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Rock Cut Concessions Fuels Outdoor Joy J By Janine Pumilia im Talkington wants people to enjoy getting outside. He’s doing his part to enhance the opportunities at Rock Cut State Park, where for 14 years his business, Rock Cut Concessions, has been renting out boats, selling fishing and camping supplies and running the Lone Rock Café. He often teams up with others to offer lessons in activities like using a stand-up paddleboard or learning to fish. Last summer, he also took over management of the Olson Beach swim area on the east side of the park. “Our whole mission is to give people cost-effective, high quality opportunities for recreation – to get people outside and doing things,” he says. Although visitors will encounter construction this season, as the state widens about half of the 4-mile road encircling the the lake and adds 6-foot bike/ pedestrian lanes on both sides, everything
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Smart Living Weekly
will be open for business as usual, says Talkington. The road project should be completed by November and comes with some side benefits. The bridge over the dam will be replaced and a bike/pedestrian lane will be added. A second parking lot will be built near the dam, where visitors access the popular paved trail that heads west along Willow Creek. The outdoor store, located on the south side of Pierce Lake near the docks, next to Lone Rock Cafe, is the main concession area at Rock Cut. “It’s getting a major overhaul, too,” says Talkington. “The current parking lot and drainage will be reworked to drain the water to the creek area to the west. This should eliminate a lot of flooding in our beach and grass area.” The concession area will get a new parking lot, doubling its capacity. The
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new bike path will end here and more bike racks will be added. And a new patio will be built just outside the concession building. The Outdoor Store Along with selling a variety of fishing bait and tackle, ice, minnows, firewood, candy, ice cream, picnic and camping supplies, the Rock Cut Concession outdoor store rents canoes, single and double kayaks, pedal boats, row boats, stand-up paddleboards and jon boats. Rental of the 12- and 14.5-foot flatbottomed jon boats costs $35 per hour or $90 for four hours. All other boats rent for $13 per hour. There’s no charge to launch boats on Pierce Lake and you may use any size engine, but a “No Wake” ordinance is in effect for all engines over 10hp. People over age 16 need a fishing license, which
