It is finally happening!

Posted Friday, January 9, 2009, at 3:02 PM

Last weekend, my husband and I drove down to Roaring River State Park to feed the fish and watch the anglers who turned out to enjoy the warm weather and catch and release a few trout.

As is our normal custom, after walking around the falls, spring pool and hatchery, we drove down to fishing zone three where we spend a large part of each summer. On the way to zone three, I noticed that crews have begun excavation work for the park's new store.

This is a project that has excited me from the very beginning. Not only will the new store offer more merchandise, a larger showroom and more parking, but it will be more conveniently located at the intersection of Highways 112 and F.

I talked to Jim Rogers, Roaring River concessionaire, this week and he said that he hopes to see the new store open by Memorial Day. Although that will be after the first Kids' Fishing event, I am excited to learn that the new store will likely be open for most of Barry County's 2009 tourist season.

It may have taken longer than expected to break ground and begin construction on Roaring River's new store, but I think once the project is complete all park visitors will realize that this project has been very much worth the wait!

Comments
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]

I realize time moves on and progress must be made but I can't avoid missing the old Roaring River from the 1950s. The lodge had a nice restaurant while the lower floor had dressing rooms for the swimming pool just outside. The water in that pool was cold as ice. Downstream, the lake provided boating fun on paddleboats rented on location. The good old days for a kid eight years old at the time.

Rhea Cooke

San Angelo, Texas

-- Posted by Arehea on Fri, Jul 10, 2009, at 3:20 PM

By Lindsay Reed's response:

Rhea - Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I wish I could have seen Roaring River back then. I bet it was beautiful! - Lindsay