(Arnolds Park)—This year’s Winter Games in the Iowa Great Lakes enjoyed record participation, with participants coming from as far away as the Bronx, New York. And while exact numbers aren’t yet available as far as the economic impact, Jen Johnson, Program Director of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, says a lack of snow came into play for one sector…but she says that was offset by increased volume in other areas…(click here for comment.) “You know, we did hear you know motels did see a little decrease just because the snowmobilers weren’t here. However area restaurants and bars, retail stores had a great business. You know with the winter games being spread out throughout the Iowa Great Lakes, that was a great boost to local businesses because that did in fact spread the wealth and help increase traffic through the Iowa Great Lakes without having everything centered right there on Smith’s Bay, people were really out and about.”
Johnson adds the area from which Winter Games draws participants expanded even more this year…(click here for comment.) “When you look at the entries and where teams come from, you know, we see, you know, the broomball teams come from Lincoln, Ames and Minneapolis and the quad cities. This year we also had a team come from all the way from New York City, they were the Bronx Bombers. It is quite enlightening to see how many people come from far and wide to the Iowa Great Lakes during that last weekend in January.”
Chamber officials say even though the lack of snow was a disappointment, that it certainly didn’t distract from the atmosphere or any of the activities that were going on.
