Iconic Wisconsin Dells Attraction Announces It's Closing for Good

I mean have you ever really been to the Wisconsin Dells if you haven't seen this attraction?

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Every summer for as long as I remember we went to see the Tommy Bartlett Water Show in the Dells. After almost 70 years, the famous Wisconsin attraction is calling it quits. For good.

Back in May, 2020 decision makers at the show put the event on hold because, well, everything was canceled or put on hold because of the coronavirus. At the time, organizers thought they'd be back bigger than ever next year.

The announcement was made Wednesday. The show's not coming back. Ever. Here's what the president and co-owner said according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal:

"This is not something we wanted to do," said Tom Diehl, president and co-owner of the Tommy Bartlett Show. "But in business, you have to make decisions separate from emotions."

I think I saw the show for the first time back in the early 70s and went again in the 80s and 90s because it was always a new show. This feels like someone's stealing my childhood.

Thank you, coronavirus for ruining one more thing for us.

From May through September 6, we experienced a complete loss of revenue when we had to cancel our 2020 summer season on Lake Delton due to the pandemic," Diehl said in the announcement.

According to the article, Diehl and his wife, Margaret, became co-owners with Tommy Bartlett in 1975. When Bartlett died in 1998 at 84, the Diehls took full ownership. Diehl's daughter planned to take over the business after her father.

"The Tommy Bartlett Show has been a staple of our community for nearly 70 years and they will be dearly missed by both residents and loyal visitors," the Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau, Inc. said in a statement. "We wish them all the best."

They will be missed indeed.