WACO, TX — The coronavirus pandemic caused an economic domino effect across the country.
Short term vacation home owners say they've felt the hit in their industry.
Waco has been on the come up of rapid growth, attracting more people every single year.
Robin Cohagen, a local Airbnb owner, says before the pandemic, bookings were non-stop.
"It was booking quick, every weekend was booked and so we felt the rush of the tourism," said Cohagen.
The tourism has slowly declined causing local Airbnb owners to brace as they find ways to make ends meet.
"It just went empty, all of the bookings just stopped. We are able to make payments, but I look at the books and think, I just need to trust god that we will make our mortgage every month and our banks have helped," said Cohagen.
Brook Oaks Place owner Twa Rivers says she was grateful for some savings.
"Not too much negative because we did have savings, which has helped tremendously."
The recent announcement of Texas shifting gears and slowly re-opening gave them the hope they were looking for.
"Hopefully with the Silos reopening and people wanting to come back to see the beautiful city...they will come back and stay with us," said Rivers.
They hope the reopening happens sooner rather than later.
"Most of us Airbnb owners feel like when this is over, people will be ready to leave their homes and travel and we are just excited," said Cohagen.
