911 Shouldn’t Be A Long-Distance Call. Amenity Migration in Rural Mountain Towns During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Local Social Ambivalence and Changing Health Landscapes

Abstract

This research paper investigates the impact of “amenity migration” on the local populations in rural mountain towns during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as potential barriers to healthcare that arise when the infrastructure of these communities is strained by a large and sudden population boom. It aims to explore the distinct perspectives, challenges, and adaptations of local residents and healthcare providers by employing interviews as the primary method. The study delves into motivations to live in the mountains, housing limitations, remote work, community dynamics, and balance between full-time and part-time residents during the pandemic. Furthermore, this study takes an analytical approach to theories of social ambivalence as a means to understand the complex and contradictory emotions local populations may experience towards amenity migrants. The social determinants of health play a significant role in analyzing the needs of these communities as they continue to undergo change because of these in-migrants. This paper contributes to the existing literature by filling gaps in understanding the nuanced responses of locals, healthcare workers, ski patrollers, and mountain rescuers to the pandemic in rural settings, offering insights into their distinct coping strategies, perceptions, and contributions to community well-being. This paper aims to identify the existence of “amenity migrants'' in rural mountain towns proposed by previous literature, understand their impact on local populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the health landscape has been altered in the equitable distribution of healthcare. In bringing attention to this phenomenon, I aim to further inform policies and interventions that will support the diverse needs of both the locals and amenity migrants in the areas faced with the challenges posed by the pandemic.