Lake coming off good tourist season
by
Daniel Winn
Posted: 10.03.2012 at 10:45 PM
Businesses at the Lake are catering to a larger crowd than ever before.
With high gasoline prices and worker not making the money they once did, the lake has broadened it's appeal.
Wendy White with the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce said they are coming off a really good tourism season.
But there's been a learning curve--after a couple of hard years the lake has gotten used to a new normal.
They now cater to a larger customer base, "It's a mixture of single people it's a mixture of retired people it's a mixture of families so just really a good mix.", White told us.
Visitors are coming more often for shorter stays. The bulk for them are coming from St. Louis and Kansas City.
Fall at the lake is considered their convention season, White said, "Plus, it starts Christmas shopping and we've got some great shopping venues, We've got the outlet mall, now we've got Marshals with got Kohls.”
She also said the new Highway 54 bypass is also making life at the Lake better.
Customers can now get to the businesses without having to fight traffic.