The scene was dramatic and remains so even 16 years later.
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In 2008, water from Lake Delton broke through a section of Highway A that served as a dike and drained into the Wisconsin River. Community leaders, led in part by Tom Diehl, rallied to get the breach repaired and the lake refilled in time for the 2009 summer tourist season.
Tom Diehl, longtime co-owner and president of Tommy Bartlett Inc., visits the amphitheater of the company's water ski show in Lake Delton. Diehl died in late August of cancer and will be remembered for his contributions to tourism, not only in the Wisconsin Dells area but throughout the state.
Tom Diehl began working at the Tommy Bartlett Show in 1967. He and his wife, Margaret, became part owners in 1975 before becoming sole owners in 1998 after Bartlett's death. Diehl closed the ski and stage show in 2020, but the Exploratory remains open.
Waterpark enthusiasts reach the bottom of the Sahara Sidewinders indoor slide at the Kalahari Resort in Lake Delton. Thanks to the efforts of Tom Diehl pushing for state law changes, small communities like the village of Lake Delton were able to create new tax programs to improve village water and sewer systems that would allow for the growth of waterpark resorts.
Photos: Wisconsin Dells tourism giant Tom Diehl
A $9 million, six-month repair job brought Lake Delton back after it had emptied in June 2008.
Tom Diehl, owner of the Tommy Bartlett show, talks about the flood that affected Lake Delton five years ago at County Highway A and Dam Road in Lake Delton, Wis., Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Amber Arnold-State Journal
The stage area for the Water Ski shows put on by Tommy Bartlett on Lake Delton in Lake Delton, Wisconsin is now sitting on the lake bottom when flood waters breached the bank and drained the lake Monday June 9, 2008. Heavy rains over the weekend has contributed to flooding in a number of Wisconsin areas. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, Steve Apps)
From left, long-time Tommy Bartlett Show performers Michelangelo Nock his wife, Carolina, and Dieter Tasso have formed a family-like relationship with Tom Diehl, right, president, general manager and co-owner of the operation. John Hart - State Journal.
Downtown Wisconsin Dells has evolved over the years as more plazas, wider sidewalks and walking paths along the Wisconsin River have been built.
Waterpark enthusiasts reach the bottom of the Sahara Sidewinders indoor slide at the Kalahari Resort in Lake Delton. Thanks to the efforts of Tom Diehl pushing for state law changes, small communities like the village of Lake Delton were able to create new tax programs to improve village water and sewer systems that would allow for the growth of waterpark resorts.
Tom Diehl, owner of the Tommy Bartlett Show, said this summer's tourist season had been going well until the recent flooding.
Tyson Holtz uses a metal detector as he walks on the lake bed of Lake Delton after it drained in June 2008.
A home near the 267-acre Lake Delton was destroyed when floodwaters breached the bank and drained the lake in June 2008.
In 2008, water from Lake Delton broke through a section of Highway A that served as a dike and drained into the Wisconsin River. Community leaders, led in part by Tom Diehl, rallied to get the breach repaired and the lake refilled in time for the 2009 summer tourist season.
Tom Diehl, longtime co-owner and president of Tommy Bartlett Inc., visits the amphitheater of the company's water ski show in Lake Delton. Diehl died in late August of cancer and will be remembered for his contributions to tourism, not only in the Wisconsin Dells area but throughout the state.
An Original Wisconsin Ducks splashes into Lake Delton in 2021.
An Original Wisconsin Duck is seen here heading upstream on the Wisconsin River.
Tom Diehl, owner of the Tommy Bartlett Show, said this summer's tourist season had been going well until the recent flooding.
Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com.
