Oil spill causes travel trouble

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The oil spill causes travel trouble for some in the Wabash Valley.

You've seen and heard all over the new how the oil spill is devastating the environment, but it's also affecting the local economy.

People are starting to re-think popular travel destinations

A picture perfect paradise, at least that's how Larry and Sally Arnold of Terre Haute describe the condo they bought in Orange Beach, Alabama almost 20 years ago.

"It was beautiful, I thought this is paradise, " Sally Arnold said. "We consider it a second home "

A home now reeked with havoc as tar balls hit the beach and swimming is off-limits. Oil spill problems this couple never imagined

"Did not even consider that whatsoever," Arnold said.

They never had trouble renting out their place, until now.

"Then after the initial spill, we noticed that June's calendar was blank," Arnold said.

Months of travel plans now changing, but Travel Network in Terre Haute isn't surprised.

"You're going to run into cancellations and it is going to affect the local economy and up to the national economy,"Travel Consultant Jeremy Turner said. "Something of that magnitude is just going to do that."

Overall, it hasn't affected their business too much as travelers take a different direction.

"There's 1,350 miles of Florida coastline that's still unaffected," Turner said. "In those areas there's no reason to sound the alarm yet."

It's what's in store for the future that's hurting Sally and Larry the most.

"We see the birds flying over and the little squawks of noise, but for the generations to come that's what breaks my heart," Arnold said.