WISCONSIN DELLS — The popular Tommy Bartlett show, after nearly seven decades of entertainment, will permanently close due to business loss from the coronavirus pandemic.
The owners of the water-ski, sky and stage show made the decision to temporarily close the attraction in May for the Summer 2020 season.
They had hoped for a possibility of reopening next summer for the Show’s 70th season, but that has changed.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the Tommy Bartlett Show will not be able to make a comeback in 2021 as we had hoped, said Tom Diehl, president and co-owner of the Tommy Bartlett Show. “After 69 years, we are permanently shutting the business. From May through September 6, we experienced a complete loss of revenue when we had to cancel our 2020 summer season on Lake Delton due to the pandemic.”
When the Show closed in the summer, 115 seasonal employees lost their job.
The permanent closure will not affect, at this time, the small staff of seven year-round employees of Tommy Bartlett, Inc.
The company’s year-round attraction, the Tommy Bartlett Exploratory, will remain open.