HAZEN BAY - Summer just got a little sweeter for lake lovers.

They can hang all weekend at Hazen Bay on Lake Sakakawea and not have to run to town for any little old thing summer requires, like minnows or marshmallows or Miller Lite.

Hazen Bay Express had a grand opening Friday, serving grilled hot dogs - nothing better on a soft, Sweetheart bun - and ice-cold sodas on the deck overlooking the blue lake and a big blue sky.

A recreation bay where use and camping have grown tremendously now has convenience items and will soon have gasoline at the pump, besides.

The bay development has been a longtime project of the Hazen Parks and Recreation Board, under a lease from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Park board member Gary Emter said the construction of the convenience store, which also has a toilet and shower annex, is the board's last major project, at least for some time.

The park board has steadily planted trees, added camping spots and now has in excess of 50 spots, many of which sell out on a summer-long, seasonal basis.

A recent and important project was relocating the boat ramp out into the "big water," to ensure ramp access during these years of low water.

Hazen Bay Express is operated by the Mel and Bea Roth family, which operate Tesoro Hiway Express and Subway in Hazen.

The businesses catch a lot of campers on their way to Hazen Bay, which is 15 miles north of town on pavement the whole way.

The store at the lake will save many people a trip back to town, a double convenience with gas prices vaulting 15 cents a gallon Friday morning alone.

Steve Borlaug, a family member, said Hazen Bay Express will open early and close late until Labor Day, possibly longer, to catch campers who need supplies when they head out on the water and when they come back in.

He said they're talking about putting horseshoe pits and a volleyball net in a grassy area in front of the store's deck and maybe bringing in music, from time to time.

The Express has a liquor license for soft-sell beer and wine, but not hard liquor, and Borlaug said he hopes people will get into the habit of gathering on the deck on nice summer evenings.

Granted, Emter's a little biased, given all the labor he and other park board members have donated over the years to Hazen Bay.

"It's turned into one of the nicest spots on the south side of the lake," he said.

(Reach reporter Lauren Donovan at 888-303-5511, or lauren@;westriv.com.)