There are so many interesting things to see in the Wisconsin Rapids area. See fantastic folk art. Discover the intriguing world of the humble cranberry. See master cheese makers at work. Visit Wisconsin’s largest forest nursery. Experience the heart-pounding thrill of watching the Air National Guard in action. See auto racing at its finest. You’ll find it all in the Wisconsin Rapids area. See the listings below for more information.
Alexander House
1131 Wisconsin River Drive
Port Edwards , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 887-3442
The Alexander House, a center for art and history, is a combination art gallery and historical museum located in a stately colonial home on the banks of the beautiful Wisconsin River. Open Tues., Thurs., and Sun. 1-4 p.m. No charge.
Arts Council
1040 8th Street South, Suite 101
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 424-ARTS (2787)
The Arts Council is your performing arts connection to live entertainment by bringing national and international performing arts to Central Wisconsin. Tickets are available online, or 30 minutes prior to each performance. Check the web site or the calendar of events for the current performance schedule.
Central Wisconsin BMX
Highway 54 and County Highway W
across from Home Depot
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 459-2809 Race Day Phone, 715-421-6723 or 715-421-4521
Track Info
Built in a natural amphitheater with a full view of each race from start to finish.
1075 ft long.
Start hill over 10 ft tall.
Permanent awning over staging & start gate.
Blacktop turns.
Pro Gate.
Sealed track surface.
Central Wisconsin Cultural Center
240 Johnson Street
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 421-4598
Visit us on facebook/centralwisconsinculturalcenter
The Cultural Center is your destination for the Visual, Literary and Lyrical Arts with two galleries featuring monthly exhibits showcasing local and regional artists. Open pottery studio, explore art classes, and open musical jam sessions offered throughout the year. Open Tue., Wed., and Fri. 10a.m -3 p.m. Thurs. 5-7 p.m. and Sat. 10a.m -12 p.m. all exhibits are free.
Corenso North America
800 Fremont Street
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 422-7896
One of the world’s leading producers of high performance cores and tubes and high-quality coreboards, Corenso provides free guided tours of the Core Converting Mill to those who made arrangements two weeks in advance. The tour will demonstrate the production process of manufactured spiral wound cores with applications from small medical tape all the way up to large paper mill cores. All guests must wear closed-toe shoes. Safety glasses will be provided by Corenso North America and must be worn. Minors will require an adult chaperone.
Cranberry Marsh Tours
Visit a historic and sustainable cranberry marsh that has been in continuous operation since 1873. The owners of Glacial Lake Cranberries offer one-of-a-kind cranberry tours by reservation only during the third week of September through the third week of October. Experience the cranberry harvest, listen to the song of the sandhill crane, and view the vibrant fall colors over a bright sea of red. Learn history and fun facts, view videos, and shop for cranberry-themed gifts at the Glacial Lake Cranberries Visitor Center. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the harvest in action and breathtaking views! Tours offered during harvest: MON-FRI: 10:30 AM & 1:30 PM, and SAT: 10 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM. $15 per person. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED, CALL 715-887-2095
Glacial Lake Cranberries
2480 County Road D
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 887-4161
Late September – Late October, Cranberry Marsh Tours — Visit a historic and sustainable cranberry marsh that has been in continuous operation since 1873. The owners of Glacial Lake Cranberries offer one-of-a-kind cranberry tours by reservation only during the third week of September through the third week of October. Experience the cranberry harvest, listen to the song of the sandhill crane, and view the vibrant fall colors over a bright sea of red. Learn history and fun facts, view videos, and shop for cranberry-themed gifts at the Glacial Lake Cranberries Visitor Center. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the harvest in action and breathtaking views! Tours offered during harvest: MON-FRI: 10:30 AM & 1:30 PM, and SAT: 10 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM. $15 per person. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED, CALL 715-887-2095
Golden Sands Speedway
10992 Highway 54 East
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 423-4660
Golden Sands Speedway, Wisconsin’s Premier Racing Facility, located on Hwy 54 East between Wisconsin Rapids and Plover. Racing every Friday night throughout the summer, featuring Super Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, 4-Cylinders, Cruisers, and Skid Car Racing. Fun for the entire family! Great food and edge of your seat excitement! Check out our website for more information and a current list of events at www.gssraces.com
Griffith State Nursery
473 Griffith Avenue
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 424-3700
Wisconsin’s forest nursery program has been a leader in the stewardship of natural resources since 1911, producing over 1.5 billion tree and wildlife shrub seedlings. Griffith State, Wisconsin’s largest forest nursery is open to visitors from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri. Group tours available.
Hardwood Air-to-Ground Weapons Range
Off Highway F, South of Babcock
Babcock, Wisconsin
Phone: (608) 427-1509
Hardwood Air-to-Ground Weapons Range is one of fifteen Air National Guard ranges located in the nation. The range provides training for combat aircrews by presenting realistic targets for weapons practice. Although the planes don’t drop live bombs, the experience is as noisy and as thrilling as you’d expect. Grab a picnic basket, bring your earplugs, and prepare to be thrilled by flights above and explosions below. Visitors are welcome to observe activities during operating hours. A recorded message of the flight schedule is available by calling 608-427-1509.
Ho-Chunk Gaming
949 County Road G
Nekoosa, Wisconsin
Phone: (800) 782-4560
Ho-Chunk Gaming-Nekoosa offers a full casino experience with Poker, Blackjack and more than 650 slots. The Grille features seafood, steak and fine-dining in a rustic setting, with a banquet center that can serve 200+ guests. A free shuttle service serves the local communities, and a busing program is available for special groups.
Korean War Memorial of Wisconsin
Worzella Pines Park
1505 Maple Drive
Plover, Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 345-5250
Five larger-than-life figures, including a nurse, army and marine infantrymen, air force pilot, and sailor stand in memory of all veterans who served the state of Wisconsin.
Marian Center for Peace
241 Apricot Street
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Mother of America Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel
241 Apricot Street
Wisconsin Rapids 54494
7.5-424-MARY
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marian-Center-for-Peace/203353833056102
McMillan Memorial Library
490 East Grand Avenue
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 423-1040
For Internet access, WIFI, special events and programs, and a full range of library services, make our award-winning library your home away from home! Open Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Memorial Clock Tower
Mead Rapids View Park, 351 1st Street North
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Dedicated to the earliest settlers for their great efforts and progress they and those who followed brought to this area, and to the Mead families for their continuous commitment to the beautification of our river banks and parks, this clock tower stands along the riverfront in downtown Wisconsin Rapids.
Performing Arts Center of Wisconsin Rapids
1801 16th St. South
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 422-7365
The Performing Arts Center of Wisconsin Rapids, an 833-seat proscenium theatre located on the campus of Lincoln High School, is the hub of performing arts events in the Central Wisconsin area. Check the web site or calendar of events for their current schedule.
Rapids Municipal Zoo
1911Gaynor Avenue
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 421-8240
A small zoo with an interactive petting area, beautiful gardens, an enclosed reservable shelter, picnic area and a playground for children of all ages is featured at this fun-filled family attraction. Open Memorial Day through August 26, 2012 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; closed Mondays. No charge.
Rudolph Grotto
6957 Grotto Avenue
Rudolph, Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 435-3120
On top of a low hill, behind St. Philips Church, are the sprawling grounds of the Grotto Gardens and Wonder Cave. The Rudolph Grotto, started in 1920, was a fulfillment of a promise that Father Philip Wagner made to the Virgin Mary in thanks for healing a lingering illness while studying for the priesthood. The Grotto consists of five plus acres and lush flower beds, numerous shrines, museum, and a gift shop. The Grotto is set among meandering paths and crooked bridges, with shady, intimate areas for meditation as well as more formal memorials and open picnic grounds.
Sandhill Wildlife Area
1715 County Highway X
(715) 884-2437
Babcock, Wisconsin
When the auto trail closes in November, that’s when the real magic begins. Bring your snowshoes to the walk-in gate and discover Sandhill’s winter secrets. Spy on otters, porcupines and coyotes, or work up an appetite breaking a trail up North Bluff. Learn about tracking or weave your own snowshoes at the Outdoor Skills Center, then put on your newly acquired skills to the test. For more information visit the Sandhill Calendar of Events at www.dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/reclands/sandhill/
At each county trailhead there is a self-registration station for purchasing a daily or annual pass. The trail pass must be purchased from Wood County Parks and Forestry Department prior to entering the trail. Please call 715-421-8422 for current prices and information.
South Wood County Historical Museum
540 3rd Street South
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 423-1580
Local banker Isaac P. Witter and his wife Charlotte built their beautiful home on “Quality Row” in 1907, and we at the South Wood County Historical Museum would like to share it with you. Our display of Disney animator Grim Natwick’s work includes Betty Boop, Mr. Magoo, Snow White and others. The Krohn photographs of the 1950s are still on view. We invite you to walk through a history of cranberry growing, business districts and lumbering in our area. We also feature a country kitchen, school room and a train depot. Our changing exhibit for 2012 illustrates area involvement in the Civil War. Tours can be scheduled upon request and our grounds are available for weddings and senior photographs. Open Tue. , Wed., Thurs., and Sun. 1-4 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day. No charge.
Splash of Red Cranberry Tours
Presented by Pittsville High School FFA
Pittsville, Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 884-6412
Tour several different area marshes, pick fresh fruit from the vine, and observe testing, cleaning and freezing of the fruit harvest with students from the nation’s only Cranberry Science Class as your tour guides. A scrumptious lunch with special cranberry treats is included with the tour. All monies go toward scholarship and trip opportunities for Pittsville FFA members. Reservations are a must. Tours offered 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Oct. 3 , 5, 10, 12, 17,19, 24,and 26, 2012. (harvest/weather permitting). 715-884-6412
Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center
204 Main Street
Warrens, Wisconsin
Phone: (608) 378-4878
Learn how cranberries are grown and harvested by touring our exhibit hall featuring interactive displays. Afterward treat yourself to a slice of cranberry pie or a scoop of cranberry ice cream. Our gift shop features primarily Wisconsin-made cranberry products. Open daily from June 1-Oct 31, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Seasonal hours the rest of year
Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese
Highway 34 and Highway C
6860 State Highway 34
Rudolph, Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 435-3144
Wisconsin’s rich dairy heritage is on display at Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese, a family-owned and operated retail sales store and production facility. View master cheese makers from two large observation windows or browse and shop for more than 100 different types of Wisconsin cheese! Open seven days a week. Please call for holiday hours!
Wisconsin Firefighter’s Memorial
Ben Hanson Park
2031 2nd Avenue South
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Moving tribute to all Wisconsin firefighters, especially those who have fallen in the line of duty. Located in a beautiful setting on the Wisconsin River. Includes the Fallen Firefighter statue, memorial wall and Visitors Center.
Wisconsin Rapids City Band
Robinson Park Band Shell
1150 17th Street North
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 421-0244
City Band music has been flowing through the Wisconsin Rapids area for almost 150 years and it continues today thanks to the efforts of a number of dedicated band members who would not allow it to cease after fiscal restraints necessitated the elimination of funding from the city of Wisconsin Rapids in 2006. At that time a Board of Directors was formed and the band was organized into a self directed, self governed organization. The Community Foundation of South Wood County assisted this process by serving as a resource to the Board, providing guidance in fiscal management, board governance and funding. These arrangements continue today. The Band continues to thrill audiences with waltzes, polkas, marches, and Broadway hits. Bring the whole family to enjoy an evening of fun, music, and ice cream.
Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre
220 3rd Avenue South, Suite 6
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 421-0435
WRCT features live performances year-round at the Studio Theatre in the Gilbert & Jaylee Mead Auditorium. Since 1975, WRCT has presented Broadway-type shows while showcasing local talent. We also offer children’s productions, workshops and special theatrical productions. Check the website or call for current performances or events.
Wisconsin River Papermaking Museum
730 First Avenue South
Wisconsin Rapids , Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 424-3037
The Wisconsin River Papermaking Museum focuses primarily on papermaking history in the Wisconsin River valley and particularly history of the Consolidated Water Power & Paper Company which was headquartered in Wisconsin Rapids for over 100 years. The Museum features two local history exhibits. The first is a pictorial history of the 110-year-old mansion that houses the museum. The second tells some of the history of the development of the dam on the Wisconsin River at Grand Rapids/Centralia and the beginnings of Consolidated Water Power & Paper Company. Traveling exhibits about papermaking are also brought in as they are available. Open from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursdays, excluding holidays. Admission is free.