November 15, 2005
TORNADO STRIKES MOORS RESORT & MARINA

Campground Damage
Marina Damage
Before and After Photos of the Resort
Before and After Photos of the Campground
Before and After Photos of the Marina

Sometimes Mother Nature likes to remind us all just who is really in charge.  On Tuesday, November 15^th, she did just that.  Moors Resort’s campground and harbor took a direct hit from a F3 tornado.  The campground was completely devastated.  All 115 RV’s were a total loss.  Our hearts are with all those residents that lost their lake havens and contents.  It was truly an unbelievable sight.  Our land was still there, minus a few trees, but the debris was immense. 

After sweeping through the campground, the tornado skipped across the marina harbor and demolished our A-Dock.  The first section of this dock was in good shape, but the last two sections were complete rubble.  Until anyone sees this up close, it is really impossible to explain how this dock was lifted up by the tornado and twisted like a roller coaster doing a 360.  We had boats that were total losses, but we had many that only suffered damage.  Approximately 8 boats were actually blown into the main lake.  These suffered very little damage.  We are very lucky that the twister appeared to have skipped over B-Dock.  Although the dock was in the middle of the harbor, it only suffered repairable damage.  There again, it is amazing that the boats on this dock were virtually untouched.  The marina store only suffered damage to the doors and also was sucked away from the shore.  Our rental boat fleet also took a hit, but those were easily replaced with brand new rentals.  Our transient dock (also known as D-Dock) along with C-Dock were completely removed and replaced with brand new docks. 

When tornados hit, their paths of destruction are very erratic.  All 34 cottages, the Log Cabin Lodge, the restaurant, playground and property were completely untouched.  It is amazing that the entire resort, excluding the harbor and campground, had no signs of even experiencing a storm!  There were no limbs or sticks down and even the trees were still holding their fall leaves. 

As people walked up to the destruction, there were many tears shed.  It was so hard to look at the aftereffects and not feel for those that lost their belongings.  We, as the owners, feel very lucky.  To see such massive destruction in the campground and marina, yet there were no injuries.  We can deal with the cleanup and replacing the structures, but we could not have dealt with the deaths and injuries that would have occurred if this twister had blown through during summer when the slips and campground were full of people.  All and all, we are very thankful for the outcome. 

We must express our heartfelt thanks to all of you that offered help.  It is truly a wonderful feeling to have so many people reach out to help us and offer their assistance.  We are very thankful to have such a wonderful community.