In an effort to boost tourism in Sheet Harbour,
the Sheet Harbour Board of Trade organized public meetings in October
1996 to ask the community for suggestions as to how to make the
area an attractive place for tourists.
Twenty five local residents attended the meeting with consultants
from a consulting firm called Environmental Design and Management.
Early in the new year, the suggestions of the community were drafted
into a plan of action . The draft plan suggests that most of the
development take place around the West River and MacPhee House.
The following projects were cited as proposed improvements:
Marina
Development- A marina with services was recommended to attract
the more than 2000 private yachts that cruise up the coast each
summer past the Eastern Shore on the way to Cape Breton.
Sidewalks
- The purpose of the sidewalks would be to connect nodes of activity
within the village. The plan suggests that these sidewalks extend
the entire length of the village from West River to East River
hooking up various tourist attractions.
Walking
Trails- Several kilometers of hiking and bicycle paths are
proposed with a trail head adjacent to MacPhee House.
Walking
Bridge across the West River- A bridge spanning the West River
is planned at the sight of the old highway 7 bridge. This bridge
will connect up with the walking paths and sidewalks and keep
the West River Falls as an attractive focus for tourists.
Interpretive
Signage- The signage will be designed to tell the story of
the community's ship building history, connection to the War of
Independence, lumbering and pulp and paper industry.
Highway
Signage- According to the study, new signs are needed for
tourists entering the village from the Guysborough side and new
signage is needed to promote the MacPhee House as the centre of
tourism activity.
Scenic
Look-Offs- Two scenic look-offs are planned to allow visitors
a chance to pull over and take pictures. One will be at the entry
to the village from the Halifax side and the other will be across
from the Sheet Harbour Motel.
The
Arctic Trader as a Dive Site- The Arctic Trader was a vessel
that sank near the Government Wharf in Sheet Harbour in 1990.
It was suggested that the wharf would allow divers access to the
Arctic Trader as a dive site.
Expanded
Operating Season of Taylor Head Provincial Park- Taylor Head
Provincial Park is presently only open from May to October.
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