Over the past 25 years, Frank Rybeck’s customers have come from as far away as Nepal, China, and South America to stay at his resort on the shores of Lake Kegonsa in Dane County. His clients, sometimes in groups as large as 30 people, support other Main Street Stoughton businesses such as bars and restaurants, retailers, and gas stations. But his business has steadily decreased due to algae blooms and water too green for fishing, swimming, or boating. He estimates he’s lost nearly half of his long-term customers due to polluted water.
“It’s very frustrating for me as a business person, that how I present my property and how nice my cottages are makes no difference. I have absolutely no control over the most important thing, which is the lake... I can work day and night and make the place look beautiful, but if the lake stinks and nobody wants to use it, or nobody wants to use their boat, they’re not going to come here.”
“It’s a sad moment” according to Rybeck. He is unsure of how much longer he can afford to stay in business, because he is barely breaking even as it is.
“If we have nother bad pollution year, that may be the end… This is basically not a money-maker. And why be in business if you’re not making money?”