Labor Day weekend all wet for Chain O' Lakes
The line to board the Blarney Island shuttle usually stretches out beyond the pier and spills into the parking lot of Port Of Blarney in Antioch during Labor Day weekend.
Yet a continuing no-wake restriction on the Chain O' Lakes due to high waters after recent rains hampered boating and brought business down to a trickle.
Water levels on the swollen Chain and Fox River continue to drop by 2 to 4 inches per day throughout the system. The water level reached nearly 2 feet over flood stage. The Fox River remains closed.
"It's devastating that the water had to come up that high especially at our busy time," said John Haley, president and one of the owners of Blarney Enterprises.
Blarney Island opened to limited capacity for Labor Day weekend after being closed the weekend before due to high waters deluging the tavern. The island boat dock remained bare Monday afternoon, while a few customers arrived by shuttle.
Even balmy weather didn't help bring out boaters.
"Rarely do you get 80 degree days, beautiful and sunny on Labor Day weekend," Haley said. "When we finally do get good weather, it's flooded. It hurt everyone up in this area a lot."
No-wake means boat engines have to idle, traveling barely 5 mph, which may take the fun out of boating for enthusiasts, Haley said.
Labor Day signals the unofficial end of the summer boating season, but if warm weather persists things could turn around for Chain businesses.
Blarney Island will close for the season by month's end.
"We're hoping to get another two to three weeks," Haley said. "What's bad about it is the people up in this area on the Chain make 90 percent of their money in three months, and the rest of the year it's just staying alive."
Mineola Marine in Fox Lake has already begun preparing to meet its customers' winter boating needs.
"It was the last big hurrah for the year because once the kids go back to school everything comes to a halt," said owner Pete Jakstas. "I can't remember when it's been this way on Labor Day. It's been many, many years since we've been hit like this."
Jakstas said his towing, recovery and repair service business has been slow for more than three weeks since many gas pumps, piers and boat ramps at marinas along the Chain were under water.
Despite his boat ramp remaining open, the number of boats idling on Mineola Bay Monday could be counted on two hands.
"This is the final weekend of the season and it has been devastating all the businesses in and around the Chain," Jakstas said. "Once you lose a big holiday, there is no way you can ever make it back up."