Rainy weather's been tough on outdoor business

MILFORD — After a reported 7.28 inches of precipitation in the month of June and 1.75 inches in the first two weeks of July according to the Weather Channel’s data, it’s no wonder why many area residents find themselves in living rooms or movie theaters uttering “rain, rain, go away,” rather than enjoying outdoor recreational venues or even their own front yards this summer. Yet Milford’s handful of facilities are doing what it takes to combat the wet spell that has engulfed Pike County. Dave Neenan, three-year manager at Hawley’s “Costa’s Family Fun Park” added on a new attraction last weekend to accommodate his customers when showers hit. The park, which previously just offered mini golf, a driving range, batting cages, an arcade, a go-kart track, a bumper boat pool, water slides and a kids’ playplace, now includes an indoor laser tag course. It’s been an immediate hit, according to Neenan. “When it would rain, there were no other options beside the arcade,” he said. “Laser tag will help us out.” In comparison to last summer, Neenan said he thinks there has been about a 25 percent drop in customers from the poor weather conditions. He says he does what he can, though. “I let people play in the rain as long as possible,” the manager said. “We only stop for lightning, and I found myself last weekend kicking people out at 10:30 [p.m.] even though it was pouring.” Down Route 6 at the Milford Dairy Bar, manager Daryl Wood said that ice cream is such a favorite, his customers don’t usually mind dodging the drops for a scoop or two. “People still eat ice cream, luckily for me,” he said. “They seem to eat more chocolate hard ice cream in the rain though.” Wood, who worked with his dad in the ice cream parlor over two decades ago, returned to his managerial position this summer after a 12 year break. He said that while business hasn’t been too slow this summer, incredible business from the Black Bear Film Festival, the Milford Music Festival, and the Fourth of July weekend has been a supplement. “The town events benefit local businesses so much, I wish there were more,” Wood said. The Milford Dairy Bar sells all homemade ice cream and Italian ices, and Wood said customers are welcome to sample anything they’d like before buying. “We do whatever it takes, you do what you have to do,” he said. “It’s a passion for me at this point, I couldn’t stop if I tried — rain or not.” According to 24-year-old Milford resident Bob Wykoff, he’s been enjoying a summer as usual, rain and all. “In my opinion, Americans are lazy and wont get off their duff and get wet, even though they’re comprised of 70% water — or whatever the numbers are,” he said. “The only weather that has stopped me from going out were the electrical storms, the severe ones when tree branches were falling on my car.” Just down the three-lane at Kittatinny Canoes’s river bases in Matamoras, Westfall, Dingman’s Ferry and Pond Eddy, National Park Service orders have closed off the Delaware River to customers a handful of times in June due to high water levels, said Christina Riina, a reservationist at the Barryville, NY campground. In such cases, customers are able to reschedule or rain-check their trips. However, the second part of the company, Kittatinny Campground — which has a base in both Westfall and Barryville — has a refund and rain check policy that could potentially leave customers out to dry. “If campers don’t call to reschedule or cancel their camping trip at least seven days prior to the date of their arrival, they can’t be refunded. We don’t give out rain checks,” Riina said. “There are definitely always a dozen people or so who call a few days before to cancel, telling us how badly it’s supposed to rain. We tell them it’s part of the camping experience.” Whether residents go for the aphrodisiac of chocolate ice cream or an eight-minute round of laser tag with friends, Milford’s businesses are adopting a US Postal Service-esque slogan, fighting the elements to maintain a fun-filled summer for Pike County folks.