JEFFERSONVILLE, IN (WAVE)- Its not what we want to see; The Ohio River continues to rise and it doesn't look like things are going to get any better anytime soon.
A muddy mess from the rising Ohio River is not what people and business owners that usually have prime seating in grassy areas along the river want to see less than 72 hours until Thunder Over Louisville.
In Jeffersonville, Indiana, the tents are pitched and the seating arrangements are set at several riverside restaurants, for Thunder Over Louisville
Hal Rogers is the General Manager of Kingfish Grill in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
"We're sold out inside. We do buffets inside and downstairs. We have a public tent out back with the buffet," He said.
Both Kingfish Grill and Buckhead Mountain Grill sold tickets to watch Thunder on riverbank areas.
Kelly Leonardo is the event coordinator for Buckhead.
The river is mere feet away from her tent covered seating area. They've already sold more than 500 tickets for it.
"That has not been affected in any way by the water rising," Leonardo said "What it has done, it's come up on the lawn a little bit, but we still have a lot of lawn space. luckily, we're on a nice slope here."
But after this week's rain, there's one problem, the Ohio River is rising.
That's something Hal Rogers, General Manager of Kingfish Grill is watching closely.
"Basically, we're kinda wondering what everybody's going to do," Rogers said "As far as everything...the lawn over (the river) across from us is shutting down. The one down the street is shutting down."
High water forced the City of Jeffersonville to close the banks of Riverside Drive. Potentially blocking hundreds of seats for Thunder. Which means the crowd will have move down the road, which could help area businesses.
"I would hope that they would be calling," Leonardo said "Our phones are definitely very busy right now. We're taking reservations every second of the day today."
Clarksville PD says because the Ohio river is so high, George Rogers Clark park on Harrison Avenue in Clarksville will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians for Thunder Over Louisville on Saturday.
The closest Thunder watchers in Clarksville will be able to get to the Ohio River bank during the air and fireworks show will be along Riverside Drive.
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Hal Rogers
Kelly Leonardo
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