GRAFTON, Ill. — After the flood washed away half of the tourist season, many shops and restaurants in Grafton have re-opened in time for the Fourth of July weekend.
"There is no wait," host Renae Jones said to a customer who came into Grafton Oyster House on Friday afternoon. "We have available seating inside and a couple tables outside.”
Owner Brad Hagan called it "a breath of fresh air.” He estimates that those weeks without business cost him $300,000. And it cost his employees, too.
"For a lot of the servers, it's been some really hard times,” Jones said.
Thankfully, times are changing.
The Brussels Ferry was running on Friday afternoon for the first time since May, bringing boatloads of people into town.
The Great River Road is back open, too. That means visitors are starting to trickle back.
“That's the main thing. Can you get there? Yes, you can,” said visitor Robert Bryant.
"I think now we have to stop focusing on the devastation and what's happened and focus on -- Grafton's open,” said Hagan.
The Fourth of July fireworks are scheduled for Saturday night at 9 p.m. along the Grafton Riverfront.
After flooding, Grafton businesses back open for Fourth of July weekend
The Brussels Ferry, along with many shops and restaurants, is reopened in time for the Fourth of July weekend.