The random winner of a free all day(weekday) pontoon rental is Cherly Blum.

Thanks to everyone who participated. The results have been passed on the Economic Committee of the Shabbona Village Board.

The display of the survey in this program makes the results a little hard to read. The 1st number is the number of votes an item received the second number with the % is the percent that number represents.

An economic survey of additional Amenities, Activities and Attractions for visitors to Shabbona Lake State Park, was conducted at the request of the Economic Committee of the Shabbona Village Board. The survey was done online thru Google Docs and by copies handed out at Shabbona Lake State Park. The survey ran from July 22 thru August 11, 2013.

There were an amazing 594 responses in just 21 days. The survey was compiled from ideas that have been suggested, debated and explored in the past.

Several ideas were in the original master plan for the Park or have been around for over 30 years. As the Park grew in attendance and usage, many other ideas have been suggested and considered, but never acted on.

Which of these items, considered in the past, are viable today? The purpose of the survey is to identify possible economic opportunities for the growth of the Village of Shabbona. This is a preliminary survey intended to gather that information.

There are annually approximately 425,000 visitors to Shabbona Lake State Park. How better could they be served, so that they return more often, stay longer and enjoy all that the Shabbona area has to offer?

What additional Amenities, Activities and Attractions would the visitors be interested in? What business opportunities would this open up to potential investors? What jobs may be created?

As you will see the responses are quite interesting. Please keep in mind that this is an economic survey of potential opportunities. While the number of responses of “yes” to a particular question maybe low, that number of positive responses MAY make it economically feasible to do that item. Each question needs to be looked at independently.

In addition three questions were included:
What do you like about Shabbona Lake State Park?
What don’t you like about Shabbona Lake State Park?
What additional ideas do you have?

A summary of those responses is included.

Survey Results

1. How many times a year do you visit Shabbona Lake State Park?
Responses:
Once 127 22%
2-5 254 43%
6-20 134 23%
Over 20 75 13%

2. How many miles do you travel to get to Shabbona Lake State Park?
Responses:
Less Than 5 Miles 43 7%
5-20 Miles 104 18%
21-50 Miles 255 43%
50+ Miles 188 32%

3. How many hours, in a day, do you stay at Shabbona Lake State Park?
Responses:
1 Hour 31 5%
2-4 Hours 120 21%
Over 4 Hours 414 73%

4. Would you like to see a Lodge at Shabbona Lake State Park with overnight lodging?
Responses:
Yes 394 67%
No 191 33%

a) How many nights in a row would you stay in a Lodge at Shabbona Lake State Park?
Responses:
1 Night 180 40%
2-5 Nights 254 57%
Over 5 Nights 15 3%

b) How many times a year would you stay in a Lodge at Shabbona Lake State Park?
Responses:
2-5 Times 393 95%
Over 5 Times 22 5%

c) Would you like to see fine dining or a bar in the Lodge?
Responses:
Fine Dining 267 40%
Bar 241 36%
Neither 160 24%

5. Banquet Facility – Weddings, Anniversary, Showers, Graduations, Reunion Parties?
Responses:
Yes 264 48%
No 284 52%

a) How large of a banquet facility would you like to see?
Responses:
Up to 50 people 79 24%
51-100 People 105 33%
101 – 150 People 75 23%
150+ People 64 20%

6. Would you like to see a swimming pool or beach or neither at Shabbona Lake State Park?
Responses:
Swimming Pool 227 37%
Beach 271 39%
Neither 201 29%

7. Would you like to see gaming machines in the main concession Building?
Responses:
Yes 102 18%
No 478 82%

8. Enclosed Shelter House?
Responses:
Yes 414 72%
No 158 28%

9. Outdoor Amphitheater?
Responses:
Yes 294 51%
No 282 49%

a. Amphitheater Performances?
Responses:
Story Tellers 179 19%
Native American History 197 21%
The Life Of Chief Shabbona 178 19%
Bands 213 23%
Comedy Acts 123 13%
Other 35 4%

10. Zip Line?
Responses:
Yes 239 42%
No 325 58%

11. Off Road Bike Trail?
Responses:
Yes 383 68%
No 182 32%

12. Kite Flying Contest?
Responses:
Yes 261 48%
No 288 52%

13. Frisbee Golf?
Responses:
Yes 255 46%
No 302 54%

14. Toboggan Hill?
Responses:
Yes 382 68%
No 182 32%

15. On The Water Boat Storage?
Responses:
Yes 186 33%
No 374 67%

16. RV or Boat Storage?
Responses:
Yes 198 36%
No 355 64%

Camper Survey

1. How many times a year do you camp at Shabbona Lake State Park Campground?
Responses
Once 127 23% (44%)
2-5 Times 137 25% (47%)
6-10 Times 17 3% (6%)
More Than 10 Times 9 2% (3%)
Not At All 255 47%

2. How many nights do you stay?
Responses:
One 81 25%
2-3 Nights 211 66%
4-7 Nights 26 8%
Over 1 Week 3 1%

3. Would you like to have water hookup at camp sites?
Responses:
Yes 321 78%
No 92 22%

4. Would you like to see a swimming pool at Shabbona Lake State Park Campground?
Responses:
Yes 254 55%
No 204 45%

5. Is there a need to expand the Campground?
Responses:
Yes 188 44%
No 239 56%

6. Is there a need for more handicap sites?
Responses:
Yes 140 36%
No 252 64%

7. Does the campground need more Cabins?
Responses:
Yes 260 60%
No 173 40%

8. Does the campground need primitive sites?
Responses:
Yes 219 52%
No 205 48%

9. Does the campground need larger RV sites?
Responses:
Yes 125 30%
No 285 70%

10. Should the campground have a Kid’s Water Park Fountain Area?
Responses:
Yes 208 47%
No 235 53%

11. Would you like to see an arcade room in the Campground?
Responses:
Yes 144 32%
No 307 68%

12. Would you like to see video gaming machines in the campground?
Responses:
Yes 80 17%
No 379 83%

13. Should Shabbona Lake State Park Campground allow alcohol in the Campground?
Responses:
Yes 239 50%
No 243 50%

14. Would you consider moving to Shabbona, Illinois?
Responses:
Yes 97 20%
No 229 47%
Maybe 162 33%

Summary Of Written Comments

Hundreds of comments about what a great Park we have. Beautiful, quiet, serene, escape, clean, nature, camping, restaurant, boat rental, staffed by people who care, polite, peaceful, everything, food, wildlife, friendly, trees, turkey, deer, pheasants, ice fishing, relaxing, affordable pricing, fishermen who care, tranquility, solitude, helpful, knowledgeable staffing, volunteers who help, ongoing habitat replacement, safe, peace, secluded, friendly employees, family oriented, remote, scenery, trails, keep doing what you are doing, 5 star lake.

If any attractions, activities or amenities are added, they must be done in a way to limit or minimize their effect on the atmosphere of the Park.

Alcohol in the campground – Both comments pro and con, concerns about loud parties & the fact that many already drink in the Campground

Swimming – Positive comments more numerous

Leave the park as is – Several comments indicating this, don’t turn it into a Wisconsin Dells -“What idiot thought this (survey) up !!!”

Need more to do, would come back more often if there was more to do than fish, particularly kid’s activities – fishermen looking for something for wife and kid’s or grandkid’s to do also

Crowded – fishing can get crowded, but many felt that overall the Park was not crowded and needed more activities

10 horse power limit – Both comments pro and con – need for more enforcement of 10 HP limit or no wake

Bike path

Need for more grills

Pit toilets –a lot of negative comments

Video games – Most campgrounds have arcade rooms as a kid’s activity, but many comments about get the Kid’s outside

Video gaming – mainly negative

Lodging – The farther away the respondent lived, the more interest there was. If done it needs to fit in with the surroundings and not be too large. Those that live close liked it for family visitors or relatives to stay. No place to stay for people who don’t camp.

Campground – Loved the set up, issues with roads, pit toilets, tree overhangs and maybe a second shower building – More Cabins needed – more kid’s activities – reduce the 7 day advance registration to 48 hours, like Wisconsin has.

Goose Droppings

Horse riding

Park roads need upgrading

Disregard for speed limits on roads

Garbage left on shorelines and in lake

Fish cleaning station

More development downtown – trees, benches, attractive stores, eating opportunities