Avonlea Village making substantial changes

Avonlea Village, a main tourism attraction in Cavendish, P.E.I., will be making some big changes because the operator COWS Inc. says the park was too quiet this summer.

For the past 15 years, the village offered a glimpse into the world of Anne of Green Gables with shops and features in heritage and re-created buildings. The cast of characters from the novels interacted with visitors.

Starting next year, entrance admission will be free, and private businesses will set up shops, restaurants and entertainment in the village.

It cost about $300,000 dollars for staff last summer and even more to maintain the buildings.

"Based on the statistics that we have based on tourism and exit surveys, there are a lot of people staying in Cavendish that are looking for good places to eat and good places to shop, so we're going to focus on that market," says Brennan.

But the transition comes at a price. The actors, mostly university students playing the characters, will be cut.

"I'm disappointed as well, but if it has to be done, then it has to be done in order for the place to survive. Well, to me, it ended up being like a second home," said Jason Campbell, who played Gilbert for a number years and is working at the COWS Creamery Factory this fall.

The business community in Cavendish is just learning about the changes, so it's too early to say who the new operators inside Avonlea Village will be. But COWS says it's already received some interest from former employees, eager to set up a shop of their own next spring.

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