Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Dells, City, located in Columbia, Adams, and Sauk Counties, in the south central area of Wisconsin is famous for its beautiful scenery and diversity of family attractions. The Wisconsin Dells is just 116 miles from Milwaukee, 188 miles from Chicago, and 220 miles from Minneapolis. The “Dells” is one of the most popular family and tourist destinations in the Midwest. Once known only for its summer fun, the Wisconsin Dells area has become a popular year-round destination and hosts thousands of visitors each year. On The Wisconsin River; Wisconsin Dells was originally called Kilbourn, after Bryon Kilbourne; in 1931 the name was changed to Wisconsin Dells. Wisconsin Dells got its name from the Chippewa Indians and the French. The word "Wisconsin" is a Chippewa Indian word meaning, "where the dark, rushing waters meet". The word "Dells" comes from the French term, "Dalles" meaning "slab like rock". The first to live in Wisconsin Dells were the Ho-Chunk Indians. Other Wisconsin tribes that followed were the Sioux, Sac and Menominee. But only the Ho-Chunk continues to live in Wisconsin Dells today.

Wisconsin Dells is made up of hundreds of unique attractions, enterprises, restaurants, accommodations and entertainment facilities. The Dells area attractions range from the miles of natural rock formations along the Wisconsin River to three of the nation's four largest water parks to dozens of shops and restaurants, and even gambling in the form of the Ho-Chunk Casino. Meanwhile, Wisconsin's largest state park, Devil's Lake, welcomes visitors with its year-round camping and recreational facilities located in the heart of the Baraboo bluffs.

Baraboo, located in Sauk County, Wisconsin, NextWave Communications is situated in the heart of the Midwest's prime vacation area. The world-famous Circus World Museum is headquartered here, along with another restored gem of a bygone circus era, the Al Ringling Theatre, a scale-sized replica of the French Palace of Versailles. Just outside Baraboo is one of the world's foremost wildlife conservation facilities, the International Crane Foundation. Other points of interest in this area include: Museums and Educational Attractions, Parks and Natural Areas.

"Stand Rock" is an instance of complete isolation, and is one of the most curious and interesting in the Dells region. Small tributaries to the Wisconsin on cutting their channels to the river have formed steep and narrow gorges and "Cold Water Canyon" and "Witches Gulch". The Brigutary Glens have long since completed their process of erosion and their rocky sides are now clothed with a rich growth of trees, shrubs, and ferns. While the region may be regarded as a vast object lesson in geography and topography, there are as many other reasons why it is of exceeding interest to both scientist and layman. The flora of this vicinity is great in variety and much of it rare in kind. It lends an indescribable grace and beauty to the physical aspect of the Dells, making it a constant source of joy and wonder to all beholders. Here in the Dells you will find an extraordinary variety of ferns. Among them the rare Walking Fern, and now nearly extinct Fragrant Fern. The delicate fronds of the more ordinary varieties hang like draperies of green lace on the wet, brown walls of precipitous rocks and richly adorn every nook and cranny in the semi-dusk of the Glens. Wisconsin Dells is one of only four (4) places in the entire world, where you can find these towering marvels...Switzerland...Germany...parts of New York...and Wisconsin Dells.

During 2000, person visits to the Wisconsin Dells area totaled 1.98 million. Guests staying in hotels/motels/resorts accounted for 76% of these person visits, while those staying at campgrounds accounted for 14% and remainder stayed at cabins/cottages/condos. The Dells area has been for a number of years a summer oriented vacation area, this has changed due in part to the gambling facilities and the number of ski resorts.

Accommodations

The Great Tsunami at the Wilderness Resort (summer 2004)
Flowerider at the Kalahari Resort (summer 2004)
RiverWalk Hotel (Jan. 2004)
Hilton Garden Inn (summer 2004)
Atlantis Waterpark Hotel & Suites (summer 2004)
Major Area Manufacturing & Distribution Employers

Employer # of Employees
Scott Construction 200
C & H Distribution 46
Allen Steel Company, Inc. 35
DRM 35

Major Area Service Employers

Employer # of Employees
Ho-Chunk Casino and Hotel 1,975
Noah’s Ark 550
Great Wolf Lodge 380
Christmas Mountain Winter 225, Summer 350
Kalahari Resort 300
Antigua Bay Winter 115, Summer 350
Wilderness Resort 260
Polynesian 250
T R Nelson 250
Wisconsin Dells School District 235
Rain Tree Resort Winter 66, Summer 125
Village of Lake Delton 22

Transportation

Highways
Interstate 90 - 94
Exits 85, 87, 89, and 92

Airports
Local - Baraboo/Dells Airport
Commercial Carriers - Dane County Regional Airport in Madison

Mileage from
Chicago (O’Hare) 188 miles
Milwaukee (Mitchell) 116 miles
Minneapolis 220 miles

Population

The Wisconsin Dells area is made up of two communities, the City of Wisconsin Dells and the Village of Lake Delton. Wisconsin Dells has 2,498 year-round residents, while Lake Delton is home to 1,470. The area encompasses 18.2 square miles.

Year Lake Delton Sauk County
2000 1,982 55,225
Source: US Census

Education

2001 Enrollment
Elementary School 736
Middle School 412
Senior High School 587
Private (3) 107

University/College

UW – Baraboo/Sauk County 2 year Campus 8 miles
UW – Madison 4-year Campus 57 miles
Edgewood College 57 miles

Attractions

Wisconsin Dells is one of the most unique vacation destinations in the country. Natural beauty surrounded by miles of fun offering something for everyone to enjoy. In Wisconsin Dells, the fun really does come naturally. Below are some of the areas newest attractions.

• Wizard Quest (summer 2004)
• Alien Plant (April 2)
• Timbavati Wildlife Park Storybook Gardens (summer 2004)
• Timber Falls Adventure Park (summer 2004) Wisconsin's fastest, longest and tallest roller coaster-Avalanche!
• Atlantis Water Coaster – Big Chief’s Mt. Olympus Theme Park (summer 2004)
• Riverside & Great Northern Railway (summer 2004)
• Dells River District River Walk

Riverview Park & Waterworld located in Wisconsin Dells, WI is situated on more than 35 acres. It offers action-packed entertainment, including the largest U-Drive'Em and Amusement Park, combined with Grand Prix racing, go carts and Mini-Indy cars, Riverview Park & Waterworld features 5 Rapids Inner Tube Ride, water slides, a wave pool and numerous other pools exclusively for children's activities! On top of the mini racetracks and water rides, the park features amusements rides including a Tilt-A-Whirl, Gravitron, Scrambler, Ferris Wheel and a Galaxi Roller coaster. Riverview Park & Waterworld is open daily, 7 days a week, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. In May and September, the Park, featuring go-carts, will open its doors for the weekends.

With more than 70 diverse attractions, Wisconsin Dells truly has something for everyone. From the unparalleled scenery of the Dells Boat Tours, to America’s largest water park, Noah’s Ark, both the young and young-at-heart will find entertainment to suit their tastes. Other unique attractions include: Tommy Bartlett’s Robot World and Exploratory - featuring the only Russian Space Station on public display; the Original Wisconsin Ducks - amphibious war vehicles that embark you on an adventurous one-hour tour on both land and water; Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum, Golf and Bungee Jumping, and the International Crane Foundation; an 80 acre prairie that showcases all 15 species of the crane.

Climate

• In the spring, temperature averages 45 degrees
• In the summer the average is 73 degrees, however, sometimes the temperatures do reach the 90’s or even close to 100.
• A cool 50 degrees in the fall.
• Winter temperatures are close to the 20 degrees, sometimes dropping below zero.
• Wisconsin Dells receives an average annual snowfall of about 30 inches.