BARRETT TOWNSHIP -- The impact of the Eric Frein manhunt in the Poconos took a toll on area businesses. Now local and state agencies are trying to make sure those shops, restaurants, and other attractions aren't forced to close up.
Those businesses in the Poconos were hit, and hit hard, while troopers searched for alleged cop killer Eric Frein.
The search took seven weeks and took away big tourism dollars
"It is in the tens of millions of dollars, whether or not it reaches the $100 million mark is a little bit hard to tell, but even in the tens of millions of dollars, that's substantial," said president and CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau Carl Wilgus.
The Hotel of Horrors operates in Saylorsburg and is miles away from where the manhunt was, but they brand themselves as the "premier Pocono Mountains haunted house destination."
Owner Dan Ambrosio says that phrase "Pocono Mountains" scared away customers, thinking they were close to the search.
"It was very frustrating waiting week after week, waiting to see if this was the week the manhunt was going to be over, and the Poconos would be back to the tourism that it's always had," said Ambrosio.
Now a recovery event at Skytop Lodge near Canadensis is bringing state agencies and local support to businesses, giving folks like Ambrosio options to make up what he believes is his 25 percent loss in business.
"A business may, because of the decline, may have a short-term cash flow issue. We have lines of credit they can tap into and help them weather the winter months into the spring," said department of community and economic development official Carolyn Newhouse.
The owners of Chestnut Grove say their business was another one that was hit hard during the Eric Frein manhunt and they're hoping that the changing of the seasons changes their luck.
"All the police, they closed the road, the helicopter was right over top. We even had guests coming in supposed to stay for the weekend but because it was too scary to stay, after two hours they just left," said Chestnut Grove resort owner Jerry Jie.
Now that ski slopes are already making snow, these new resort owners hope to bounce back and save the business they just bought in May.
While others in the haunted house line of work say it's going to be a more difficult road, but one they're not shying away from.
"It's all promising, just the fact that they're trying to do something is promising, so we're not sure what will work for us if anything," said Ambrosio.