Boaters and business owners are ready for a banner year on area lakes.
"The water levels are back up to normal as opposed to last year, where the lakes were way down," said captain Steve Moore, of Tow Boat U.S. on Lake Lewisville. "I think there's a lot of pent-up demand for boating, for recreational boating, and people are going to be out here in full force."
The Lewisville Fire Department predicts a lot more boaters on the water this year.
"Everybody's had their boats in the houses and still in the driveway due to the drought conditions and the lakes being low in the past years, so everybody's gearing up and ready to get those boats wet," Capt. Steve Carter said.
Sneaky Pete's Restaurant at Eagle Point Marina has been adding staff to gear up for the long Memorial Day weekend.
"I'm hoping for record crowds," David Simmons said. "I think it's going to be very good compared to prior years. ... I think people are ready for summer."
Sneaky's normally seat between 3,000 and 5,000 people each day during a normal summer weekend but expects nearly 10,000 each day this weekend.
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"I really think it's going to be a great summer," Simmons said.
"As we ended last summer, the lake levels dropped drastically, and a lot of lakes were actually closed," Simmons said. "This year, we're starting the summer out with a very good level and it -- the lake -- looks healthy."
Confidence on Lake Lewisville is so high that Steve Moore is starting his own business this summer. TourPartyCove.Com offers water taxi rides to Lake Lewisville's party cove.
"Absolutely it's risk, but it's a job, so to speak, that I love, so it's worth the risk," he said.
