Shelburne has remarkable strengths—but also untapped potential. Community vitality and economic health reinforce each other. Here's what the data tells us about some of the opportunities to strengthen both.
- Residents and visitors already share the same Shelburne. Roughly 25% of local retail and dining revenue comes from visitors—meaning many of the shops, restaurants, and community events residents enjoy couldn't survive on local demand alone. A stronger visitor economy doesn't just benefit tourists; it sustains the choices and experiences that make daily life here richer.
- Our top three attractions draw 200,000+ visitors each year—but many never explore beyond. Shelburne Farms, Shelburne Museum, and Vermont Teddy Bear bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to town annually, yet many arrive, visit one destination, and leave. The opportunity isn't attracting more visitors—it's helping the ones already here discover our historic village, local shops, restaurants, community events, and natural beauty.
- Most of us feel the lack of local lodging whenever family and friends visit—and visitors feel it too. While our attractions draw hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, most stay in Burlington or South Burlington, taking their evening meals, morning coffees, and spontaneous discoveries with them. More local lodging—whether hotels, inns, or B&Bs—would give residents places to host visitors, give tourists reasons to linger, and keep more spending in our local economy.
- Leading institutions could achieve more together. These anchors—along with Wake Robin, Fiddlehead Brewing, Harbour Industries, and others—employ hundreds of workers and shape our town's identity, yet operate largely independently. What could Shelburne become if they collaborated more closely—with each other and with local businesses—to coordinate community events, share best practices, mentor emerging enterprises, and help each other innovate and grow?
- 9 million vehicle trips already pass through each year. Route 7 carries over 25,000 vehicles per day—people already driving through, already adding to congestion. A more inviting Route 7 corridor—connecting our enhanced historic village to attractions and businesses through walkable nodes, clear wayfinding, and reasons to stop—benefits everyone: residents gain places to gather; businesses gain visibility and foot traffic; and converting even a fraction of pass-through trips into stops captures value without adding cars.
- An estimated $50+ million in annual spending leaves town—more than $30 million to alternatives within a 10-minute drive. Residents drive to nearby communities for food, dining, clothing, and everyday needs. More local options mean greater convenience, stronger business revenues, and a more self-sufficient economy.
- Our historic village is our community's heart. Shelburne's downtown and landmark buildings define our identity, yet face pressures from deferred maintenance and changing economics. Preserving and enhancing this heritage creates gathering places for residents, a distinctive draw for visitors, and an authentic foundation for business vitality.
- Most local jobs are filled by commuters. About 86% of Shelburne's roughly 3,250 jobs are held by non-residents, adding traffic and straining local employers. More alignment between housing, workforce needs, and our anchor institutions would mean residents with shorter commutes, employers with reliable local talent, and a community where more people are invested in the place they live.
- Prime sites sit idle. The Rice Lumber parcels, Red Apple Motel, and other development opportunities are vacant or underutilized. The right vision for these sites could deliver community amenities, gathering spaces, housing options, and services—strengthening both daily life and long-term fiscal health.
- Growth is coming—the question is what kind. Being proactive gives us the opportunity to respond to regional pressures and guide inevitable change into smart growth that reflects our values. Done right, we can preserve and enhance Shelburne's unique character, community vitality, and environmental integrity for future generations.
These aren't abstract challenges—they're real opportunities. Experience Shelburne exists to bring these pieces together.