Illinois River Float Businesses Bounce Back From Flooding

Resorts along the Illinois River are working hard to clean up after the recent floodwaters damaged buildings. With rain in this week's forecast, the pressure is on to make the most out of summer.

Right now the Illinois River is safe for people to enjoy - but there's a rush to get repairs done for the rest of the float season. 

The phone won't stop ringing at War Eagle Resort. Pam Hazen says she just started letting people float the river again on Sunday. 

"We hope to be floating every single day," she said.

And even though the season is getting off to a tough start - she's not worried about the future. She just thinks of how much work they need to do to get ready again.

There's still some work to do after the floodwaters made their way up to the cabins at the resort - filling them up with feet of water.

5/2/2017 Related Story: Families Begin Cleanup, Repairs After Flooding Of Illinois River 

"We've had two big framing crews just working around the clock, pretty much," she said.

The water destroyed a bathhouse, but crews are helping the resort bounce back quickly. Hazen says she isn't sure what the financial impact of the flood damage is.

"We haven't even started figuring it out - it's a lot," said Pam Hazen, War Eagle Resort.

But she's confident it'll be a good season, despite more rain in the forecast.

"This should be a wonderful float season - we're getting lots of reservations, and actually the river should be great," she said.

Things are expected to be back to normal before Memorial Day weekend.