recent months. After all, it was the second wettest summer on record in the Boston area, and the Cape was not spared, with some visitors noting that it felt less crowded than usual. But did the rain really keep people away?
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Visitors played miniature golf at Pirates Cove in South Yarmouth on 31 August. Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Some businesses actually reported more of a mixed bag this summer, after booming during parts of the pandemic when curbs on international travel and increases to nearby destinations increased. Few places have recorded low numbers, from hotels and restaurants to ferries and beaches. But sales and foot traffic remain high overall.
And as Labor Day marks the end of high season, businesses are hoping that the shoulder season will remain strong in October.
“We’re coming off two record-breaking summers,” said Paul Niedzwiecki, chief executive of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
Niedzwiecki said those two summers the Cape was still emerging from pandemic travel restrictions. In fact, this year the Cape is ahead of some of the 2019 benchmarks. According to the Chamber, there were approximately 5.5 million visitors to the Cape in 2019; Last year it was 6.1 million. And although there aren’t final numbers for 2023, Niedzwiecki is forecasting about 6 million visitors this year.
“So we’re feeling great,” Niedzwiecki said.
Visitors view the shirts on Main Street in downtown Hyannis on August 31. Barry Chin/Globe Staff
The damp weather hasn’t kept visitors away from the National Seashores, at least. So far this year, the national park has had a steady flow of beach-goers, as in the past few years, according to Linzee French, the service’s visual information specialist.
For trips to the islands, demand remains strong this year, with the Steamship Authority reporting a return to pre-COVID traffic patterns, according to communications director Sean Driscoll.
In the late spring and early summer there was concern that bad weather and fewer planned vacations would cause holiday rentals to drop significantly. But Patrick Foran of Foran Realty, which covers the Mid-Cape to the Outer Cape, said rentals have filled up.
Once the weather got sunny and warm in mid-July, people started booking, Foran said. The number of leases the company had this year was in line with last summer, but generally for shorter periods. Many owners were willing to negotiate a traditional Saturday-to-Saturday stay, Foran said, allowing many people to come for four to five nights instead of an entire week.
Foran said, “I think it was a good summer, especially for owners who got ready for something other than the traditional week-long vacation.”
The past two years saw historically high bookings at hotels on the Cape and on the islands. The Chatham Bars Inn said its occupancy for July and August was again above 90 percent. Although it’s down slightly from last summer’s peak, the resort is up 55 percent from 2019, said general manager Gary Thulander.
Customers line up for ice cream inside Katie’s Homemade Ice Cream in Hyannis. Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Thulander said, “We’ve had an extremely busy summer, I’ll put it that way.” The strongest growth, he said, has come from visitors from states with triple-digit temperatures, such as California, Florida and Texas, who are looking for respite.
Similarly, Pelham House in Dennis has had strong occupancy despite rate increases due to inflation. Managing partner John McCarthy attributes this to the growing wedding season, which now spans six months of the year compared to the Cape’s traditional four peak months. He said, guests keep coming to weddings regardless of the rain.
“It’s been incredible,” McCarthy said.
But for others, the weather has put a further damper on sales.
Anne Scott-Putney, CEO of the Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich, blamed the rain for a slight drop in visitor numbers this year.
Last year saw the highest turnout at the Garden since the 1980s, Scott-Putney said. The year continues to be strong, with attendance still up 10 percent from pre-pandemic levels. That said, people’s desire to spend time outdoors, a trend that began during the pandemic, remains strong.
And if the weather hasn’t deterred most diners from eating outside, the prices seem to be having an effect. Dave Delancey, owner of The Lobster Trap in Bourne, said it’s going to be “really busy” this summer.
Dinner at The Lobster Trap in Bourne on August 31. Barry Chin/Globe Staff
At the top of the menu were lobster rolls, tuna, and swordfish sandwiches. He said that in years past his customers could shell out more money for their lobster rolls, but this year many are choosing less expensive seafood options.
Previously, DeLancey’s used to sell about 200 lobster rolls a day, and that has dropped to about 150 this summer. “People are spending a little more consciously,” DeLancey said.
Meanwhile, in the Outer Cape where Mac’s Seafood reigns, founder Mac Hay noticed that there weren’t as many people at his restaurant as usual. Peak season remained strong, but the difference between an average summer and a strong summer is how sales fared in June. Bad weather this year kept people away, he said.
But overall, hey is thankful that the Cape remains a popular destination.
Hay said, “We’ve had a really great year.” “We obviously don’t know what September is going to bring… but if we get good weather, it could make a difference.”
A business sign on Main Street in downtown Hyannis caught the attention of a young passerby. Barry Chin/Globe Staff
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