Riverfront businesses, attractions slowly recovering from rocky season

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By Mary Louise Speer | Friday, August 15, 2008 |

Capt. John Vize points out a river feature to a tour group from Wisconsin. Vize operates Great River Tours on his boat out of LeClaire, Iowa. His business, as well as many others that depend on the river, have had a tough season. (Larry Fisher/Quad-City Times) Buy this Photo

Life is easing for river businesses and attractions after facing a tough summer filled with flood, wind, high fuel prices and fire.

The unsinkable Capt. John Vize, of LeClaire-based Great River Tours, hopes demand for his business will keep improving. He offers river excursions aboard the Riversong tour boat and lost about three weeks of business this summer during the Flood of 2008.

“I see the river from the visitors’ end. I’d like to think what we’re offering is a unique experience, not just a boat ride,” he said as the Riversong slipped past stately homes on the Illinois riverfront.

The craft, built in 1959, carries up to 24 passengers plus crew on short tours from the LeClaire riverfront levee. Vize is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard with more than 40 years of experience on vessels, and he moved operations to LeClaire in 2004. Tours highlight the river lore of LeClaire, home of the famed river pilots, and Port Byron and Rapids City on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River.

Tours were suspended in June while the Mississippi River was closed down by floodwaters. The high prices for a tank of gas and the slow economy also nipped at business. Vize had to raise his rates to compensate for the price of fuel, he said.

“You got to take it as it comes,” he said, as he guided the boat back toward LeClaire shore. Visitors leaned back in their seats as he ended the tour with a rendition of “Ol’ Man River.”

Recreational boaters also lost out on some of the 2008 boating season because of the floods.

Sunset Marina Rock Island closed during the worst of the flooding and

didn’t reopen until early July, said Bob Hawes, Rock Island public works director.

“We didn’t have to move boats out, but water got into the buildings,” he said.

Boaters were able to access their watercraft and go to the lake, he said. However, people couldn’t head out for a cruise while the Mississippi River was closed.

The marina still has some repair work to do on facilities during the winter but the buildings are operational, he said.

Campers are finally enjoying stays at Buffalo Shores in Buffalo after the campground took direct hits from the June floods and the July windstorm.

“2008 has just been really bizarre weather-wise. It put a strain on us here at West Lake. The people who couldn’t come to Buffalo Shores have been coming up here,” said SueAnne Fiegel, campground attendant.

Buffalo Shores was a week away from opening when the windstorms slammed the Quad-Cities on July 21.

“It was heartbreaking to see it down there,” she said. “Some of the trees were broken at the ground. Some were broken halfway up.”

With gas prices so high, many campers are local people who want to camp out on the river. Buffalo Shores is part of the Scott County Conservation parks system, and campground

revenues help them provide services, she said.

Jennie Ash, co-owner of Front Street Brewery, 208 E. River Drive, Davenport, knew exactly what needed to be done before the Flood of 2008 made its initial appearance in April. The owners dealt with flood situations during the floods of 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2008.

“This building (built in the early 1900s) has seen a few floods,” she said. “Experience pays off. I always try to think beyond the flood. OK, we’ve done this before. We can do it again.”

April’s high waters slowed operations, she said. However, June brought a double whammy with fire and flood. Davenport firefighters battled a June 12 blaze at nearby 220 Emerson Place in flooded conditions. The brew pub was evacuated after filling with smoke, and four firefighters suffered injuries. The brewery remained closed for two weeks.

Ash credits Davenport Public Works Director Dee Bruemmer and crews, the city of Davenport and firefighters with protecting the building.

“This is a floodplain, but you never really expect it again,” she said with a rueful smile. “Now I’m beginning to expect it again.”

The Quad-Cities River Bandits kept their season going with assistance from the City of Davenport and the community. Certainly the flooding around Modern Woodmen Park “was an inconvenience, but it wasn’t anything monumental. We want to be an escape for people dealing with the vexations of life,” said Kirk Goodman, vice president/general manager for the River Bandits.

The fact that they played two games when they were an “island” surrounded by water was phenomenal, he said. The team temporarily shifted to other locations three days and canceled a game, but fans still came out to support the minor league team.

Certainly other teams understood the team was dealing with a scrappy situation.

“Everyone knew there wasn’t anything we could do,” he said. “We had a responsibility to keep playing.”

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.