Instagram tourists banned from Vermont fall foliage hotspot after causing chaos

A road in Vermont that had become overrun with Instagram-crazed tourists will stay closed to visitors during fall foliage season. 

Known for its appearances in commercials and the film Forrest Gump, Jenne Road in Reading has become a popular spot for those looking to snap pics of autumn's changing colors. 

Now, for the second year in a row, the town's board has voted to close the road to leaf peepers, MyNBC5 reported.

Jeanne Road resident Bill Bakker urged the board to close the road, describing the 'huge line of cars' parked nearby.

'We've had people park on our private property. It's just really just a very, very, very bad scene,' he said.

The Reading Select Board voted to close Jenne Road for the second year in a row during a meeting earlier this month

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The site also includes Jenne Farm, a focal point of the scene whose beauty Bakker acknowledged.

'It's the way the hills sort of roll, and from this one viewpoint, you're sort of looking down through the field and onto the farm. So I'm not going to say it's not beautiful,' he said.

In recent years, more and more influencers have descended on the area.

One Instagrammer who's posted multiple videos of her Jenne Road visits noted that a Budweiser commercial was filmed there.

Jenne Farm is located along the road in Reading, Vermont

Tourists have also visited the road to reenact a scene from Forrest Gump featuring Tom Hanks' character running cross-country.

One visitor told MyNBC5 in 2023 that she spent all day on a flight to get to see New England in the fall while visiting Jenne Farm.

Another visitor drove 10 hours just to get there for a 'quick photo.'

Vermont's tourism and marketing commissioner, Heather Pelham, said she supports the seasonal closure, but also emphasized the importance of the state attracting tourists. 

In recent years, more and more influencers have descended on the area 

Part of the cross-country scene in the blockbuster hit Forrest Gump was filmed along Jenne Road

'A decision like that is definitely up to the local community, and we certainly understand and would support that public safety and the needs of residents do need to come first,' she said at the board meeting. 

'Tourism drives a huge part of our economy, and it's especially important for small rural towns that have wonderful amenities, but it is a balance.' 

She added that it's important for visitors to 'respect private property.  

'We need to let them know you can't have thousands of people on the same trail at the same time, so we encourage folks to think about going to undiscovered places. We're always trying to make sure we're spreading folks around,' Pelham said.