THE MORE, THE MERRIER

By Beth Underwood

“It’s always so nice and clean here, and everybody is so friendly.”

Summers on the lake are an integral part of life for Cincinnati family

More than a decade ago, Rick and Maureen Marschall started coming to Dale Hollow Lake with their six boys.

Fourteen years later, the trips to Dale Hollow Lake have become a staple of every summer. Beginning the first of June and continuing through Labor Day each year, the family makes the four-hour trip from Cincinnati to Starpoint Resort every other weekend, staying from Wednesday through Sunday.

Now that their boys are grown with families of their own, the group has grown by leaps and bounds. The typical Marschall family outings are 24 strong, including their sons’ spouses and the grandchildren (a twelfth grandchild is expected in February). Add in extended family members and friends, and the usual tally rises to about 30.

Of note? All the grandchildren are under the age of

six.

“We start them young,” Maureen said. “One made the trip down at five days old.”

That means it’s not uncommon to find a bassinet — sometimes two — on their pontoon.

No doubt such early exposure to Dale Hollow Lake can foster a lifelong appreciation, but it’s also requisite to their way of life

“We’re very safety conscious,” Maureen added, noting they start them out learning to swim when they start to crawl.

Now the older of the grandchildren are already surfing.

“That’s my favorite thing,” she said.

Their typical days start assembly line fashion with a big breakfast. Next it’s time to clean up and make lunch.

“We lather up all the kids with sunscreen, top them off with a life jacket and head out on the water for the day by 10 or 11 each morning,” Maureen said. “We’re home for dinner about 6 and often back out on the water again after dinner.”

Once they’re on shore for the duration, they settle in around a fire, roast a few hot dogs and call it a day.

And the next day? Rinse, lather, repeat.

Although they have that part down to an art, there’s a lot of advanced planning involved, including reserving their spaces at the campground up to a year or more in advance.

“We almost always have the same spots,” Maureen said. “It’s always so nice and clean here, and everybody is so friendly.

With more than two dozen people to feed, planning also extends to meal prep.

Maureen said she supplies the food and does most of the cooking unless the guys are grilling, and her kids bring the drinks.

Juggling the needs of a couple dozen or more people may not always be easy, but as long as the Marschall family is at Dale Hollow, nothing else seems to matter.

“We have so much fun even if it’s raining cats and dogs,” Maureen said. “As long as it’s not lightning, the kids can play in puddles and ride their bikes, while a parent or grandparent keeps watch under the cover of an umbrella.

If the last fourteen years are any indication, this family will be enjoying the lake for many years to come.

“No one ever complains while we’re here, and no one ever wants to go home early,” Maureen said “We all love it here.”