OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Campers and trailers have had to make a temporary home outside of the EAA grounds in Oshkosh. The grounds are too muddy to let people in, according to EAA staff.
One woman has been camping on the side of the road since Saturday evening.
“Somebody came down about an hour later and said they weren’t letting anybody in because of the water, so they told us we could just pull over to the side and camp here,” Shelley Jensen, who came from Canada said.
The line of cars on Waukau Ave. just outside the EAA grounds stretched for miles Sunday afternoon. People unable to get in said they wished there was more communication from EAA staff.
“I’m a little concerned because it looks like nothing’s moving,” Caroline Herndon from Virginia said.
“And here we are… and I’m just wondering how long it’s going to take before we actually get in there.”
EAA is waiting for campsites to dry before letting people in, according to staff.
“We had five inches of rain in less than 24 hours here on the grounds,” Dick Knapinski, the Director of Communications for EAA said.
“For the campers driving in, we can’t take the large units in yet simply because they’re too heavy. Some of the roads are so muddy we’re waiting for those to dry out so they can get in.”
One of those heavy trailers belongs to Doug Hancock.
“My RV got stuck three different times getting in here,” Hancock said.
“Getting our campsite set up after that and dealing with the soggy conditions… there’s no traction. It’s like walking on egg goo out there right now. It’s just very, very slippery.”
EAA has volunteers using tractors to pull stuck campers out of the mud.
Hancock said he’s happy with the help EAA has provided.
For now, everyone who has been slipping and sliding in the mud– and those unable to get in, are hoping it dries up soon.
