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Waushara County

Waushara County Attractions

Once the home of woodland Indians whose earthen mounds still mystify and impress all who view them, the southeastern border of Waushara County lies along an ancient Native American river road that flowed from Canada through the Great Lakes to the Fox River, over a short land passage at present day Portage to the Wisconsin River and down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico.

Discovered by French explorers in the 16th century, the abundance of fur bearing animals in the area and its proximity to the Fox-Wisconsin River route attracted French fur traders who established a flourishing business with the resident natives. In about 1686, French agent Nicholas Perrot claimed this area and all of the land west of the Great Lakes as French Territory.

Wrested from the French by the British in the 18th century French and Indian War, ownership of the land was ceded to the United States government by the Indians in the late 1830's. By the late 1840's Waushara County was dotted with farming communities centered about small villages and hamlets located along former military roads and logging trails at creek and river crossings. Most of these early farm settlements featured a church and a few commercial establishments - gristmills, sawmills, stage houses and taverns with overnight accommodations for horses, riders, passengers and drivers.

In the 1880's Waushara County experienced a sudden economic boom resulting from arrival of the railroad and discovery of a huge deposit of red granite underlying the southeastern corner of the county. Production of this much sought after building and paving material brought skilled stone cutters from around the world and eastern quarry workers and their families to settle here. Seemingly overnight, houses, stores, hotels, taverns, cobblers shops, livery stables, blacksmith shops, and even opera houses sprung up in the stonecutting centers of Berlin and Sand Prairie (fittingly renamed Redgranite in 1904). The boom ended in the 1920's when concrete replaced stone as the nation's preferred paving material. With the demise of the quarry industry, the county's agricultural and tourism industries grew to become the area's principal revenue generators.

Shaped by the last great glacier and its meltwaters, the county's varied terrain serves up a variety of wildlife habitats; forest, prairie, rolling hills, glacial moraines, rushing cold water streams, gently flowing rivers, glacial ponds and spring fed lakes. The fur-bearing animals that first attracted French explorers and fur traders - fox, beaver, otter and muskrat are still abundant here, along with whitetail deer, rabbits, squirrels, game birds, raptors, waterfowl and recovering cranes, swans, songbirds, butterflies, frogs and reptiles.

Waushara County is one of Wisconsin's most popular hunting, fishing, swimming, boating, skiing, snowmobiling and family recreation destinations. Its 407,680 acres includes 7,200 acres of water including more than 100 lakes, over 150 miles of sparkling trout streams and 162,000 acres of woodland and forest. It has over 300 miles of snowmobile trails including the seven-mile long Bannerman Trail stretching from Redgranite to State Highway 73 north of Neshkoro. It also has a Nordic Ski Hill for downhill skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of cross-country ski trails and 2,000 miles of rural roads perfect for cycling.

Hunters have more than 7,000 acres of public hunting land in Waushara County and an abundance of game to challenge their skills including whitetail deer, pheasant, grouse and squirrels. Fishing is another all-season activity in Waushara County. The county is especially known for its great trout fishing on the Pine River, Mecan River, White River and Willow Creek. The State Fish Hatchery at Wild Rose produced two state record Brown Trout, both weighing over 35 lbs.

Water lovers enjoy swimming, sailing, water-skiing, canoeing and boating on the county's waters. There are more than 30 public access/boating sites in Waushara County; and, for a leisurely cruise, there's a sternwheeler waiting at nearby Clear Water Harbor on the Chain O'Lakes.

Golf enthusiasts will find 73 holes to play in Waushara County, including three of the state's top nine, with exquisite landscaping, hilltop views of rolling terrain, vast woods, sloped greens, dog legs, sand traps, spring fed ponds, imported boulder backdrops and water hazards. Course amenities include the best; gracious club houses, lounges, dining facilities and practice ranges. Miniature golfers can test their putting skills at two different area courses, and bowlers will find five great bowling centers to choose from in Waushara County.

History buffs enjoy visiting the county's many museums, historical sites, gracious 19th century homes and commercial buildings, while avid nature lovers enjoy trekking through the county's unique and diverse ecosystems.

The county's many antique dealers, collectible, gift and specialty stores invite browsers to explore their inventory of historic and recent one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime acquisitions. Locally handmade Amish furniture, quilts, art and craft works are also available in home and community outlets.

Waushara County's cafes, restaurants, supper clubs, taverns, inns, resort and motel dining rooms, and fast food outlets offer a variety of menus served in settings ranging from tables under the stars to candlelit continental elegance. Whether you crave a pub burger and fries, authentic Italian, steaks, chops, ribs, fresh-caught trout almandine or exquisite continental cuisine, you will find it done just the way you like it, served in style by people who enjoy pleasing your palate.

Waushara County visitors also enjoy a wide range of lodging accommodations including walk-in tent sites, full service RV Parks and Resorts, housekeeping cottages for two or two families, luxurious and historic bed and breakfast inns, golf resorts, and motels.

Waushara County - conveniently close by and one of Wisconsin's most popular family, recreational and sporting destinations!
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Museums and Historic Sites

Berlin Historical Society Museum
111 S. Adams St., Berlin, WI
(920) 361-2460
Strolling through the museum's displays you will see Nathan Strong's discovery of the Fox River site where he established Strong's Landing, later renamed Berlin; walk through a general store and millinery shop; sit down and enjoy slides of Berlin as it was in yesteryear in an old-time theater setting.

Clark Schoolhouse
Riverside Park, Berlin
(920) 361-2460
Down at Riverside Park stands a little white schoolhouse with the name of Clark over the door. The school began in about 1863 and was moved to its present location in 1963. Inside, you can still smell chalk and imagine the presence of children. On the walls are pictures of parents, teachers and children of years long gone by.

Quarry Park
Redgranite
In the late 1800's a local trader discovered an abundant supply of red granite in the small farming community then called Sand Prairie. In 1889, a group of businessmen from Berlin purchased the George C. Kronk farm and established the Sand Prairie quarry at that site. The lucrative quarry work attracted stone cutters from around the world to craft the hard red stone into paving blocks, much in demand for street construction in the nation's growing cities. The burgeoning granite industry brought about a building boom in Sand Prairie. Population soared to the thousands. In 1904, the people of Sand Prairie renamed the town for its major industry, Redgranite. Enriched by the quarry work, the prosperous village grew to include hotels, stores, livery stables, blacksmith shops and even an opera house. When, in the 1920's, cement became the principal paving material, demand for paving blocks quickly diminished. By 1925 only a skeleton crew remained at the quarry fashioning stone blocks for use as cemetery monuments. The Great Depression put an end to the quarry business, and the quarry closed in 1931. Over the years, the old quarry filled with water and became a popular attraction for swimming and scuba diving. In 1971, red granite was adopted the official state rock by the State Legislature. In 1995, the quarry site was designated as a village park. Remains of some of the old quarry works can still be seen from the walking path that encircles the quarry pit.

Woodland Indian Mounds
Whistler Mounds Park, Hancock
Tourists flock to Hancock for a close look at ancient Native American mounds. These historic earthen structures are found in Whistler Mounds Park on Sixth Avenue along the western shore of Fish Lake adjacent to the Hancock Village Park Campgrounds. Constructed by the Woodland Indians during the period 650 - 1200 A.D., these mounds were mapped by archeologists in 1916 and are registered in the National Register of Historic Places. A publication describing all of the mound sites in Waushara County is available at the Hancock Public Library.

Hancock Public Library
112 S. Main St., Hancock
715-249-5817
The Hancock Public Library is housed in a fully restored, historic firehouse featuring an impressive large arched front window, accented by a handsome brick exterior. The Library houses a complete collection of Waushara County Newspapers and census records dating back to the 1850's.

Pioneer Museum
Main Street, Wild Rose
Take a trip back in time at the Pioneer Museum in Wild Rose. Maintained by the Wild Rose Historical Society, the extensive complex houses many unique treasures. The starting point is the Elisha and Jane Stewart home located on Main Street. Built in 1884, each room of this charming Victorian-era home is furnished and decorated as it was originally. Pioneer Hall, also located on Main Street, once housed a bank and a drug store. Exhibits within this structure include antique dolls, old photographs and newspaper clippings that tell the story of this once bustling little town. Entering the courtyard, visitors will be transported back to another century. A country school, built in 1894, has been restored and authentically furnished. The barn holds implements used in felling forests, breaking the land, planting, cultivating and harvesting crops. A cobbler's bench is also on exhibit. Adjacent to the barn is a blacksmith shop where tools and implements were once forged. In the carriage house visitors will find a milk wagon, horse-drawn sleigh and cart. Museum tours are available from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. on Wednesdays and Saturdays from mid-June through Labor Day. Special group tours by advance arrangement.

Waushara County Museum
Saint Marie St., Wautoma
Feel the past gather about you at the Waushara County Museum. Housed in the old County Jail, the Museum's collections include antique furniture, clothing, artifacts, memorabilia, documents and more. The old sheriff's living quarters, consisting of nine rooms and hallways, are now complete with various exhibits such as a school room, bedroom, war room, country store, kitchen, parlor, jail office and more. The cell section, which consists of eight rooms and a hallway also has a number of exhibits, including old tools, office equipment and railroad relics. The jail cells in this two-story section remain, as they were at the turn of the twentieth century, complete with steel bars and cell doors.
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Parks and Nature Centers

Mecan River Discovery Center
W3287 Dixie Ave., Wautoma
920-787-0842
The Mecan River Discovery Center provides an exciting and educational hands-on opportunity for individuals and groups interested in wildlife, nature and outdoor skills. Here, families can get away, slow down, relax and discover the rich habitat and wildlife within and along the shores of the Mecan River. The center offers canoe and tubing trips, rustic, open bunkhouse cabins, restroom/shower facilities, fire pits and wildlife river adventure.

Waushara County Parks
Waushara County
920-787-7037
From a quiet picnic at Curtis Lake on a warm summer day to cross-country skiing along the rolling hills at Kusel Lake County Park on a crisp winter morning, Waushara County Parks offer four seasons of outdoor fun. Waushara County maintains 14 park properties including 11 parks, a shooting range, County Fairgrounds and the seven-mile Bannerman hiking and snowmobile trail. Parks vary in size from 377-acre Mt. Morris Hills to-the One-acre Willow Creek Park. Each provides unique opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Mt. Morris Hills County Park is the largest and most popular park in the County system . It offers spectacular viewing from 300 feet above the surrounding countryside. Fall colors bring many sightseers to the top of the "mountain." Facilities include a softball diamond, tennis courts, horseshoes, children's play equipment, shelter house and restrooms.

Willow Creek County Park, located 1 3/4 miles east of STH 152 in Mt. Morris on CTH W, provides walk-in access to Willow Creek, a Class A trout stream. In winter, this is a popular cross-country ski area.

Otto Brey County Park is located in eastern Waushara County in the Auroraville Millpond. Facilities include picnic shelter, boat launch, playground equipment, softball diamond, volleyball, basketball, horseshoes and restrooms.

Marl Lake County Park provides access to the lake's most popular fishing and swimming spot. Amenities include a shelter house, boat landing, restrooms. Located 5 1/2 miles west of Wautoma on Cty. Hwy. C and 1/4 mile north on 12th Avenue in the Town of Deerfield, this 24-acre park provides room for exploration and nature study.

Pony Creek County Park is located on Lake Poygan in eastern Waushara County where carry-in canoe access, swimming and shoreline fishing are the main attractions. The park is equipped with restrooms, shelter house, and canoe launch.

Lake Alpine County Park is located on a 66-acre man-made lake constructed in 1971. The 15-acre park provides lake access and 1,900 feet of shoreline and earthen dam structure. With restrooms, shelter house, volleyball court and play equipment, Lake Alpine is a popular swimming and picnic spot.

Kusel Lake County Park has long been a favorite for swimming, sunbathing, nature walks and soft water fishing in summer; and cross-country skiing and hard water fishing in winter. Located in North Central Waushara County on the eastern shore of shallow, sandy bottomed Kusel Lake, this park provides two shelter houses, restrooms, tennis and volleyball courts, children's play equipment and a nature trail. In winter, this park is the trailhead for nearly nine miles of cross country ski trails.

Other Waushara County Parks located on Big Hills Lake, Lake Huron and Curtis Lake all provide lake access, picnic facilities and restrooms. Any of these lakes could easily become your own "secret" fishing spot.
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Points of Interest

Springwater Volunteer Bridge
Cty. Hwy A & Portage Rd., Saxeville
Nestled over picturesque Pine River, just one mile west of the tiny village of Saxeville, is the nation's newest covered bridge. Built by volunteers to replace a 70 year-old condemned concrete structure, the 40-ft. long, one-lane bridge is located on Covered Bridge Road, a shortcut between Cty. Hwy. A and Portage Road.

Wild Rose Fish Hatchery
St. Hwy. 22, North of Wild Rose
The State of Wisconsin's Wild Rose Fish Hatchery is the state's largest cold water hatchery, raising approximately 1.2 million Chinook Salmon and one million Brown Trout per year. This hatchery produced the two largest Brown Trout ever caught in Wisconsin. The largest weighed in at 35.12 lbs. and the "little one" weighed 35.11 lbs.! Brown Trout broodstock are available for viewing. In addition, the hatchery raises Spotted Muskies, Northern Pike and Lake Sturgeon. These species are easily startled and stressed and are not open to public viewing. The hatchery is open to the public 365 days per year from 8:00 am.-4:00 pm. weekdays and 8:00 am.-3:00 pm. weekends.

Cycling Waushara County Roads
Waushara County
920-787-7037
Waushara County's back-country roads travel through lands shaped by the ice age, beautiful and bountiful lakes and streams, gently rolling wooded hills and kettles. These wonderful winding roads provide more than 2,000 miles of restful and exhilarating cycling. The intimate scale of the roads, both open and canopied; the changing terrain and variety of plant and wildlife transformed by changes in seasons offer inexhaustible, ever-new discoveries along the way. The county is formed of three distinctly different topographic regions.

Southeast. East of STH 49 and south of STH 21 to Dakota Ave. is relatively flat, low-lying land scoured by the glacier. Drainage is to the south and east to the Fox River and Lake Poygan. This easy riding section is full of wildlife, including sandhill cranes and other waterfowl.

Northwest. The western side of the county from the hills west of Coloma to Cty. J east of Plainfield is an outwash plain; the bottom of Glacial Lake Wisconsin. Here the roads are flat and rectangular, crossing many large irrigated fields. There are also woods and marshes and the villages of Coloma, Hancock and Plainfield.

Central. The midsection of the county is a series of glacial moraines and pitted outwashes. Riding here is more challenging. The country is dotted by lakes and crisscrossed by cold fresh-running streams. The area around Richford and Dakota is home to a sizeable Amish community providing glimpses of centuries old rural life and horse-powered agricultural practices. For a genuine challenge rewarded by a spectacular view, ride to the top of 300-ft. Mt. Morris; but watch for deer and mind your speed as you ride back down.

Maps of area bicycle routes may be obtained from the Waushara County Parks Department, 920-787-7037.

Festivals

Redgranite Labor Days Festival, September 3-5, 2005
Redgranite
920-566-2742
Celebrating America's Pride...Hometown Hero's. Kids day activities, parade, re-enactors encampment, music, food, softball & horseshoe tournament, raffles, and arts & craft fair. www.redgranitewisconsin.com

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