HOPKINS CO., KY (WFIE) -
Many families across the Tri-State spent the Labor Day weekend traveling, but high gas prices and a rainy weekend kept a lot of folks closer to home.
The rain may have put a damper on the holiday weekend for some residents, but for businesses like bowling alleys, they welcomed it with open arms.
"The weather's helped us a lot. A lot less people going to the lake when it's pouring down rain," said Tyler Ramsey.
Tyler Ramsey works at Melody Lanes in Madisonville and he says usually business doesn't pick up until after the Labor Day weekend. He says that wasn't the case this year.
"We've got a tournament going on. It's the longest running tournament in the state, and we had a good turnout for that Saturday," Ramsey said. "We had about four birthday parties, and we had a wedding reception all on Saturday, so it was good."
The rain forced locals J.J. Brown and Wyatt Coleman to change their plans as they decided to go bowling on Monday.
"We were going to ride bikes because we ride bikes through town," Brown said.
Restaurants such as Dave's Sticky Pig also experienced an increase in sales.
"Probably about 25% for Sunday, probably about 30% up for Saturday. On a holiday weekend when it rains, it's really good because if I'm not working I'm cooking out at home on a holiday and if it's too wet to cook out in my yard, then I'll go out and eat," said Dave Webb, owner of Dave's Sticky Pig.
Webb says they had a cruise-in on Saturday that attracted dozens of locals.
"Everybody ate barbeque, had lawn chairs outside, music, great fellowship, and a lot of fun," Webb said.
Ramsey says along with the weather, the spike in gas prices could be another reason more residents stayed around town for the weekend.
"When you're paying four dollars a gallon for gas, it's definitely easier to stay at home and spend a little money in town," Ramsey said.
As the Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, establishments such as bowling alleys, will likely see an additional spike in business over the next several months.
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