Elephant Butte seeing fewer visitors this Memorial Day

PLACE TO CELEBRATE THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY THE WEATHER MAY BE KEEPING A LOT OF PEOPLE AT HOME PARK OFFICIALS ESTIMATE ATTENDANCE DROPPED BY AT LEAST TEN THOUSAND VISITORS COMPARED TO MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND LAST YEAR VALERIE CASTRO HAS THE STORY FROM ELEPHANT BUTTE There hasn t been that many people i m surprised I guess because of the weather Yes but it s rough and I do mean rough IT S THE UN- OFFICIAL KICK OFF TO SUMMER BUT GRAY SKIES AND CHOPPY WATER MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO ELEPHANT BUTTE THIS YEAR Last year we had about 90 thousand people this year i m going to say between 75 and 80 thousand I think a little less Less people here this year and I guess it has to do with the weather its kind of cloudy and the water is a little bit choppy out there so STATE PARK OFFICIALS SAY THEY DON T MIND SEEING FEWER VISITORS CONSIDERING THEY HAVE FEWER EMPLOYEES THAN LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF SOME JOB VACANCIES We re short handed that s for sure but I don t think it affects us SO FAR THEY VE HAD TO RESPOND TO A COUPLE OF BOAT ACCIDENTS ALEX VALLEJOS TELLS US HIS WIFE HAD A CLOSE CALL ON A JET SKI SATURDAY A boat came up from the side and clipped her and wrapped her up in the rope and I had to rush over there and help her FORTUNATELY SHE WASN T SERIOUSLY HURT Actually we re going to load up my baja and take it down to the lake and try to have some more fun OTHER VISITORS SAY DESPITE THE LESS THAN PERFECT WEATHER THEY RE ENJOYING THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND It rained a lot but we had two wonderful days of boating out all day Yea pretty cold for this time of year but it s beautiful VALERIE CASTRO EWN4 OFFICERS ARE ON PATROL AT ELEPHANT BUTTE LAKE TO CRACK DOWN ON UNDERAGE DRINKING AND TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS STAYING SAFE AT THE LAKE