http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/wisconsin/bayfield/ Bayfield, WI News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/wisconsin/bayfield/content/5034f169c573f0be35445d73f4c8652e.html Bayfield County introduces science into Superior setbacks http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/wisconsin/bayfield/content/22c6c07152a6c74a8bffbfb0e9521df4.html Big Top draws range of songwriters http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/wisconsin/bayfield/content/e7e722c446f4af560520994e552c86c6.html Intoxicated driver injured in Barnes http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/wisconsin/bayfield/content/8325190ba05852cd593d4662381a5f0e.html Iron River man injured in ATV accident http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/wisconsin/bayfield/content/3e538592ca01e0836691b4c16852a002.html When summer began Barb Czarnecki was concerned about how full her cabins would be at Johnson's Resort on the Chippewa Flowage east of HaywardWith gasoline prices inching up and a slowing economy Czarnecki feared some of the 10 cabins might sit empty However that didn't happenIt was a surprising year Czarnecki said It was very good We're seeing people who normally go to Canada but don't want to go all that way The weather was great the fishing was greatCzarnecki said the cabins were full all summer and she's projecting being at 65 percent capacity through the fallHarlan Becker public relations and sales manager for Wisconsin Indian Head Country of Chetek said people still are still traveling this summerIt's not quite as 'doom and gloom' as everyone thought it would be he said The resorts are not really having problems The restaurants are getting hurt by the increase in food costs and they have to pass a bit of that on to customersMany restaurants are reporting business is down 20 percent to 25 percent from a year ago Becker said noting some eateries are struggling to keep their doors open However there was talk that business improved at grocery stores in resort areas this summerIt's just one of those things where you bite the bullet he said You can tell there's not the number of people around The events and special attractions are downPeople are traveling but still trying to avoid longer trips he saidI think Bayfield is hurting a lot just because they are so far away Becker saidGeorge Sutor owner of Big Swede's Resort in Holcombe for 13 years said it's been a difficult summer He feels he draws a good customer base from boaters who stop and eat at the restaurant but his resort is not filledPeople simply don't want to stay for a full week at a time On a recent weekend three of his seven cabins or houses were occupiedThat's how bad it is Sutor said That's unheard of It's all 30 percent to 40 percent full especially the month of AugustSutor has tried some halfprice deals to get people in the door During Milwaukee Brewers games on TV he's offered twoforone drink specials when a Brewers player hits a home runWe do these things just to keep people there he said I think the price of gas has hurt the whole areaSutor works with a Lake Holcombe tourism group to keep a Web page on all activities in that areaAnytime someone brings something to the area we all benefit he saidLarry Nelson owner of Karibalis CharBroil restaurant in Hayward admits he was nervous when summer beganEvery time the gas ticks up we start to worry he said However Nelson said it was a better summer than expectedStarting the Fourth of July it picked up he said We were even with July of last year and for August we are down about 5 percent There were more people but they were spending less cutting out beverages with meals and sharing sandwichesMild weather with plenty of rain is one reason Nelson believes his restaurant did OK On rainy days tourists staying at the lakes often come into townWe're worried what will happen now with the tourism ending because the local economy is slow Nelson saidWill Rasmussen coowner of the Angry Minnow restaurant in Hayward the past four years said his restaurant business is up this yearJuly had its weekends with tourists but during the week we had a good mix of locals he said We were a little worried this spring but even our spring was better than last springIt's been a good summer It's not the growth we saw in our first three years but we're happyWhile Czarnecki of Johnson's Resort east of Hayward was pleased with how the summer turned out she is concerned how summer 2009 will look She said people generally keep reservations that they make a year in advance but she fears a slow economy could make people skip north woods trips next yearBut the advance rebookings are pretty good she saidVetter can be reached at 7230303 or chrisvetterecpccomSutor http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/wisconsin/bayfield/content/752c211d1652ecf17480399f50589e13.html Tucson to Bayfield County 2500 miles of biking http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/wisconsin/bayfield/content/5d58abf2d8288beb215ab3cc761f8424.html Tucson to Bayfield County aen8221; 2500 miles of biking http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/wisconsin/bayfield/content/d7706b839d20e7742a19cb010db02ddb.html Bayfield County Fair Video