MANNFORD, Okla. — High lake levels mean disappointment for families who love to camp out and spend time on the water, and the high waters are hurting businesses, too.
This holiday season, a popular site on Keystone Lake is closing for the summer instead of welcoming guests.
The water is so high that Jellystone Park's campground is completely underwater. Their main attractions and campgrounds are closed, which is affecting the park's finances.
“It’s just not paying to stay open right now and we don’t know what the lake level is going to do,” said Ben Ryan, Jellystone manager.
Ryan says without their main attraction on the lake, it doesn't make sense financially to keep the park open.
“I hired 30 staff in the spring thinking that I was going to keep them all busy. I run four shifts a day and now all these guys and girls that came to me for a job, and I have to lay them off,” Ryan said.
The park's employees have to look for summer work.
“It will affect a bunch of us because we work here all summer and this is a every summer job. So we will have to look for new jobs before the summer ends,” said Delaney Curtis, a lifeguard at Jellystone Park.
In addition to layoffs, the park is forced to turn people away.
Some even prepaid to spend days here, but now their vacation is ruined.
“So we are having to refund their money which is lots of money in advanced deposits for the season and they have to reschedule their entire vacation, and I can only imagine how tough it is for them,” Ryan said.
Ticket prices are also reduced, since only the two pools and water slides remain open.
If you're planning to spend your Fourth of July at Jellystone it will be open from noon until 7 p.m.
They're closing the park this Sunday for the rest of the summer season.
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