By Max Oppen

TANNERSVILLE — The Village of Tannersville has landed on Airbnb’s Top Ten Autumn Destinations in the United States, putting the village among the nation’s highest per-capita concentrations of short-term rentals.

Tannersville has roughly 540 full-time residents, with approximately 160 units available for short-term rental in the Tannersville area. The Town of Hunter, which includes the villages of Tannersville and Hunter, as well as the hamlets of Lanesville, Haines Falls, Elka Park, Edgewood, and Platte Clove, has 710 available short-term rentals and a full-time population of just over 3,000 residents, according to Airbnb.

Airbnb based its findings for the Village of Tannersville on “Airbnb internal data on Q2 2026 searches for weekend trips during September 1 – November 30, 2026 check-ins vs. Q2 2025 searches for weekend trips during September 2 – December 1, 2025 check-ins by US travelers.”

The surge in interest in fall destinations is being driven largely by Gen Z. According to Airbnb, the data for the Village of Tannersville's available Short-Term Rentals comes from a “nationally representative online survey commissioned by Airbnb and conducted by Focaldata in July 2026 of 183 US Gen Z respondents.”

Airbnb arrived at its conclusion using specific search and booking data from its platform. To compile the report, the company analyzed year-over-year growth in searches for quick, 48-hour autumn escapes. Researchers noted a significant spike in travelers actively “wish listing” properties using autumn-specific keywords such as “fall getaway,” “fall foliage,” “leaf peeping,” and “fall road trip.”

Tannersville emerged as the top trending location based on those internal search metrics.

According to Airbnb, 90% of Gen Z survey respondents say small towns and under-the-radar destinations appeal to them this fall. Airbnb also reports that fall travelers are surpassing summer vacationers across the board.

The other destinations on the Top Ten list are Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania; Blue Ridge, Georgia; Blowing Rock, North Carolina; Fayetteville, West Virginia; Glenwood Springs, Colorado; Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Bend, Oregon; Camden, Maine; and Hartford, Vermont.

Village of Tannersville Mayor Dr. Lee McGunnigle said, “This is proof positive that Tannersville is officially on the map as a premier autumn destination. I’m incredibly grateful for the economically vital Short-Term rental properties in the Village, which give visitors the opportunity to experience our community while supporting our local businesses, restaurants, shops, and attractions. Their presence helps drive tourism, strengthen our local economy, and showcase all that Tannersville has to offer.”

The Town of Hunter is becoming a four-season getaway, and may someday dominate all seasons for top vacation destinations.

Village of Tannersville Deputy Mayor George Kelly said, “It seems as if we in Tannersville are doing a great job inviting people to our wonderful village, and it’s about time. We try our best in getting things done, and you can see with your own eyes how much this village has changed for the better. Mayor McGunnigle, myself, and our Board of Trustees will continue our mission.”

There is, however, a downside to the enormous influx of short-term rentals. The proliferation of vacation rentals has made it increasingly difficult for full-time locals to remain in the area, as short-term rentals have contributed to making it unaffordable to live on the mountaintop.

It’s a catch-22 — damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

While RUPCO is currently building a 56-unit affordable housing complex in the Village of Tannersville, and the Village of Hunter has affordable housing options, accessing that housing can be a long and daunting process. The waiting lists and application processes for the MountainView Apartment complex (48-56 apartments) in the Village of Hunter can take years, with some applicants saying they waited anywhere from 3-5 years for an apartment.

It appears a balance must be struck between keeping housing affordable for long-term renters and continuing to cater to the vacation industry. While the Cold Spring complex by RUPCO is a step in the right direction, it's just not enough.

There are also rumors that, to get into Cold Spring Apartments, an applicant must put their name on a list, which RUPCO then uses a lottery system to determine who gets an apartment. It makes one wonder how many true, hardworking locals will make it through this gauntlet.

Time will tell.