Iowa Harley Dealership Returns Home After Spring Flooding
In honor of the surrounding community, Loess Hills Harley-Davidson has a new motto: ‘Rise Up and Ride On.’
Since mid-March, the Great Plains states of the Midwest have been dealing with flooding from the Missouri and, to a lesser extent, Mississippi rivers, thanks a to combination of heavy snowfall over the winter, and a sudden rise in temperature plus a 1.5-inch of rainfall over a three-day period in early March. Nebraska and Iowa were among the states hit hardest by the flooding, including 30 levee failures, and the collapse of the Spencer Dam hydroelectric dam.
The flooding affected more than a few businesses, of course, including Loess Hills Harley-Davidson in Pacific Junction, Iowa. Omaha, Nebraska ABC affiliate KETV-TV has the story of the dealer’s escape from the floods, and its triumphant return months later.
“I remember the day vividly standing on [U.S. Highway] 34 looking down at what looked like an ocean to me, and the devastation… it was heart-wrenching,” said Loess Hills Harley-Davidson general manager Dan Roland.
The dealership evacuated to nearby Glenwood, where it continued business as usual with the help of the town’s community. Meanwhile, the floods plus flood-related interstate closures kept Roland and his crew away from home up until the last full week of June, when they were finally able to return to build anew.
“It’s bittersweet,” Roland said. “It’s tough driving by all these businesses and all this devastation, but we’re here and open and we’re going to do what we can to give back.”
In honor of the community’s support and their triumphant return to their home, Loess Hills Harley now has a new motto: ‘Rise Up and Ride Out.’ The dealership has had a banner made with the new motto, which will be on permanent display. Roland says he’s asking anyone who buys a Harley from his showroom to sign the banner, with the goal of collecting 100 signatures.
“We wanted to say 2019 was the best year,” said Glen McCoy, who is the 47th customer to sign the banner. “It was kind of the worst year, but at the same time it was the best year. It brought everybody together, community, employees, everybody and that was huge.”
Loess Hills Harley-Davidson recently celebrated the Fourth of July back in their Iowa home, and are hard at work preparing for its annual ‘Rally in the Hills’ gathering, set for July 19 through 21. The gathering was originally planned for May 3 through 5 before the floods took up residence.
Photos: KETV-TV
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