Dubuque County Re-Opens Swiss Valley Park

By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Sep 16, 2011 at 6:43 PM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 16, 2011 at 6:43 PM CDT

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Dubuque County’s Swiss Valley Park Campground is open again. Seven weeks ago flash flooding from the nearby Catfish Creek swept through the campground, forcing campers out.

Park rangers say about half of the campsites are repaired and open for business.

Dale Davidson eats and sleeps inside his tiny pop-up camper during the workweek. He’s from Mount Pleasant but works in Dubuque. “I was staying at the hotel until I found this,” Davidson said. He missed the campground during the past seven weeks. As more and more camp sites begin to take shape, Davidson knows he won’t be here alone. “I am sure that the grapevine of everybody saying it’s open will happen and they’ll start showing up.“

In that time crews have been working around the clock to fix damages, moving dirt and filling sink holes. And that work is far from over.