Upper Iowa Resort and Rental bounces back from 2016 flooding in time for the 2017 camping season
Upper Iowa Resort and Rental recovered in time from the record-setting flooding of the Upper Iowa River in August of last year to be open for the start of camping season this year, cleaning up its flood damage and making some improvements to help minimize potential flood damage in the future. Among those improvements is the addition of a new gravel roadway (far left) parallel to the existing road and the river, making for easier access to campsites. The existing roadway and surrounding camping areas were also raised about two feet with the addition of 40-plus loads of dirt, as well as sand excavated from campground hillsides. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
After being flooded in August of 2016, the office and general store area of Upper Iowa Resort and Rental was gutted and restored to be operational for the opening of camping season this year. Owners Bob and Kristi Hager worked on that project during this past winter, refurbishing the building to become a focal point of indoor entertainment as part of the overall experience for campers and visitors to the resort area. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
A cabin formerly located at Camp Tahigwa, the former Girl Scout camp near Dorchester, didn't have far to go to find a new home, as Upper Iowa Resort and Rental owners Bob and Kristi Hager purchased the cabin and had it recently moved to its new home as part of the restoration and improvements at Upper Iowa Resort and Rental following the August 2016 record-setting flooding of the Upper Iowa River. The cabin was transported just a few weeks ago from its original Camp Tahigwa location about five miles away, being placed on the new basement foundation pictured above to add to the cabin availability at Upper Iowa Resort and Rental. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
by Joe Moses
August 23-24 of 2016 saw a heavy rainfall and flood event that affected much of northeast Iowa, with the Upper Iowa River valley in northern Allamakee and Winneshiek counties suffering flood damage due to the six to eight inches of rain reported by the National Weather Service across that area during that overnight period.
As a result of that rainfall and the flow downstream of the more than eight inches of rain that fell in the Decorah area of Winneshiek County, the Upper Iowa River swelled to a record crest of 24.3 feet, nearly two feet higher than it had ever reached before. The Upper Iowa's previous record crest had been 22.5 feet back in 2008.
Upper Iowa Resort & Rental, which is owned by Bob and Kristi Hager and located directly next to the usually serene Upper Iowa River and offers amenities directly related to it, was quickly impacted by its record crest at its location just south of Dorchester. Of the 72 campers parked in the campground that day, 52 had been moved offsite by 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 24 amid rising flood waters, thanks to the combined efforts of the Hagers and those camping seasonally. Six campers were lost downstream as the flood waters rose quickly that morning. Fourteen campers remained partially submerged in the campground floodwater. However, more important than anything in regard to the historical flooding event, no lives were lost and no injuries were reported.
Despite the devastation that remained in the wake of the flooding, the Hagers were committed to re-opening the campground but needed time to re-evaluate the layout and plan for the business moving forward. The front half of the campground, including cabins and the office, was impacted to a lesser degree, with the facility's swimming pool able to be salvaged. The lower half of the campground, however, received extensive flood damage.
Shortly after the flood waters had receded, the Hagers began the process to rebuild and restore the campground and resort, making improvements along the way to also ensure any future flooding would have a minimal impact on the facility. With the help of friends, family and volunteers, several clean-up days in September made an impact on the flood damage throughout the campground.
As part of their plan to improve the campground, the Hagers raised the road parallel to the river two feet and built up some of the grounds also by having 40-plus loads of dirt-fill hauled to the site and using sand excavated from hillsides at the campground location. The banks around the swimming pool were built up as well. The campground and resort area was re-seeded and landscaped.
The wooden playground equipment washed out by the flood was later moved and reassembled near the campground office. The office building itself was completely gutted and remodeled, a project the Hagers worked on during the winter months, with the end result becoming a focal point for indoor fun and entertainment containing an arcade game area, pool table, supplies and snacks for sale, and more.
Other improvements include an additional road leading to the overnight camping area and seasonal camping area, parallel to the existing road. This new road was added in place of a 20-foot shelter that was damaged in the flood, improving access to camping spots with electrical hook-ups, which have also been replaced.
Plans are being made for additional cabins in the campground on stilts near the river, which could be rented or purchased with the lot being leased. Currently, one set of stilts is in place with a cabin to be moved or built there in the near future.
A cabin purchased from the former Girl Scout camp, Camp Tahigwa near Dorchester, has been relocated to the campground and placed on a new basement, adding to the cabins already available for rent. The number of seasonal and short-term campers is currently less than last year at this time. However, the Hagers expect that to change over the coming months and next year with positive word of mouth regarding the improvements that have been made, making the campground and resort better than ever.
