Gentrification of Rural Communities

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Above: “Lakeside houses in Idaho.” (Pilgeram 2021)


I feel like I often see tourism discussed in a positive light for the economic opportunity it provides. I’ve always been skeptical of the industry, primarily just because I personally hate feeling like a tourist whenever I travel. There’s also something to be said about being on vacation somewhere and receiving services from people who probably don’t get paid enough and can barely afford the cost of living that is likely on the rise due to the influx of tourism. The industry promises a bright future of “economic opportunity”, and in this blindingly positive outlook, details specifying who actually benefits in these situations seem to get lost.

Pilgeram identifies one downside to tourism is its inauthentic portrayal of historical charm, the street lights of Mill Lake being one example. I’d guess that historical inaccuracies are both a result and contributor to generalizations of rural life. In addition, historical preservation can almost feel like a prop or set maintained for entertainment value as opposed to an act done in consideration of residents’ ties to the land.

Lastly, tourism takes away from local residents’ ability to access their own natural landscapes. This might be through physical barriers, such as the privatization of land as lodging development claims scenic locations, or sheer traffic detering locals from taking part in recreational activities.

Many of the projects that Ohio state parks are working on are tourist based lodging and amenities. ODNR’s concern is the amount of waste these new additions and visiting tourists will produce. Do local residents of Ohio’s state parks feel any apprehension towards the growing tourism?