Arin Thompson
Devil's Kitchen Lake, which opened in 1959, has been closed for the last two and a half weeks. There have been no campers, no fishers and no boaters.
The quaint outdoor campground and marina has been vacant and quiet since the previous owners, Tim and Lisa Timcak, sold the grounds.
Answering campers' woes, Butch Dunn, owner of Packlite Outdoor Gear, 5317 U.S. 51, will be taking on the campground and reopening the site on Friday, Aug. 1. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service owns Devil's Kitchen Lake, but Dunn will act as owner of the camping and marina services.
"A lot of people were pretty bummed out that it was closed," Dunn said. "There are a lot of regular users that go out there."
Devil's Lake is host to 45 campsites and a marina. Dunn thought that a partnership between the outdoor gear store and a campground would be a good pair, so he took on the challenge.
There will be fishing boats, canoes and kayaks for rent. There is also storage area for those who wish to keep their boats at the lake.
Cullen Brewer is glad that the lake where he grew up won't be closed for much longer. Brewer, from Royalton, is applying for a position to work at the lake when it reopens.
"It's nice and quiet," Brewer said. "I was raised there basically."
Brewer said that the atmosphere, camping, fishing and the fact that not too many people crowd the area make it appealing. Brewer grew up on Devil's Lake, and said his father grew up there too.
"I know that lake like crazy," Brewer said.
Brewer's girlfriend, Michelle Burk from Carbondale, is also glad to see it reopen.
"I went fishing out there with my daddy when I was 5," Burk remembered.
The lake will have a store with food, drinks, outdoor gear and live bait. The campground is equipped with bathrooms, showers and disposable facilities, which are included in the $10 camping fee, Dunn said. The official opening will be Aug. 1 with a grand opening to follow on Aug. 3 and 4.
Dunn will be working on remodeling the existing campground store, equipping it with products from Packlite Outdoor Gear. Campers will be able to try new outdoor activities on a historic campground.
"A lot of people are into the outdoors around here," Dunn said.
Reporter Arin Thompson can be reached at athompson@dailyegyptian.com
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
