Poconos Tourism Official Urges Visitors To Calmly Assess Manhunt's Impact
By Jim Melwert
CANADENSIS, Pa. (CBS) -- As the massive manhunt continues in the Poconos for the man whom police say killed one state trooper and injured another in an ambush on September 12th, there are concerns that the search could adversely affect the busy fall tourism season in that area.
Police have said they're focusing their search for accused cop-killer Eric Frein in an area of about five to ten square miles.
Pocono Mountains Visitors' Bureau spokeswoman Elizabeth Richardson says that's just a small part of the tourism region, so she's hoping people won't be scared off.
"The Pocono Mountains is 2,400 square miles," she points out, "so this region of northeast Pennsylvania is roughly the size of Delaware."
She says this is the peak time for viewing fall foliage in the northern part of the Poconos. And within the next week, she says, peak colors will be coming to the southern stretch of the region.
Police have focused the search around around Canadensis, Pa.
Richardson says the Jim Thorpe area, for example, is about 45 minutes away from the search area.
She says if anyone planning a trip has concerns, they should call their resort or hotel.
"Ask how close they are, how they're feeling, if it's safe. They'll be honest with you. Everyone's been very open and honest over the last several weeks with their guests," she says.