WISCONSIN DELLS STORY IDEAS

The Midwest's leading leisure travel destination, Wisconsin Dells, is bursting with potential material for travel journalists attending the International Media Marketplace. Here are a few story ideas that may be of interest to your readers or viewers:

“THE WATERPARK CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!®”

The indoor waterpark phenomenon was born in Wisconsin Dells in 1989, when the Polynesian Hotel put a roof over its waterpark, creating a year-round attraction. The new concept was an immediate success, leading several other local properties to follow suit, including three that have since become national waterpark resort brands: Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort, Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, and Great Wolf Lodge. That spirit of innovation has remained, as Wisconsin Dells waterparks have consistently pioneered new features and technologies, such as “tan-through” roofs, rotating waterslides, ever-taller/faster features and ever-larger facilities. Today, Wisconsin Dells has more waterparks than any community in the world, with 20 different facilities and more than 200 waterslides, including:

• America's Largest Outdoor Waterpark – Noah's Ark Waterpark is America's largest waterpark, with three miles of waterslides across 70 acres.
• America's Largest Indoor Waterpark – Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, currently the region's largest indoor waterpark at 125,000 square feet, will become America's largest in 2026 after completion of a 75,000-square-foot expansion.
• America's Largest Indoor/Outdoor Combination Waterpark – Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort's indoor and outdoor waterpark space combined is 500,000 square feet (or equal to twelve football fields.)
• America's Largest Floating Waterpark – The Land of Natura is America's largest inflatable waterpark. It floats on the world's largest naturally filtered man-made lake.
• North America's First Rotating Waterslide – Medusa's Slidewheel at Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park combines the movement of a Ferris wheel and the speed of a waterslide.
• America's Tallest Waterslide – Opened in summer 2024, the 146-foot Rise of Icarus, also at Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park, is the nation's tallest waterslide.
• America's Largest Wave Pool – The Great Wave, in the Wild WaterDome indoor waterpark at Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort, is the nation's largest wave pool.

DELLS OF THE WISCONSIN RIVER / HISTORY OF WISCONSIN DELLS

Wisconsin Dells was a vacation destination long before waterparks. It first became famous over 150 years ago, when pioneering photographer H.H. Bennett published stunning photos of the area's namesake topography – the five-mile-long Dells of the Wisconsin River. Although these deep, narrow gorges and steep-sided sandstone cliffs were already drawing visitors from surrounding counties, the national exposure brought by Bennett's photography in the 1860s and '70s started bringing sightseers from Chicago, Minneapolis, and beyond. In fact, Bennett's iconic photo of his son jumping the chasm between the cliffs of Stand Rock was a significant milestone in the development of photography, as it marked the first use of a stop-action shutter. An entrepreneur as well as inventor, Bennett displayed his photos in train stations, and most of Wisconsin Dells' Victorian-era visitors came by rail. Although Wisconsin Dells is mainly a drive-to destination, the area has always maintained rail service, and in 2024, Amtrak added a new 13-stop line between St Paul, Minnesota and Chicago including service to Wisconsin Dells.

“DUCK” AND BOAT TOURS

Boat tours of the Dells of the Wisconsin River were introduced in the 1850s and became ubiquitous in the later 19th century, when Bennett's photos piqued the nation's interest. The popularity of on-water sightseeing got another jolt in 1946, when Melvin Flath brought several WWII amphibious vehicles called “Ducks” to Wisconsin Dells and set up a tour company. Duck rides – which begin on land, then splash into the river and out again – have since become synonymous with Wisconsin Dells. Visitors today can see the Dells of the Wisconsin River from leisurely tour boats or high-speed jet boats, as well as Ducks. Some of the most popular tours include visits to Witches Gulch, a dramatic sandstone canyon accessible only by water, and to the Stand Rock formation.

WINERIES AND SUPPER CLUBS

Wisconsin is famous for its supper clubs, and Wisconsin Dells boasts one of the most famous in the state, Ishnala Supper Club. Perched above placid Mirror Lake and surrounded by a forested state park, this beautiful restaurant is seeking a Guinness World Record for the most Old-Fashioned cocktails sold in one year – more than 118,000 of them served from mid-April through mid-October 2024 (they close in the winter.) Other renowned supper clubs in the area include The Del-Bar, Field's at the Wilderness, Kaminski's Chop House, Double Cut Steak House, and House of Embers.

The Wisconsin Dells area is also home to eight different wineries, including Wisconsin's largest and oldest, Wollersheim Winery & Distillery. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Wollersheim's history goes back to the 1840s, when it was founded by Hungarian nobleman Agoston Haraszthy, who later helped found the California wine industry. Not surprisingly, Wisconsin Dells hosts two extremely popular outdoor wine events – the Spring and Fall Wine Walks.

SILENT SPORTS: HIKING, PADDLING, SNOWSHOEING, AND ROCK CLIMBING

For outdoor enthusiasts, the Wisconsin Dells area offers four state parks, five state natural areas, and a segment of the National Park Service's Ice Age Trail.

Wisconsin's most-visited state park, Devil's Lake, features 29 miles of hiking trails and 100+ foot rock faces that the Mountain Project calls “the Midwest's best climbing destination.” Mirror Lake State Park is another scenic hiking/snowshoeing/cross-country ski destination, as are Rocky Arbor State Park and Roche-A-Cri State Park (which features a 300-foot rock outcropping with Native American petroglyphs). Hikers will also find dramatic gorges in nearby Pewit's Nest State Natural Area and Parfrey's Glen State Natural Area, which adjoins the Ice Age Trail. Bicyclists are drawn to the area, as well. Off-road types can take advantage of a variety of rugged single-track options, while the hilly byways of Wisconsin's Driftless Region are a magnet for road cyclists.

Paddling is another popular activity, with Devil's Lake and Mirror Lake drawing scores of kayakers, canoeists, and stand-up paddleboarders. The area's namesake topography – the sandstone gorges, bluffs, and canyons along the Wisconsin River – can be seen by kayakers, canoeists (and hikers) in the Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area. Various types of motorized and non-motorized watercraft are available for rent in the area.

DESTINATION SPAS

Wisconsin Dells is home to both day and overnight spas that rival the finest on the east and west coasts, including Sundara Inn & Spa. Sundara has consistently won national accolades, being named among the nation's best by publications such as Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler. Tucked back in a wooded 98-acre enclave, this elegant property has heated indoor and outdoor pools, a hiking trail, a full schedule of fitness and wellness classes, and a wide menu of spa treatments. It also offers suites set apart from the main resort featuring private patios with large hot soaks, fireplaces, and heated floors. Other notable spas in Wisconsin Dells include Spa Serenity, Sun Mountain Spa, and the recently remodeled Spa Kalahari & Salon (located at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions).

HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS AND THE INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION

The Wisconsin Dells area has plenty of attractions for history buffs, including the H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum. Built in 1875, this storefront and studio is now owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Another Wisconsin Historical Society property, the Circus World complex in nearby Baraboo, is located on the former winter headquarters of the Ringling Brothers Circus. It features circus artifacts and exhibits and hosts daily live circus performances throughout the summer. Located just outside the Wisconsin Dells area is the International Crane Foundation, a 250-acre complex that includes live crane exhibits with all 15 of the world's crane species, a visitor center, breeding facilities, a research library, and nature trails. The foundation works worldwide to raise and conserve cranes. The Mid-Continent Railway Museum is a living history museum and operating railroad that preserves, interprets, and recreates the small town/short line way of life from the “Golden Age of Railroading.” Rail history buffs will also appreciate The Riverside & Great Northern Railway, which operates authentic 15-inch gauge trains just north of Wisconsin Dells.

NATIONALLY RENOWNED GOLF COURSES

Wisconsin Dells is home to six golf facilities, including two that have gained national recognition. Trappers Turn Golf Club boasts 27 holes designed by Roger Packard Jr. and former U.S. Open champion Andy North, as well as the new 12North par-3 course. It is associated with Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. Wild Rock Golf Club at the Wilderness, designed by the Hurzdan/Frye team (of Erin Hills fame), has hosted multiple U.S. Open qualifying events. It features a short course as well as an 18-hole championship track. Wisconsin Dells is also a popular “home base” for group golf outings, as it is within easy driving distance of several other destination courses, including Sand Valley, Lawsonia, and Sentry World.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Andy Larsen (for Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau)

414-840-0891 · alarsen@blmke.com  · wisdells.com