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About
The Minocqua, Wisconsin Area
History
The
Minocqua Area boasts a rich logging history.
Primitive, roughly constructed dams were built
in the mid 1800s to back up water levels on
area chains of lakes to form waterways for
the conveyance of timber. The vast woodland
area was viewed as an inexhaustible forest
by loggers arriving at the turn of the century
to harvest the wealth of timber. In the 20-year
period between 1890 and 1910, loggers cut
nearly all the pine and hardwood forests of
the north. Railroads were forged to speed
the harvest and mill towns sprang up in the
virgin wilderness to process the wood and
cater to the loggers.
 Minocqua,
Arbor Vitae and Woodruff were three such
towns, rising out of nowhere in what seemed
like an instant. In 1887, the Chicago, Milwaukee,
St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Company
completed its main line north to Minocqua
in order to open up additional tracts of
lumber. The railroad's arrival brought a
variety of individuals - those seeking work
in the logging camps and those hoping to
establish businesses or provide necessary
services. As the community took form, a
more stable population took up residence,
with mill hands who generally worked year-round,
replacing lumberjacks.
Woodruff
was platted a year later by Alfred L. Cary,
serving as general solicitor for the Milwaukee,
Lake Shore and Western Railway Company.
Cary
represented the legal interests of the railway's
expansion north from Rhinelander. He bought
land and maintained the timber rights to
much of the property in Woodruff. Although
officially platted in late 1888, there were
settlers prior to that year. Railroad construction
crews, land speculators, "squatters", and
men looking to make their fortune in pine
were surely among the early residents.
In
the early 1890s, Ross Lumber Company built
a mill in Arbor Vitae and employed 400 men.
The town included a rooming house, large
general store, a three-story hotel and 50
houses for the mill workers. The mill ran
day and night and manufactured all kinds
of lumber, lath and shingles. Arbor Vitae
was a boom town then with many social events
including dances, masquerade balls, and
baseball games on a weekly basis.
Minocqua
Today
Today,
the remaining abandoned railroad right-of-ways
and extensive network of old logging roads
provide an unusual and fascinating trail
system which is used during the winter for
snowmobiling and spring, summer and fall
for hiking and biking. Approximately 95%
of all the land known as the town of Woodruff
and 80% of Arbor Vitae is owned by Federal,
State and County interests and is not available
for private sale, ensuring an enviable recreational
environment for all future generations.
The natural resources of the area are managed
by the Department of Natural Resources for
the benefit of public and private enterprises.
Back
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 Canoeing
/ Kayaking
Canoeing
and kayaking have become increasing popular,
and with the abundant water bodies there's
no better place to do it. Head out on your
own or hook up with a guide and enjoy peaceful
(or adventurous) paddling!
Hiking
/ Biking
There's
no better way to fully appreciate the splendors
of nature in the Northwoods than by hiking
and biking its back byways. A number of
trails provide an opportunity to view wildlife
native to Northern Wisconsin in their natural
habitat.
 Sightseeing
Always
keep your binoculars and camera ready -
you never know when you might see a bald
eagle, porcupine, raccoon, deer, loon...
whether it's by foot, bicycle, boat or vehicle,
taking in the beauty of the Northwoods'
environment is Good For Your Soul.
Spring
Activities
Beauty
comes in many forms in the Northwoods: a
wilderness lake surrounded by tall white
pines whose needles comb the winds; a tamarack
bog that turns dusty gold in October; a
quiet river that winds through marshes clothed
in the colors of white and yellow water
lilies; a forest trail that when hiked on
a early June morning, yields a tabernacle
of bird song; a dark lake where loons wail
heavenly across the water; or the morning
after a heavy snowfall when the balsams
are bowed low and there is a quiet upon
the landscape that is tangible.
The
land and waters of the Lakeland area support
exceptionally rich communities of wildlife
and plants, some of which are threatened
or endangered. Vilas and Oneida Counties
have the highest populations of nesting
bald eagles in Wisconsin, with 83 and 74
nesting pairs respectively. Several areas
concentrate eagles and osprey in remarkable
numbers, like the Rainbow Flowage which
provides habitat for 13 pairs of osprey
and five pairs of eagles along its shoreline,
and the Willow Flowage which supports ten
pairs of osprey, and eight pairs of eagles.
A dawn canoe trip on either flowage often
provides a dazzling array of sightings.
 Vilas
and Oneida Counties also lead the way in
numbers of loons in Wisconsin.Vilas and
Oneida Counties have hundreds of lakes where
loons actively nest. The mid-June hatchings
of loon chicks are probably as avidly awaited
by loon lovers as by the adult loons.
Wildlife
simply abounds here. The surrounding Northern
Highland / American Legion State Forest
plays host to 130 species of birds that
regularly breed in the area, 27 species
of reptiles and amphibians, and 63 species
of fish. The viewing opportunities run the
gamut from the easily seen white-tailed
deer to the highly secretive bobcat.I
If
you desire remote untouched areas, 19 wilderness
lakes have been preserved with undeveloped
shorelines and no road access, like pristine
Salsich Lake near the town of Star Lake.
Forty-one
wild lakes, like Allequash Lake and Escanaba
Lake, are still undeveloped but have road
access, and offer beautiful settings for
quiet recreational use. Fourteen state natural
and scientific areas, exemplified by the
old growth forest of the 561 acre Star Lake
- Plum Lake Hemlock Natural Area, have been
set aside to be used only for nature study,
educational purposes, and aesthetic appreciation.
 Many
residents and visitors not only love the
beauty and peacefulness of the area, but
want to understand more about the flora
and fauna that live here. A walk in the
woods or a canoe trip can be all the more
enjoyable with a knowledge of how to identify
the many species encountered, and a perspective
on what each species' role in the ecology
of the area. The study of the natural world
is a lifelong endeavor that yields continual
surprises and pleasures.
Summer
Activities
Never
pass up a opportunity to spend a summer
in the Lakeland Area. This season ushers
in an entirely different spectrum of activities
and natural beauty. It presents visitors
with an irresistible invitation to discover
new experiences. There is a kaleidoscope
of activities to engage in, from high energy
thrills to peaceful breaks. The days are
long and sunlit - making them breathless
and fun-filled or relaxing and rejuvenating
The
myriad lakes offer endless opportunities
for water-lovers to fish, sail, windsurf,
and water ski, or choose to canoe, swim,
pontoon or boat. Minocqua was voted "one
of the 10 best places to live and water
ski in America" by WaterSki magazine (1996)
Beach
it at one of our wonderful park facilities!
You'll find a soft, sandy beach and roped
swim area at Torpy Park in Minocqua with
full-time lifeguards on duty from June through
September. Public men's and women's restrooms
and showers are available, as well as public
tennis courts, playground equipment, picnic
tables and grills.
Brandy
Park in Arbor Vitae similarly has a well-maintained
beach, lifeguards, public restrooms, pavilion,
picnic tables, grills and tennis courts.
 Off
water, the vast woodlands of the Northern
Highland-American Legion State Forest beckon
campers and naturalists with secluded campsites,
self-guided nature walks, hiking and biking
trails and wildlife sighting excursions
not to be equaled.
A
day's activities can vary from nature hikes
and llama lunches to casino gambling and
sunset dinner cruises.
Visit
the many attractions which include miniature
golfing, go-carting, water sliding or petting
zoos. Browse the unique shops or search
for that hard-to-find antique. Each weekend
offers a new and exciting tournament, festival
or arts & craft show -- plan ahead to
make your trip during one of these special
events.
Pack
a blanket or lawn chair and take in a free
concert on select Thursday evenings at Torpy
Park, downtown Minocqua - Lakeland Community
Concert Band, German Band and Celebration
Brass Quintet. Call the Chamber for dates.
Fall
Activities
Several
beautiful fall color driving tours are available
at the Chamber office. Remember to check
our Fall Color Report, updated each week
from early September through mid-October,
which indicates the percentage and quality
of color of our area's trees and when we'll
reach peak colors. Generally, peak colors
can be seen anywhere from the last two weeks
of September to the first two weeks of October.
Visit us during our 36th Annual Beef-A-Rama
/ Colorama, September 30, 2000, to experience
the sights, sounds, and smells of roasting
beef throughout the Lakeland area, while
enjoying the beautiful fall foliage.
 Capture
the breathtaking beauty of the bright reds,
vivid yellows and warm oranges reflecting
off the the sparkling water or arching over
rustic roads. Grab a water bottle and, pack
a lunch and set out to get up close and
personal with nature and our native wildlife
along the hundreds of miles of hiking and
biking trails.
R58
Location: Oneida County Blue Lake Road,
west from US 51 to Mercer Lake Road, and
Mercer Lake Road north from Blue Lake Road.
9.6 miles. Paved.
R59
Location: Oneida County Sutton Road
and Camp Pinemere Road between WIS 70 and
Blue Lake Road. 4.5 miles. Gravel, gravel
& sand and paved portions.
Winter
Activities
Nature
lovers revel in the silent monochromatic
world of winter in the northwoods. Thousands
of visitors come each year to enjoy the
bounteous snowfall, an average of 65" per
year, and dense, frozen lakes. Snowmobiling
and skiing are at their best, and ice fishing
hot spots are infinite. For additional outdoor
fun, don't forget ice skating, sledding,
snowshoeing, sleigh riding, and more.
Minocqua
Winter Park
 Located
on Highway 70 West six miles to Squirrel
Lake Road, then six miles to Scotchman Lake,
Minocqua Winter Park is considered one of
the top cross-country ski areas in the United
States. Seventy-five kilometers of snowcat
groomed trails -- 65 km for skating and
striding and 10 km for striding only --
entwine through wooded terrain that varies
from flat to hilly. More than 2 km of lighted
trails provide skiing on scheduled nights,
and two groomed telemark slopes allow for
turning practice.
A
snowshoe trail, rentals, and instruction
are also available at Winter Park. The Day
Lodge at Minocqua Winter Park offers everything
a skier requires: a warm place to relax,
food service, restrooms, waxing room, ski
patrol and baby sitting. The Ski Shop offers
full retail, up-to-date rentals and PSIA
certified instruction. Hours of operation:
Saturday - Tuesday: 9 am - 5 pm / Thursday
and Friday: 9 am - 9 pm. / closed Wednesday
(715) 356-3309, (715) 356-1099 (ski shop).
ABR
Trails
Enjoy
35 Km of scenic, wooded X-C ski trails in
the dependable "Snow-Belt." Afforadable
rustic trailside lodging, lessons, P.B.
grooming for skate skiing and diagonal &
snowshoe trails. Call for honest conditions
906-932-3502. E-5299 W. Pioneer, Ironwood,
MI 49938.
| Cross
Country |
Groomed
/ Tracked |
| Escanaba
- 11.5 mi. |
Take
Hwy M 4 miles south of Boulder Junction,
head east on Nebish Road 3.5 miles
to trail head |
| Madeline
- 9.5 mi |
2
miles southeast of Woodruff, turn
east on Hwy J for 1 mile, then north
on Rudolph Road 1.75 miles |
| McNaughton
- 10.0 mi |
13
miles south of Woodruff on Hwy 47,
then west on Kildare Road. |
| Raven
- 11.0 mi |
2
miles southeast of Woodruff on Hwy
47, then north .5 mile on Woodruff
Road. |
| Schlect
-10 km |
Leary
Road, 1.5 miles south of downtown
Minocqua off Hwy 51. |
| NHAL
Winter-Use |
Ungroomed
/ Untracked |
| Lumberjack
- 12.5 mi |
Has
2 parking lots. take Old K east of
Boulder Junction to Concora road,
or take Hwy M to Hwy K east 5 miles
to Nixon Lake Road. |
| Powell
- 8.5 mi |
8
miles southeast of Mercer, take Hwy
47 to Powell Road, then 0.56 mile
north. |
| Shannon
- 7.0 mi |
2.75
miles north of St. Germain on Hwy
155 to Lost Lake drive S, then 1 block
north to Found Lake Road, then 2 miles
to trail head. |
| Statehouse
Lake - 2.9 mi |
From
Hwy 51, turn east on Cty Hwy W, Manitowish
Waters, then 1.5 miles to North Lakeland
Discovery Center. |
Trail
maps for Minocqua Arbor Vitae Woodruff
area are available at the Chamber office
or can be mailed to you provided a S.A.S.E.
and map request note is sent to us. Please
contact us for postage fees and envelope
size.
Ice
Rinks
Lakeland
Ice Arena - Indoor ice rink open to the
public during scheduled times. (715) 356-6762.
U.S. Hwy 51 South to Northern Road to Old
Hwy 51, follow the signs.
Torpy
Park - Outdoor public ice rink, lighted.
U.S. Hwy 51 South, downtown Minocqua.
Brandy
Park - Outdoor public ice rink. U.S. Hwy
51 North, one block north of Hwy 51-47 stoplights
on Lemma Creek Road.
Snowmobile
Clubs
Forest
Riders Snowmobile Club
P.O. Box 1161, Minocqua,
WI 54548 Come ride away from the crowd on
190 miles of Bombadier-groomed trails, extending
to the Willow Flowage and Price County.
Food and gas are available throughtout our
trail system.
 Cross
Country Cruisers Snowmobile Club
P.O.Box 733, Woodruff,
WI 54568 cruisers@nnex.net The Cross Country
Cruisers maintain 135 miles of Wisconsin's
most scenic and best groomed trails in and
out of Arbor Vitae, Woodruff & Minocqua.
We are 28 years old and are the 4th largest
in Wisconsin. Join our club and help support
the sport! Only a $25 a year membership
in both the Cross Country Cruisers and the
Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs
(AWSC).
New-Tom
Sno-Fleas Snowmobile Club
P.O. Box 45, Lake
Tomahawk, WI 54539 The New-Tom Sno-Fleas
have extensive snowmobile trails south of
Minocqua. Lake Tomahawk is the center for
going North, South, East or West. We are
known for keeping our trails in great condition
especially with the addition of our new
equipment.
New
Wisconsin law,
instated May 1, 1998, requires non-resident
s who use Wisconsin snowmobile trails to
display either Wisconsin registration or
a non-resident snowmobile trail use sticker.
The sticker is $13 and may be purchased
at any business that sells state licenses
(such as hunting, fishing, etc), or the
DNR offices. Further information can be
obtained by calling (608) 266-2621.
Back
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 For
an area that has a total year round population
of well under 15,000, Minocqua-Arbor Vitae-Woodruff
offers an impressive and varied number of
exciting attractions.
Children
can enjoy close-up wildlife encounters at
area zoos or opt for a thrill-a-minute afternoon
of go kart riding, bumper boating and water-shoot
sliding. The entire family can challenge
each other to a round of miniature golf
at several different courses or sit back
and relive the logging days of yore at live,
breath-taking lumber jack competitions.
Local
water skiers delight everyone as they perform
their skillful maneuvers and an afternoon
or evening of summer theater is not to be
missed. Culture buffs will want to browse
in our area museums. Try you luck gambling
at our local resort/casino. Everyone will
want to take a cruise on the nature-filled
wilderness waters of the vast Willow Flowage.
Free Min-Aqua Bat water ski shows each Sunday,
Wednesday & Friday, mid-June through
mid-August, on lake Minocqua (Park Street
West, downtown Minocqua).
 ABR
TRAILS
E-5299
W. Pioneer, Ironwood, MI 49938
(906) 932-3502
Enjoy
35 Km of scenic, wooded X-C ski trails in
the dependable "Snow-Belt." Afforadable
rustic trailside lodging, lessons, P.B.
grooming for skate skiing and diagonal &
snowshoe trails. Call for honest conditions
906-932-3502.
APOSTLE
ISLANDS CRUISE SERVICE
Bayfield City Dock,
P.O. Box 691, Bayfield, WI 54814
(800) 323-7619
Scenic,
narrated cruises. Island shuttles, lighthouse
cruises and tours, schooner sailing, kayak
rental, evening cruises, May - October.
CARL'S
WOOD ART MUSEUM
1230 Sundstein Rd.,
Eagle River, WI 54521
(715) 479-1883 Phone and Fax
Family
fun! Educational northwoods experience.
Rain or shine. Gift shop, free games and
more.
CIRCLE
M CORRAL FAMILY FUN PARK
10295 Hwy. 70W., Minocqua,
WI 54548
(715) 356-4441
Water
slide, go-karts, bumper boats, trail &
train rides, miniature golf, batting cages,
pony / kiddie rides, splash area.
HILLESTAD
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
P.O. Box 1700, 178
Hwy 51 N. Woodruff, WI 54568
(715) 358-2113 / (800) 535-7742
Manufacturers
of all natural vitamins & nutritional
supplements for over 35 yrs. Open for free
tours.
HOLIDAY
ACRES RIDING ACADEMY
7994 Hwy. 51S. Minocqua,
WI 54548
(715) 356-4400
Three
go-kart tracks, horseback riding featuring
family trail rides, pony rides, & game
room.
 ISLAND
GOLF
307 Oneida Ave., P.O.
Box 937, Minocqua, WI 54548
(715) 356-6979
18
challenging holes conveniently located in
a beautiful downtown Minocqua setting. Lots
of fun at a reasonable price!
NORTHERN
LIGHTS PLAYHOUSE, INC.
5611 Hwy 51S. P.O.
Box 256-MWB, Hazelhurst, WI. 54531-0256
(715) 356-7173 ext. 907
Professional
theater producing musicals, comedies and
children's theater. May thru October. Call
for time and schedule.
NORTHWOODS
WILDLIFE CENTER, INC.
8683 Blumstein Rd.
(Across from Wal-Mart) Minocqua, WI 54548
(715) 356-7400
Visit
a real wildlife hospital! Take a guided
outdoor tour. Open year round, closed Sundays.
WARBONNET
ZOO
5610 Hwy. 51S., Hazelhurst,
WI 54531
(715) 356-5093
Feed
exotic & North American animals. Pioneer
Village, Safari rides, X-C skiing, snowshoeing.
Gift shop.
WA-SWA-GONING
Hwy 47 & County
H, P.O. Box 1059, Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538
(715) 588-3560 / (715) 588-2615
A
20 acre outdoor recreated Indian village
on the Lac du Flambeau Reservation. Public
& private guided tours.
WILDERNESS
ADVENTURES FAMILY RECREATION CENTER
Lower level Gaslight
Square Mall, 415 Oneida St. P.O. Box 1393,
Minocqua, WI 54548
(715) 356-3148
Large
arcade, miniature golf, soda shop, craft
mall, deli, ice cream! Open daily year round.
WILDERNESS
CRUISES
4973 Willow Dam Rd.,
Hazelhurst, WI 54531
(715) 453-3310 / (800) 472-1516
Sightseeing,
brunch and dinner cruises on the pristine
Willow Reservoir. All cruises narrated.
May-October.
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