My 2 cents about the Weirs
 

Great thread
Disclaimer...I mean no disrespect to those that love the Weirs but.......

IMHO i think the Weirs strip is a dump compared to many of the other destinations on the lake or on other lakes for that matter. Lake George for example. Even when our kids were young we didn't go out of our way to visit the Weirs and if we did it was for a couple of hours for a fried dough. The Pier, the mini golf, the trash, the arcades are all eye sores. When we go boating with our guests we simply point to the Weirs and say "That's where they have bike week" and then we drive right by.

I know it comes down to money but you must first put the wood in the fire before you can expect to get heat. Put the money into it and they'll come.

That said it has the potential to be a premier vacation destination in the heart of the Lakes Region. It's a diamond in the rough and we'd gladly visit if it had something worth visiting regularly. It is prime real estate on our beautiful lake. Look at Meredith and Wolfeboro. What better place to have a great destination for lunch, dinner, outdoor concerts, shopping, night life etc.

It has the bones to be a great destination but it doesn't have the skin.

Kind of an aside, but I keep thinking that Moultonborough should move our "downtown" to the Center Harbor town line and combine forces with them. Again, it would take some doing and money (that Moultonborough has!)... just rambling, but you are correct Dippassan, destinations are few on Winni, port -wise.

Center harbor
 

That's right on as a replacement . Laconia with its taxes and problems is dead to me . The veterans property seems to be the last obstacle that won't improve

Center Harbor
 

Seems to me that the Veteran's property is pretty well utilized during the season and has not that big a "footprint" on the main road, really.

As far as Center Harbor is concerned, I agree it would be nice to have that made into a nicer lake destination, but there are too many problems with that scenario, starting with the lack of adequate public dock space. And, there is little room to expand what they have, sandwiched between the marina that services the Mount and the public beach. [And why did the beach swim line have to steal one of the dock spaces rather than move it back 10' on that side?] There is also no public parking area to speak of (aside from the shopping center), and the whole area is otherwise private waterfront properties. Meredith was truly a unique "opportunity".

....... Trump Winnipesaukee at the Weirs!
 

In my dreams.......would love to see Donald Trump come back to the Weirs, sometime very very soon after November, and evict all those uniquely interesting NH Veteran's Assoc seasonal "homes?" and run the table through the legal process of eminent domain, and a construct a Trump Winnipesaukee Mega Mondo Casino in what could be a very nice commercial location.....overlooking the lake....... in my dreams!

.....say hey ....., it will give him a new challenge, and something fun and maybe profitable to do.....plus create jobs, and pay property tax.


And further more.....let's not forget about the 17 different storage buildings in a storage business that was proposed for the large empty lot just below the Cumberland Farm. Not having a storage business in that spot is a good move ..... so's it looks like that spot is destined to remain as it currently is forever, ever, ever.......until the next ice age comes through.

I second the live music idea
 

It seems like the live music activity tends to bring people out. The night life in the lakes region is kind of non existent. I remember when the Lobster Pound at the time had a live band playing on top of a very large flatbed trailer in their parking lot. The place was jammed with people dancing and really enjoying the music. Live entertainment is the way to go and relax the curfew time to midnight or so. Just my 2 cents

The Breeze
Wave 'cuz I'll be wavin' back

Why doesn't someone ask the people that developed Meredith to redo the Weirs? Or would they be creating their own competition?

1. Meredith actually had most of the infrastructure already in place and the original investor just rehabbed the buildings. The partner came along when food was required in two of the four hotels.
2. They are making a much bigger return building Interstate rest stops for the State of NH than they would ever make with the Weirs.
3. Until the current owners drop the rental mantra of "earn a year's rent with Bike week" as their attitude, nothing will change.
4. Who will get the city to condemn and demolish all of the current residential properties because they are the ones who don't want more commercial noise and traffic.
5. Other than those fortunate to be able to buy, inherit a lake front property or rent one at thousands per week, the vast majority of vacationers do not wish to come to NH any longer. It is so yesterday in so many ways and those who love yesterday are in their 70's plus.

Vision
 

How can Laconia have a vision for the Weirs when downtown struggles? They overpaid for the Colonial Theater and spending 15mil to restore it. The theater will never support itself in that location. Should have torn that and the parking garage down, open up a park and access from Main St to the Belknap Mill. Spend the rest of the money improving Weirs and still not spend 15 mil. Entire downtown Laconia isn't worth $15 million!

Perspective
 

From a someone from Mass in their 40s who spends a lot of his summer at the lake I "get" the Weirs. I also realize year round residents have a different perspective.

For what it is, it's unique on the lake. It's a place that the week long renters can go for a day when it's raining or to spend time with their kids to have that "I came here when I was your age" moment, and have it be close to what it was, albeit now without the water slides.

If I'm not mistaken, it's the largest beach on the lake with public access. If there are changes, the beach has to be the center. You need fast food, ice cream, and fried dough within walking distance.

The Weirs in the 70s and early 80s was a big part of my childhood summer memories. Part of me loves that it's basically the same, the other part is sad that it hasn't really changed.

Until I go into Half Moon to the shooting range and make the piano player start playing, then I forget what it looks like on the outside...

Heh well let me stir the pot and make it boil over....

I guess I'm old school, I don't care about restaurants, entertainment, live or otherwise, shops, or really what is ever going on "in town" when I'm at the lake. All I care about is if the fishing is good and having a nice warm campfire every night.

The weirs as far as I'm concerned could be burned down or bulldozed to oblivion and I wouldn't really care either way. It would definitely look nicer after a good bull dozing.

Far as bike week goes, I wouldn't miss it if it never happened again.

All this talk about improving the Weirs...
 

So, MAXUM, in words of small syllables, "What do you really think of the Weirs?"

I'll sum it up to "not much" ;)

Well well well, another of the "I've made it so pull up the draw bridge and the rest of the peasants be damned" crowd. Perhaps you would be more comfortable over on Squam Lake in Sandwich where anything commercial is treated like a case of Ebola.

The Weirs tried to secede from Laconia in the 90s. The Lawton family really pushed hard for it. At the time the father & son were in the State legislature. They could not pull it off. IMHO I think it would have worked, or at leat it would be better than the wasteland it has become.

Far from it, I'd be more than happy to see Weirs Beach turned into a parking lot and a nice FREE public boat ramp put in it's place.

I rest my case!

Trump Winnipesaukee
 

FLL, I doubt Donald Trump will build the hotel/casino you dream of. He's currently interviewing for another job, and I think he'll get it.

Part of the problem with this discussion is that too may people think the Weirs runs from the Vet's homes to the Superette. Docking and good food are also available at the Naswa and Akwa Marine. Faro is good, although we all think the public docks need help, and it isn't as close to the docks as the other two. Maybe we need that funiculare described a while back and then some bicycle rickshaws like they have in Atlantic City. For those who don't know, a lot of the development ideas for the Weirs came from Atlantic City in the 30's, beach (man made), boardwalk, Irwin's Winnipesaukee Gardens, contests like Miss Winnipesaukee.

Live music? There used to be a bandstand on top of the train station with a program every night, mostly sponsored by the Weirs Chamber of Commerce, which also sponsored the Sunday night fireworks. Oh, and two dance halls.

So, a lot of this has been done and fizzled out, partially because of the transition from motels to condos.

What gets people out of their condo? A lot of people head to Meadowbrook for concerts, big names, like the big names that used to be at the Gardens.

And, for those who bemoan the present Weirs, it seems to be busy when I go. Or, as Yogi put it, "It's so popular, nobody goes there anymore."

Come on Laconia... You can do it!
 

I’m convinced if the Weirs had trendy shops, restaurants, music, a bistro, and modeled themselves after Wolfeboro and Meredith they’d have just as much if not more success. In the four years that we’ve been fortunate to be coming to Meredith and besides bike week, we’ve never gone to the Weirs except to pass through, and stopped once, to buy tickers for a cruise on the Mount. We’ve gone to Wolfeboro many times by car and boat to enjoy all that the downtown has to offer. I’m sorry, but the Weirs has a “dirty” feel to it and we have no desire to visit. Kudos to the owners of Faro for investing in Laconia and their excellent restaurant. Likewise to the good people at AKWA Marina whose marina and beach bar are exceptional. The Weirs is a diamond in the rough and if the right people were to get behind a real transformation it would bring tremendous value to the area, lots of money, and a significant bump in property value throughout the area. Come on Laconia.. You can do it!

This was said 2 decades ago and will be repeated 2 decades from now.

I like that the Weirs is different from Meredith and Wolfeboro and like that there are lots of family friendly activities as well as some great bars and restaurants (we love the Crazy Gringo!). I think it would be more successful with at least one year-round family oriented business such as a hotel with an indoor waterpark or other indoor activities like luxury bowling, laser tag, etc. I'd also love to see a shuttle run from some of the hotels and condos to destinations such as Weirs Beach, Fun spot, downtown Meredith, downtown Laconia, Gilford movie theater, etc. It might help encourage visitors to get out and spend $ instead of staying in.

great idea - shuttle
 

Seems like the shuttle would be a great idea, but perhaps a shorter loop to start. It could run the triangle up Lakeside Ave to Rt. 3 and back down to the Weirs, possibly over the bridge to Naswa area. That would pass four campgrounds, the Fun Spot, Tamarack (and restaurants/activities on that intersection), Lake Winni Historical Museum, Kellerhaus, and would make it a bit more of a boating destination.

Good idea...
 

Instead of Molly, the Trolley, it could be Lori, the Lorrey. L is for Laconia.

If successful, it could do a loop to Downtown Laconia, with stops along Paugus Bay, then take Messier St to Downtown with Stops around Veteran's Square, then through Downtown and back.

Like the way you think, Kauriel and Orion... :)

shuttle
 

I like the road shuttle idea it is something that all those business could put together and have running this summer.
Here is another idea that would not just target tourist. For similar yet different purposes, I would also suggest that a trollie run on the tracks between Meredith, Weirs, and Down town Laconia. Couple reasons this would be good. It could run on clean natural gas. It could easily operate around the trains schedule. It would be good for tourist, businesses and any property that abuttes the tracks or is close. The state would benefit since the rail road pays it's lease based on gross revenue and the state subsidize the privately owned train.

For example, people who live in Southdown could flag it down, hop on, ride to Meredith grab a drink, ride back to Weirs have ice cream and watch the fireworks, and stop at there buddys house who also lives next to the tracks. Bet the Weirs would get a lot of people that would normally not stop.

All this talk...
 

Maybe somebody should explore the parallels between Weirs Beach and Hampton Beach. Both of these locations had "their day" quite a few years ago, and both of these locations fell on hard times (for whatever reasons). Also, both of these locations began to attract a, if you will, "non-family" clientele which had the effect of driving away any remaining family visitors. This situation created a reputation which spread rapidly, thus solidifying the idea of not going there. Time passed, lots of time, and both locations sunk heavily into disrepair, financial despair, and loss of any viable investment.

More time passed, and slowly, ever so slowly, things began to turn around. At Hampton Beach the big push to turn around involved the local Hampton Beach Chamber of Commerce, and a ton of both local and State investment ($$$). The infrastructure was improved, the social climate was improved (with serious police intervention), and retail investment, to include both shops and restaurants, was improved. This took time and money, and a strong leadership.

Weirs isn't exactly the same as Hampton Beach, but the same formula might well apply. Weirs slipped, socially, to a location to which you didn't want to bring "your women and children", a location at which infrastructure was deteriorating rapidly, and a location in which investors were slow to make any investment at all, including State and local funds, let alone private funds. Again, time passed, and slowly, ever so slowly, things began to make changes. The rather rough and tumble (pronounced outlaw) crowd began to clean up its act, due to local policing; the infrastructure still needs work; and so does the retail situation.

The situation is sort of like the chicken and the egg, Which came first?, and who will spend the money first, the investor hoping to draw retail, or the retail dollar hoping to find a place to spend itself.

Weirs has a lot to offer, number one being Lake Winnipesaukee, and all it has to offer. It is also fairly easy to get to, either by land or water, and, actually, by air. Somewhere along the line there has to be a meeting of the elements involved to develop a plan which includes all elements to the satisfaction of all. Is this a pipe dream, no, but it won't happen overnight. Hampton Beach took a while to be re-born, and Weirs could enjoy the same fate.

As someone who lived in hampton falls from 2008-2010 and then moved to Florida until 2015, I can say I noticed the changes at Hampton Beach. A work in progress? Sure, but I was amazed as the changes being made to clean it up along the beach. It looked respectable in many areas. Not so much the weirs, exactly the same as I remembered it, if not worse.

Biggest draw in Weirs history...
 

Irwin's Winnipesaukee Gardens...

http://lwhs.us/wei-winnipesaukeepier.htm

Then there was Teen Haven up the street.

Currently, not much to do after dark, or in the morning, or in the afternoon.

Worse than I remember as a kid - way worse. I took my family there last summer. We rented the same cottage my parents rented when i was a kid which is walking distance to the Weirs. I really wanted to show them what i did when i was their age. We left the cottage for a a trip down memory lane and found and we couldn't get out of there fast enough. It was fourth of July weekend and it was busy (the beach area anyway) with unbelievable amounts of trash left by large, and I mean large, family cookouts. The town was definitely not on top of keeping up with trash removal - it was a real turn off. We walked to the end of the boardwalk, turned around and left as quickly as possible. Nobody said much - not me, my wife or my 3 kids. We were all just taking it in and wondering why we walked down there. We didn't even stop for ice cream. It was the beginning of our vacation and I was already thinking - wow - did I make a mistake of coming here? We dubbed the area "The Weirds" and never went back. Spent the rest of our nights at the cottage playing games or in Meredith by boat for dinner. We could see the weirs from our cottage which was nice, but I preferred to remember the area from when i was a youth. Exploring the arcades with my brother and friends. I don't plan on going back ever unless we need a pit stop from our boat or the place is completely renovated.

Hopefully you took that opportunity to teach the family about "carry-in/carry-out". Weirs Beach as with all state parks do not offer trash removal services. They hope that each visitor will do the right thing and clean up after themselves.

100 Mile water ski rrace....
 

In the 60's, I remember a 100 mile water ski race that began and ended at The Weirs. It attracted a good crowd. There were also antique boat races along the Weirs front. After the races it was a little bit to eat and then we danced to Vanilla Fudge at The Gardens. Or was it Tommy James and the Shondells? I wonder what happened to these kind of activities? Liability concerns?

Another Weirs improvement...

Word on the street has it..... El Jimador is opening up where Michaels used to be in the Alpenrose Building.

Woohoo!


Woodsy

.... what a screwy trash policy?
 

It seems unusual the beach area at the Weirs has a carry in-carry out trash policy, no public trash receptacles, and costs 10-dollars to park your car there. If visitors pay 10-dollars for parking, it seems like there could be some trash receptacles as well?

After paying 10-dollars and learning there's no trash receptacle, beach visitors probably get annoyed and just leave their trash while thinking ...... what a dumb trash policy?

Don't the 79-NH state liquor stores have a free public trash receptacle just outside their entry/exit and it costs nothing to go window shop the liquor inside the store without actually making a purchase?

You miss the point. All state owned and operated parks from Weirs beach to the parks in the White Mountains operate under the premise that the only people who would use such a facility are of the granola crunching Birkenstock sandal crowd who understand that one "Always carries out what one brings in" This is because the employees who work for the state at the policy level are of this type and know none who would ever think of leaving their trash behind. Sadly they do not live in the real world so yes it would be logical to place a few trash cans around and use a bit of the $10 parking fee for the cast of reveal. But logic and Government seem to be oxymoronic in nature

Is that true? that's ridiculous.

I rarely see people having a BBQ/picnic at the state run liquor stores.

Comparing apples to oranges rarely works as intended.

Yes ...... well .....if the state can place a trash can for customer use at their state liquor stores ...... then why not also place a trash can at the Weirs Beach state beach/historic site which charges 10-dollars for parking?

Incomprehensible...
 

I agree with FLL.

Also, there are trash receptacles all along Weirs Blvd. These must be regularly serviced. It is unbelievable that there are none near the most populated portion of that area...The beach.

Given some of the minor stories covered in the Daily Citizen and The Sun, this would rate far more important to the local community than who's unknown cousin is marrying someone from Boca Raton. It also offers a photo opportunity of the offending piles of refuse.

I do know that the beach is machine "groomed" with some sort of schedule. Maybe an attempt to sift the hypodermic needles from the sand?

In all likely hood the state has a policy of carry out. It's in the best interest of the city to place and empty trash cans, regardless of who is responsible but there will be the inevitable war over turf when two governments collide.

....... duh?
 

.........oooopsie-doopsie ........ there's got to be about ten or so very large trash receptacles all around the beach parking lot which must get emptied by the city .... so's what do I know .....not much?

Could be there's no trash receptacles on the sandy beach and people are expected to use the trash cans back at the nearby parking lot or something since it looks like maybe the beach belongs to the state, and the p-lot belongs to the city.....or something......duh?

I am not sure how many of these liquor stores are actually in state owned buildings, but I would guess most, if not all are in a leased facility which would make it the landlords responsibility for trash removal from the outside receptacles.

Also keep in mind that the state owned parks and beaches are not funded by tax dollars nor are they "turning a profit". If you want to add additional services to beaches than you can expect Concord to either increase "user fees" or increase property taxes.