Anne of Green Gables house to stay open this fall

Parks Canada has reversed its decision to reduce hours at the Green Gables Heritage Site during the fall shoulder season.

The site was the home of the aunt and uncle of Lucy Maud Montgomery, and was the inspiration for the setting of her landmark novel Anne of Green Gables.

It was originally going to be closed on Sunday and Mondays starting next weekend. Now, it will remain open seven days a week until Oct. 15.

Mike Forrest, acting president of the Cavendish Beach and Dune Shore Tourism Association, said the change is great news for tourism operators.

'Having that open is just adding to the awesomeness that September is going be.' —Mike Forrest

"We have so many businesses that are still open and operating in September and October and we don't have to have, you know, customers coming back or patrons coming back to our establishments and speaking about a negative occurrence when they went to Anne of Green Gables," he said.

Forrest said the change partners well with their new fall marketing campaign.

"Anytime you have such a huge product like Anne of Green Gables not available during a marketing campaign like this is really a slight blemish to the campaign so having worked with Parks Canada and having that open is just adding to the awesomeness that September is going be," he said.

Parks Canada originally reduced hours because of federal budget cuts.

Forrest said he plans to work with Parks Canada to ensure the change remains in effect for next year.