CHENEY ? A year after a storm ripped through the Cheney State Park, damaging boats, cabins and the marina, signs of the disaster are gone – but the boaters are not back in full force yet.

The storm hit the park on July 3, 2005, causing an estimated $10 million to $15 million in private property damage.

One of the hardest hit areas was Snyder’s Marina on Cheney Reservoir, which sustained about $750,000 in damage, said co-owner Tammera Snyder.

The storm totaled the marina’s three large docks, which each held 24 boat slips.

Tammera Snyder and her husband, Dennis, along with two full-time employees, spent the fall, winter and spring rebuilding the uncovered boat docks, while a factory built the covered docks.

“Usually, in the winter we take on boat mechanics and longer jobs – the things that bring in the income,” Tammera Snyder said. “Not this winter. We couldn’t take on any long-term projects because we were rebuilding.”

The time invested has paid off, she said.

Patrons whose boats weren’t destroyed or covered by insurance returned in March to brand-new docks, she said, and some new customers have come to the marina.

But some boat slips remain open.

Last year at this time, the marina was about 97 percent full. This year, it’s about 60 percent full, she said.

“We had so many boats totaled and not replaced,” Snyder said. “We have some who said they’ll come back as soon as they find a boat.”

Cheney State Park manager Jody Schwartz said the park’s structures weren’t seriously damaged but trees throughout the park were knocked down. Last year’s reports estimated park building damages ranging from $3,000 to $4,000.

Wichita resident Mark Prickett was at the lake during last year’s storm and left just 30 minutes before the fierce winds hit.

He said the park is different this year.

“The trees are bare,” Prickett said. “There’s no shade. We’re paying a premium price and getting no shade. I’m sitting here cooking – but it’s been fixed up quite a bit.”

Bill Kent, also from Wichita, said he thought the park looked much nicer.

Although the Kents’ boat wasn’t damaged last year, he’s not taking any chances this summer.

“We take it home,” he said. “We don’t trust Kansas storms.”