It was a strong winter tourism season in South Dakota – but it’s finally getting warm again. Outdoors enthusiasts, forest officials, and those in the hospitality industry are all getting ready for peak tourism season.
At Pactola Reservoir, the last of the ramps are being put back into the water and boaters have already started taking in the sun – and the trout.
Cecilia Lepa is recreation management specialist with the Black Hills National Forest. She said they have to wait for mother nature just like the rest of us.
“With the changing water levels, we decided it would be best to wait a little bit. But with the start of the season, our concessionaire starts on May 19, so we wanted to get those boat docks in so boaters can get out," Lepa said. "Everyone wants to ask once the ice comes off when are we pushing in the docks – but we have to wait for water levels. Pactola fluctuates so much we don’t want the docks to sink, so we want to make a good judgement call.”
Angie Weaver owns Pactola Pines Marina. She said booting up for peak tourism is no small task.
“It’s huge," Weaver said. "It’s a whole lotta work. Everything sits dormant for the winter months, and then April comes along and it's time to get everything ready. We have to get the docks ready, the boats ready, the store ready. So, there’s a lot to get ready, but it’s worth it.”
Black Hills National Forest public affairs officer Scott Jacobson said they’re preparing for another big year.
“Ever since 2020 our recreation sites use has really gone up, so we expect another busy year this year," Jacobson said. "Last year on weekends when the weather was nice, if you didn’t have your boat at this boat dock, or the south at Pactola, you didn’t get in that day. I would just say if folks want to get out here on a nice day, it’s best to come early.”
While off to a late start on account of ice coverage, both the north and south boat ramps at Pactola are back in place and ready for use.