The manager of a visitor centre in downtown Merritt says business may drop off when new developments open at a currently-closed rest stop property nearby.

Sandy Carnow says the Baillie House in Merritt had a record year of visitors in 2018, due in part to the rest stop off of Exit 286 closing down.

She says some tourists may keep going downtown when something new opens at the rest stop property.

“Maybe it’ll be another year or so before that gets built, then they’ll keep coming down. I know people now have found like Brambles Bakery, and they say every time they go past Merritt they go there to have lunch. So it’s not all just full of locals anymore, so hopefully they’ll continue doing that,” Carnow says.

“I don’t believe there’s going to be a visitors information (centre) up there, there’s going to be a gas station and a restaurant so I’m sure they’ll be very busy up there.”

Five First Nations in the Nicola Valley are in the process of acquiring the former rest stop site, which they plan to redevelop.