Downed bridge could impact tourism businesses

(Photo courtesy of Hruska's)

One type of business in Winneshiek County will be particularly interested in plans to replace the destroyed Dahly Bridge--tourism-related businesses.

Winneshiek County has five canoe and kayak rental businesses.  Off the Driftless is located at 212 Pulpit Rock Road in Decorah, so it would have the least impact of the five.  However, the other four businesses are all located in the general area of Bluffton--Chimney Rock Canoe Rental, Campground and Cabins at 3312 Chimney Rock Road, Hruska's Canoe Livery & Campground at 3233 347th Street, Hutchinson Family Farm Campground at 2299 Scenic River Road and Randy's Bluffton Store & Campground at 2619 Ravine Road.

It's not just the issue of having a destroyed bridge lying in the water of the Upper Iowa River, making it impossible to canoe or kayak past the hazard.  The businesses also run shuttle services and Dahly Bridge in the past has been one of the locations canoeists and kayakers have liked to put into the river.

The collapse of the bridge won't be a calamity for the businesses--but it will be a concern and a hurdle they will have to figure out how to surmount.