After Rough 2014, Lake Minnetonka Businesses Welcome Big Holiday Weekend
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota's lakes and rivers are always a top destination over the Fourth of July. But last year's record rain led to no-wake restrictions on several lakes around the state.
For businesses that rely on that boating traffic it made for a quiet holiday on the water, but this year is a much different story. Lake Minnetonka is a holiday get-away for many wanting to be by the water.
Jake Gundershaug chose not to be on a boat. Instead, he'd rather be filling up boats at Tonka Bay Marina.
"At the end of the day, it's like half my salary, these three days," Jake Gundershaug said.
The holiday rush is a welcome change compared to last year.
"Last year was tough, a lot of standing just waiting for boats to come in," Gundershaug said.
Record rain turned all of Lake Minnetonka into a no-wake zone for the first time ever last year. Lakes and rivers around the state also had similar restrictions.
The slow going made for one of the quietest holidays on the water.
"I think last year it scared a lot of people away because they took it as the lake is closed," Blake Alguire of St. Louis Park said.
This year, weather isn't slowing anyone down.
"We're overly excited since the no-wake zone is no longer in effect. It makes it a little easier to travel and get around on the lake," Alguire said.
At Lord Fletcher's business, is expected to be double what it was for the holiday weekend last year and the rush of business started before the weekend began.
"Probably three times as many boats on the lake this year," Tom Emer, owner of Lord Fletcher's, said. "It probably goes up 35-40 percent for this week versus a normal week."
But the return to Fourth of July normalcy on the lake does have a downside according to boaters. There is a lot more traffic on the lake. Alguire said some boaters are inconsiderate of others and don't follow the rules on the water.
