Dickinson County, Iowa – Tourism is down in the Iowa Great Lakes after heavy rains and high water forced the implementation of boating restrictions. The Executive Director of Vacation Okoboji , Kiley Zankowski, says summer business is important to the area.
Zankowski estimates flooding has decreased tourism by 40 to 60 percent.
Zankowski says some hotel occupancy was cut in half during the Independence Day holiday. Juli Redig has been coming to the Iowa Great Lakes from Minnesota since she was the age of her grandchildren. And she says they saw very few boats on the water during a visit to Arnolds Park, due to a five mile an hour speed limit put in place to preserve the shoreline.
Redig says she’s still making the most of her family’s vacation. They brought their pontoon boat to enjoy the water slowly. Zankowski says there’s still hope as water levels and quality continue to improve. She says the Arnolds Park amusement area and other attractions, along with the food, and entertainment give tourists other options.
Image at top of page: The Queen II. (photo courtesy of Sheila Brummer)
