Many peoples’ live changed July 24, 2010, when the Lake Delhi dam burst and left a small stream of water where a river once flowed. For the past six years, residents of the lake have waited eagerly for its return.

Senior Devon Craig hung out with friends all summer until the breach of the dam. For the past six years, however, he never paid a visit.

“I have been back on the dam many times since it got refilled,” Craig said. “It’s a good time out there.” Craig enjoys jet skiing, tubing, and swimming on the lake.

People of all ages enjoy jumping off Engine Joe, a 25 foot tall rock formation.

“The most memorable thing was definitely diving off of the rock,” Craig said. “People think it’s still pretty scary, but the rock itself is awesome.”

Sophomore Hayley Cook and her family purchased a cabin on the lake about two years ago.

“I was disappointed at first because we had a cabin with no water,” Cook said. Her neighbors had dirt bikes though and would go riding in the dried area where the lake had once been.

Cook was thrilled with the lake’s return.

“We tube and swim on the lake, and I go and jump off the rock, Engine Joe,” Cook said.

She especially enjoyed their 9-mile trek to see everyone’s cabins. “It was pretty cool to see all the differences (renovations) they made and how much they spent on (them),” Cook said.

Paris Schaul (11) lives right on Lake Delhi and experienced the flood first hand. The dam broke when she was ten, but she didn’t realize the water would not return at first. Soon after the flood, Schaul moved to a different town, and within a year, she moved back to her lake house.

“I was really sad that the water wasn’t back,” Schaul said. “I really enjoyed boating and swimming with my dogs.”

She started to lose hope of the water ever returning but made the best of the situation.

“We would go four-wheeling and go swimming in the clear stream waters and catch minnows,” Schaul said.

Remembering all the fun times on the lake delighted Schaul as she went boating for the first time since the return of the water. “Seeing how everything changed and waving to everyone as we pass each other was all just an amazing time,” Schaul said.

Schaul was grateful when she could finally return to the water. “It was like going through your attic and finding your favorite toy you had as a child and just remembering all the good times and laughter,” Schaul said.