Story originally printed in the Holmen Courier or online at www.holmencourier.com
Published - Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Dells resort guests cancel; shows and tours limited
LAKE DELTON -- The ski jumps and marker buoys for the Tommy Bartlett Show are sunk in the mud.
Guests have begun canceling reservations at resorts and if it's a boat or an amphibious Duck tour you want, you'll be limited to the Upper Dells.
One of the biggest tourist destinations in the Midwest is in a state of uncertainty today after the 267-acre Lake Delton was drained leaving tour operators scrambling and resort owners praying for a quick fix as the summer vacation season was kicking into high gear.
"It's a catastrophe," said Tom Diehl, president, general manager and co-owner of Tommy Bartlett Inc., which operates daily ski, stage and sky shows on the lake. "It's going to have a huge impact."
Water cut a 400-foot-wide gully through the 700 feet of land that separated the man-made lake from the Wisconsin River.
The breach, which occurred after two days of heavy rains, left piers dry, boats grounded and one of the centerpieces of the Wisconsin Dells area rendered unusable.
"My heart is sinking," said Antoinette Hollander, 44, a 10-year resident of Lake Delton, as she surveyed the aftermath. "I've never seen anything like this."
Diehl, a member of the Lake Delton Village Board, called it a "one-in-250-year event" and that it was too early to tell when the washed out swath of land will be repaired and the lake refilled.
He is hoping to reopen his business, which is in its 55th season, by Friday with extra stage shows to replace the ski shows.
"We'll make the Tommy Bartlett Show without water," Diehl said.
Restoring the shoreline could take some time. State Department of Natural Resources officials say the segment will have to be rebuilt to dam standards.
Top tourist destination
The Wisconsin Dells area is one of the state's top tourist destinations. In 2007, visitors spent more than $1 billion in the area that has become known as the waterpark capital of the world.
But despite the arrival of water slides, indoor rivers and $200 hotel rooms, the lake has continued to play a critical role in the area's economy. Several resorts rim the lake and it's also used by boat and Duck tour companies and water sports enthusiasts.
"We are definitely encouraging travelers to call ahead and connect with their accommodations and attractions to confirm hours of operation," said Melanie Platt-Gibson, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau.
"The ones that will be directly impacted are along the lake. "
Reservations canceled
At the 62-room Aloha Beach Resort & Suites, on 600-feet of the lake's northwest shore, owner Lester Makowski on Monday afternoon was still trying to comprehend the water's disappearance, which left his 12-boat pier high and dry.
"We already have cancellations coming in for July," said Makowski, who has loss-of-business insurance. "I don't know how we're going to be impacted. I don't think anybody knows until they fix that gorge."
At the Cliffside Resort & Suites on the lake's southeast side, owner Angela Tylka said she had six cancellations Monday from people planning to stay this weekend. Some were concerned about the potential smell.
Tours limited
The loss of the lake comes after a hard winter and road construction in the area.
"There was a sandy beach (but) that was washed away," said Tylka, whose family has owned the resort for 27 years. "It's going to hurt our business."
James and Karen Watts, of Hudson, arrived at the resort on Sunday and picked the resort because of its relaxing environment.
"It's amazing how fast it happened," James Watts said. "It's just so drastically different from what it was this morning."
The Wilderness on the Lake remained open for business but the beach access and boat slips were closed Monday along with a water pontoon taxi operated by the resort, said spokeswoman Heidi Fendos.
Tour boats and the Original Ducks, vehicles that run on land or water and are staples for many Wisconsin Dells vacationers, are unable to use the lake and have stopped running on the Lower Dells because of high water and debris. However, tours continue on the Upper Dells, said Andrea Novotny, a spokeswoman for the boat and Duck operators.
Few options
Steve Zowin, owner of Lake Delton Watersports, which rents ski and pontoon boats, WaveRunners and offers parasailing, saw few options.
"I'm pretty much out of business right now," said Zowin, who has operated since 1979. "I was going to be busy. I had a lot of reservations."
Zowin said optimistically he is hopeful that the lake will be back to normal levels in a month but realistically he thinks his season may be over.
"There's a lot of people's livelihoods depending on the lake so I think this lake will come back faster than most," Zowin said. "It's wait and see at this point."
All stories copyright 2006 Holmen Courier and other attributed sources.