Yeah...I can't see too many people wanting to run a part-time seasonal business like that. I mean think of the hours. I don't remember what times he opened and closed but figure Friday night late until Sunday maybe mid-day and Tuesday night late until mid-day Wednesday. And then the BS you'd have to go through now just to sell a box of shells (background checks) and to be a DFW "license agent". I also can't see someone that wants to hunt running it either because you wouldn't be able to run the place and go out hunting at the same time. And add to that, unless you want a long commute to work, where you'd have to choose from to live to be fairly close to the place. Not really the garden spot of the state. Maybe someone would want to just do a catering truck to supply food and drink but I'm not so sure any more than that would be worth it.
Having put in my fair share of sleepless hours running that place & knowing all that my Grandpa put into it for over 40 years, it will take a special kind of person to step into that role.
Most on here only know Frank & Marilyn Bailey, who did a great job carrying on the service that Max started in 1965. It worked out well for the Bailey's but & they worked hard to make it profitable. Frank worked a full time job at IID & did most all of the ordering & dealing with the State, DFW & local entities (health dept., etc.) to keep things above board. Marilyn did a lot as well & made it possible for Frank to hunt when his work schedule allowed. Living in Niland made it a convenient commute but as you all know, the hours worked weren't much to be desired.
Contrast that with my Grandpa. He was the City Clerk of San Clemente until he retired in 1985. So for 20 years he saved up all his vacation time & took off every Friday of the season & picked up supplies on his drive over from San Clemente. He would open up around 6:00pm, not sleep at all Friday night, close up when the last group got out, then he would rush out to hunt himself. He would hunt all day Saturday,, work again til 11:00, get a few hours sleep then open up again at 2:30 am Sunday, hunt again & drive home Sunday night. It's a miracle he never fell asleep & drove off the road. For many years a lady from Niland, Aggie Reynolds, would work for him during the day on Saturdays & Sundays so he could hunt. She would actually come in early if needed around 4:30 or 5:00 so Max could have time to out oit decoys & build a blind like we all do. Because he couldn't make it during the week due to his City Clerk job, Aggie would open up Tuesday night, work till 10:30 or 11:00, then come back to open on Wednesdays at 2:30 am & work all day. It was only after Max retired that he moved down there for the entire season & was then able to hunt on Wednesdays. He still commuted from San Clemente & later from Vista, until he chose to be down there for most of the season. He had other women work the dsy shift over the years so he could hunt. Whenever I came down, we would work as a team. He appreciated not doing it all by himself & especially as he got older & it got harder for him, I worked longer & he got to sleep more. But, I couldn't make it as often as I used to & eventually it got to hard for him & that when he was able to sell it to The Bailey's.
Its not going to be the same without it & I hope that rare person can step in & make it happen again. Food trucks could help with supplying food & drinks but there will be a big hole in not having the convenience of purchasing refuge passes, ammo, & most any other hunting supplies you would need to hunt out there. All of that & the loss of these smiling faces (couldn't find a pic of Frank) who served so many not because they were there to make a buck, but because they truly loved the sport of waterfowling & the comaraderie comes with it.
