Illinois River Settling Into Banks After Historic Flooding

The Illinois River is well below flood stage. The water is about 6.5 feet high.

That's a far cry from what it was a couple of weeks ago when historic floods through the area.

Of course there's the damage, but people at Peyton's Place -- an outfit that supplies floating and rafting equipments and lodging -- can't stop thinking about the force and speed of the water.

It was able to lift boulders and move huge slabs of concrete.

The Illinois River is now moving gently into its banks in Tahlequah. But weeks ago, it rushed through town, causing damage and flooding everywhere.

“It’s the worst I've seen in all the years I've been here," Archie Peyton said.

For nearly 50 years, Peyton’s Place has operated there. Peyton says they tried to prepare.

They locked up boats and canoes and moved equipment to higher ground, but they couldn't beat Mother nature.

The water ended up inching inside several buildings and washed up tons of gravel.

The Peytons have worked nonstop to get the camp back as it was.

They've accepted the river won't be.

"We've already been out on it looking at it a time or two and it's done some major changes new channels closed some and opened others,” Archie said.

Everyone survived -- a few changes on the river are a small price to pay.

Peyton's Place was not insured, but the owners say they built this place by hand and they will make the repairs by hand.

They expect river floating operations to be back open by the beginning of April, but camping will be limited.