Anita Campbell
County Reporter
Warsaw and the surrounding area were extremely busy over the Labor Day weekend as great weather as well as a number of activities brought in large crowds to the Twin Lake area.
Out at Beyonder Marina at Sterett Creek, it was an extremely busy weekend.
“All the boats and boat slips were rented and the campground and motel were full,” said Beyonder employee LaToya Russell. “The docks were full on Saturday and Sunday night as B. J. Taz and Branden Ward supplied music and the Drunken Minnow offered up food and drinks.”
Russell reported that 2023 has been a busy season for Beyonder Marina and that while traffic slows down in the winter, seasonal slip owners can keep their boats at the marina year round.
Beth Drake at Osage Mini Mart reported that her store was busy all weekend as well.
“Having the rodeo on Labor Day weekend brought extra business to us,” said Drake. “Most of our traffic was family oriented and I don’t think the guys trying to fish had much luck because of the number of boats on the lake.”
Drake reported that July had been her best month of the season and that things would slow down now that football and school have started back up.
“We are expecting a good fall as Heritage Days always brings in a large crowd,” said Drake.
At Osage Bluff Marina, Jason Reynolds reported a great weekend. “It was definitely a family weekend with lots of swimming and tubing,” said Reynolds. “There wasn’t quite as much fishing because of the number of people on the lake, but we sold a lot of our stock which is good for the end of the summer.”
Reynolds reported that hot weather kept some people off the lake during the summer. “It was an average summer but those really hot days were a little slow.”
The Reynolds family has been operating Osage Bluff since 1982 and are famous for their Fourth of July fireworks display.
“Our show this year went on for 45 minutes and was well attended,” said Reynolds. “I plan to continue the tradition.”
Osage Bluff hours are 7 to 2:30 during the week and 7 to 7 on Friday and Saturday and 7 to 5 on Sunday. Closing date for the season in the first week of November.
Mary Langewisch at Statuary Gardens on Main Street said they had a “fabulous” weekend. “There were so many people in town over the Labor Day weekend and we were swamped,” said Langewisch.
Statuary Gardens has added a Christmas Room which was very well received by the customers to the store.
“I decided not to close the store on Main Street because so many people urged me to stay,” said Langewisch. “This weekend gave me renewed hope and I am going to keep on working on both locations.”
In addition to the Statuary Gardens store on Main Street, Langewisch operates a garden store at 34479 State Highway M near Edwards. The store near Edwards focuses on gardening supplies and statuaries for the yard and garden.
Big events coming up for Statuary Gardens will be Heritage Days in October and then the annual Boutique Crawl in November in Warsaw, Cole Camp and Lincoln.
“So many of our customers over the holiday weekend commented on what a special town Warsaw is,” said Langewisch.
