Archive for June, 2008

Well, the downside of all the press about the flood is that it get’s people to start thinking the whole state of Wisconsin has been destroyed.  Of course it’s not.  In fact as I’ve said before Wisconsin Dells is pretty much un-scathed other than it’s missing a lake.  Meanwhile around the area things are getting aback to normal as well.  Baraboo has cleaned up and Circus World Museum is open again.  The river is back to it’s normal self.  Devil’s Lake State Park has opened again today.  Today I visited the Spring Green Chamber of Commerce who are getting  buried in calls wondering if this event or that one is still on.  The answer is YES!  Yep, you will see water still standing in fields here and there and in low lying areas, but the truth is everything is pretty much back to classic Hot humid Wisconsin in the summer time!

This from Channel3000.com

. . . Baraboo’s Circus World Museum is back in business after shutting down temporarily from the floods.

Luckily, Circus World didn’t get hit too hard. Officials said that only 10 of the circus world’s 200 historic wagons were in danger. Many antique musical instruments were also saved from ruin, WISC-TV reported.

Meanwhile, Mount Olympus, Wisconsin Dell’s only mega-park, announced that it’s giving all future guests of all resorts located on Lake Delton free water park passes.A representative for the park said that since guests aren’t able to enjoy Lake Delton anymore, they should be able to enjoy the water park for free, WISC-TV reported. – Read Full Story

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Now, you have to give them some credit for this one!

Ok, so with all this talk of flooding or draining away as the case my be it’s also worth telling you a little story. I grew up here in Baraboo just a few miles south of Wisconsin Dells. Of course when you live so close to something you don’t see it the same way as occasional visitors will. But one interesting thing is that for the many, many years that I was growing up here I didn’t even know there WAS a Lake Delton. As a kid I did not grow up in a family of boaters, or swimmers for that matter. When you went to the Wisconsin Dells it was for all the other stuff, the super slides (gone now), to ride the ducks, eat fudge, or get shot at by Black Bart. It was not until years later that I knew there was a little lake just a few blocks of the Wisconsin Dells parkway. That comes to mind now, when I’m getting so many emails asking things like, “should I still come to Wisconsin Dells?”. Well, the answer is “Of course!”. For the folks along Lake Delton the loss of the lake has been a major disaster. However, almost everything you come to Wisconsin Dells for has been totally unaffected. Just like when I was young, most visitors will never even see the empty lake bed unless they go a bit out of their way. That’s just the way it is. So unless you planned to do some fishing buzzing around on Jet Skis you’re vacation will probably go off without a hitch.

For vacationers there is even a bit of a benefit. There is a good chance you can get discounted lodging up to 50% at some resorts near the lake. Which more than being a great deal will of course, give you a front row seat to a very rare moment in Wisconsin Dells history. Something I’m sure your kids will tell their kids in years to come.

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By the way, if you are interested in seeing more pictures of the lake and County Highway A, the News Directory of Fox News Chicago sent us this link.  Thanks for that!    I’ve also got some video of the flooding in Baraboo that I will be posting in the next day or so as well.
 

Today it’s storming and raining again.  We are under flash flood warnings for most of the day.  This will not affect Wisconsin Dells as much as it does the rest of the area.  Baraboo, Devil’s Lake, North Freedom (home of the Mid-Continent Railway Museum) Reedsburg and other communities in the area are taking the brunt of the high water.

I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of explaining to do over this story. . . .

- Lake Delton Officials Didn’t Renew FEMA Flood Insurance. from Channel3000.

Thing is bickering over such things seems like a wise thing to do if you don’t think anything will ever happen to you.  Opps!

Here are some new photos of Lake Delton taken on June 10th, 2008

Lake Delton??

We took a stroll on what used to be a lake bed. Assorted junk, antiques, an old sled and timber that looks to have been an old bridge were just some of the things that we found that were once hidden below the water.  Sections of the lake bed are like quicksand so it’s not really all that safe to be out there.  I will post more pictures in the coming days.

I’ve also talked to some of the property owners and most are still open for business, their beaches are just a bit bigger now.  Some have been having phone issues which should resolve in the next 24 hours.

Flooding in Baraboo, just south of Wisconsin Dells

I’m sure you’ve heard we’ve had a bit of rain in the area of the last few days.  A real disaster hit Wisconsin Dells when Lake Delton drained away into the Wisconsin River. Yes, Lake Delton is at least for the time being. .  gone.  Businesses on the Lake are left wondering what to do next.  Suddenly the lake front, isn’t the lake front anymore.  Many of these folks are clients and friends that I have known for quite a number of years and all my hopes go out to them.  If you have lodging reservations at one of the many lake side hotels, condos, or resorts you may want to check in as to what conditions to expect. 

Tommy Bartlett’s Ski, Sky, & Stage show is also located right on Lake Delton and will certainly be affected as well.  According to the local news, owners say the show will go on, albeit without the "Ski" part for the time being.

Devil’s Lake State Park is also dealing with high water which has covered the beaches all summer.  Now there is high water in most of the North Shore picnic area and some roads are under water as well.  The campgrounds are away from the lake and are fine for the most part.

Boaters should be a bit leery of the rivers at the moment.  Fast currents and debris are just some of the dangers of rivers in flood.  The Baraboo river is now flowing just an inch or two under the Manchester st. bridge.  This would be a death trap for paddlers. 

More News Stories:

Lake Delton nearly empties – Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

Destruction & Devastation On Lake Delton – WYOW

Rain-Swollen Lake Delton Floods, Destroying Homes, Highway
- lots of coverage, video & photos from Channel3000.com

Our Devil’s Lake State Park Blog
-devilslakewisconsin.com