Management of the Last Chance Saloon and Rosedeer Hotel are confident the icon of the valley will be up and running this weekend despite the flood damage caused by the Rosebud River.
The Mandatory Evacuation Order for Wayne and the residents along Highway 10X has been lifted. Manager of the Last Chance Saloon, Paula Sutherland, says it appears the damages to their property have been limited to its dance floor and patio area. The building remains intact.
“The patio has been under water for six days. Our dance floor has completely heaved,” she said. ‘There is so much silt all over, it looks like the beach now.”
Their major concern, however, is their water and wastewater system.
“We are on well water, so we need to have that professionally checked out. Because we are not on town water and town sewer,” she said, adding that they will need approval from an AHS health inspector before they are able to use their water systems.
Sutherland says they have a large booking this weekend, and will have to resort to using disposables such as paper plates, but nonetheless, they should be good to go. They are also making sure rocks and debris left by the river are cleared up.
Since word spread that the Last Chance Saloon was under the threat of flooding, Sutherland says they have received great support.
“The nice thing about it, is we have received such an outpouring from musicians, the motorcycle family, and visitors who have been here, all offering support to come out for a day and push a rake and clean up what needs to be done,” she said.
