Memories of days gone by.......
Days turn into decades! My father owned Shadow Lake resort in mid 50's . I was there as a 3 to 4 year old , believe it was 1955 to 1957 or 8.
He built the soft serve burger joint while there.
I recall a gocart track Maybe owned by a guy named Elmo?
Did a float trip with all the band members and another 15 or 20 folks ..A real big group. We all trucked several miles upriver and put in..
Turned into an absolute disaster as surprising floodwaters rapidly caused the Elk to rise well above the banks. Turning the trip into a life threatening event, paddle boards overturned and lost. Snakes and critters caught up and all in the water around us....
My sister got caught in a substantial whirlpool with a tree branch ( luckily) buried in it that she clinged to in the vortex with her head below the top of the water as my mom and I sat on the bank helpless and crying.( I literally can see it now)....A couple of band members hustled back to launch a boat and traverse upriver to rescue her.
One guy tied a rope around himself and jumped in as the pilot held steady just up from the whirlpool, as he reached her, he grabbed her and they were then both pulled out SAVING HER LIFE.
I remember the smell of the cold basement under the dance floor...Everytime I have a Squirt, I can almost smell it again....that was where I first had one. The live music the visitors enjoying the fun!
The paddle boards the pedal boats the water moccasins!
Ah the memories are vivid and with that one frightening exception , they are really great !