Posted: Sat, 29 May 2010 07:47 AM - 13,049 Readers

By: Catenya McHenry

Donna Garrison's White Cliff lake front condos sat silent last year. Most of her one- three bedroom rentals spent days, nights, holidays and much of the summer watching little happen on Lake Travis.

"All we had was cancellation calls because no one could get their boats in unless they had a four-wheel drive vehicle and a small boat," says Austin Lakeside Properties agent Donna Garrison. "So rentals were very, very few and far between.

Many remember the dismal disappointing scene on Lake Travis last year. Very little water left sand bars popping up all over the lake. Boaters and visitors were advised to just leave their boats parked at home.

"This is why so many businesses fail on the lake," says Donna. "Because if you have a flood one year and a drought the next, it's very easy if youve not well established to have a hard time hanging in there."

Donna Wilson and her family drive in, pulling their boat from Houston on most Memorial Day weekends. Last year was disappointing.

"We didn't come  last year because we couldn't launch our boat, says vacationer Donna Wilson. "I had talked to Donna several times and she said the launch was closed and that we couldn't launch."

This year, things have made a complete turn about on the lake.

"This year, we're 100% booked, the phones are ringing, and it couldn't be better," says Donna Garrison. "Things are better looking in the stock market; that always helps the phones to ring and we're also looking forward to getting some Gulf Coast business later this summer."

Donna Garrison has been in the vacation rental property business for the last 23 years. Drought has dried up her business off and on throughout the years. This year she and her business owner friends along Lake Travis finally have a summer season they can look forward to. 4th of July  and Aqua Palooza are just around the corner. Two events that Donna is expecting to see lots of lake goers.

"All the businesses on the lake are very excited about having all the business," says Donna. "We deserve it after several years of droughts and floods."