Business Booms At Green Country Marinas Over Holiday Weekend

Business is booming for Green Country marinas. It was an especially busy Independence Day weekend at Keystone Lake.

Keystone Harbor broke records this past weekend with people soaking up the summer on the lake, but owner Ron Howell said there were fewer boats on the water since lake levels were 15 feet higher than usual.

“You definitely appreciate it a lot more after the circumstances we've had the last year,” Ryan Highfield said.

Highfield and Brittyn Brown are regulars at Keystone Lake. They’ve visited nearly every weekend for the past couple months.

Highfield and Brown noticed significantly more people this summer.

"I think this year more people are getting out than normal because it's been a crazy year being inside, and just being on the lake is a really good way to get outside,” Brown said.

Howell said fireworks and live music at the marina brought large crowds.

“I didn't think we could beat last year’s because we had so many people with the schools down and all the rest all through the year,” Howell said. “But, like I said, this year has actually been a bigger year than last year.”  

Howell said all RV's, RV sites and boats were rented out. Around 250 boat slips were full, and their restaurant stayed busy.

Howell said there weren't as many boats out on the lake this weekend.

Those who rented boats still hit the water, but boat owners who would usually be out stayed cautious so they wouldn't damage their boat. Some ramps were even closed.

“Frankly, the overall lake attendance was probably down because of people being worried about the debris in the water from the flood,” Howell said.

Howell said last week's rain caused lake levels to rise 15 feet, but he said their main goal is for friends and families to make lasting memories.

“You see it all the time, that memories are being built,” Howell said. “It's a good business to be in."

“You really realize how much you're blessed to be out here again,” Brown said.