Leader Staff
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Before the order was lifted Friday, Annie’s Campground had to close its inflatable water park, disappointing customers and hurting business.
State health officials have allowed a Shawano County campground operator to reopen an inflatable water park that had raised regulatory concerns.
Annie’s Campground, located near Gresham in the town of Seneca, received a letter Friday from the state Department of Health Services informing her that a cease-and-desist order was being lifted.
The health department had imposed the order earlier this summer because of concerns that the inflatable water park was an improper unlicensed swimming pool. In lifting the order, state health officials called the water park a “specific and unique water attraction.”
Campground owner Ann Retzlaff purchased the large inflatable attraction for $14,000 from China, and she objected loudly that state health officials were prohibiting campground visitors from enjoying it.
Although state officials said they were still reviewing the situation, Friday’s notice allowed Annie’s Campground to reopen the water park for the busy Labor Day weekend crowd.