minocqua.org
Visitor spending exceeded $237 million in 2018 By Krystal Westfahl, Executive Director of the Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce
Visitors continue to flock to Oneida County, according to figures released by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism in conjunction with National Tourism Week. Visitors spent $237.5 million in Oneida County in 2018, an increase of 3.36 percent over 2017. Oneida County ranked top in the Northwoods and 16th overall in the state in terms of visitor spending. We continue to be wowed by these numbers and are grateful to all our visitors, local businesses and residents for making Oneida County such a great tourism destination. We truly have a lot to offer to visitors to the Northwoods, whether they’re looking to stay at a secluded lakeside cabin or want to bring their family to a fun community event.
Oneida County launches tourism rebranding campaign The Oneida County Tourism Council encourages visitors from across the state and the Midwest to visit the county’s welcoming communities through a number of different channels, including the county’s tourism website, www.oneidacountywi.com, a Travel & Trail Guide, seasonal promotions (like the Taste of Oneida County Giveaway, launching later this month), social media and a tourism e-newsletter with more than 6,800 subscribers. In 2017, the OCTC launched a rebranding effort designed to attract new visitors to the area. Visitor surveys and early branding discussions have been completed, and the OCTC plans to launch its new brand—including a revamped, business-forward website touting the county’s lodging properties, restaurants and attractions— in 2018-19. Visitors can find more information about Oneida County at www.oneidacountywi.com or on Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube.
M O R E T H A N 2 , 2 0 0 J O B S AT T R I B U T E D T O T O U R I S M DOWNLOAD OUR
• Tourism accounted for 2,237 jobs in Oneida County in 2018, an increase of 1.01% over
the previous year.
• Oneida County also collected $22.8 million in state and local taxes in 2018, taxes that otherwise
would have been paid by Oneida County residents. Tourism supports one out of every 12 jobs in the state, though that number is higher in tourism destinations like Oneida County.
MINOCQUA
• Overall, visitors spent $13.3 billion in Wisconsin in 2018, an increase of 4.86%.
AREA CHAMBER
APP!
• Tourism accounted for 199,073 jobs and $1.58 billion in state and local taxes collected.
CAN’T MISS 2019 CHAMBER EVENTS!
JUNE 1
J U N E 16
J U LY 4
J U LY 18 - 21
AUG. 8
S E P T. 7- 8
S E P T. 2 8
N O V. 3 0
June Bloom Arts & Crafts Festival
Paws in the Park
4th of July Festivities
Small Town Baseball
After Loon Delight
Wisconsin River Series Bass Tournament
Beef-A-Rama
Christmas In Minocqua
7 WAY S T O E N J O Y A N A U T H E N T I C
Northwoods Experience Looking for an authentic Northwoods experience where Old Fashioneds flow like the nearby flowage, the people are as
genuine as aunt Edna and you can experience any one of a number of outdoor activities like paddling, hiking and biking? The Minocqua – Arbor Vitae – Woodruff area offers all of this plus throw in a zip line that runs over a forest canopy,
breweries where you can mingle with brew masters and family-run restaurants that serve the same mouthwatering dishes they did decades ago. Here are some of our favorite genuine Minocqua area experiences:
1.
TA K E A H I K E ! You could spend days exploring the Minocqua area’s innumerable trails, which wind through both fragrant pine woods and lush hardwood forests. A good option is to head for the Northern Highland American Legion (NHAL) State Forest, where there are more than 75 miles of trail. Distances vary, which means there’s a trail to suit everyone’s taste and ability. The one-mile Star Lake Nature Trail is a great place to start. It meanders through the state’s first tree plantation, a red pine plot started in 1913. Experienced hikers might want to tackle the scenic, 12.5-mile Lumberjack Trail, which unspools along the edge of the Manitowish River, Fishtrap Flowage and White Sand Lake. Backpack camping is allowed.
2.
HOP ON YOUR BIKE If cycling is more your style, you can pedal pretty much anywhere in the region. But the star attraction is the 18-mile Bearskin State Trail, which tumbles southward from downtown Minocqua through Hazlehurst, Goodnow and Harshaw. It connects with the 14-mile Hiawatha Trail and can be taken all the way to Tomahawk.
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3.
H I T T H E W AT E R With one of the largest concentrations of fresh water bodies in the world, you will want to explore area lakes. They are perfect for stand up paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing, as well as fishing and just relaxing by. There are so many lakes in the area that it’s not uncommon to have one all to yourself, except for those instances when you may find yourself in the company of the resident deer, bald eagles and other critters.
4.
DISCOVER LOCAL CRAFTS Bootlegger Al Capone and his cronies frequented Wisconsin’s Northwoods, including the Minocqua area. So perhaps a visit to a local brewery or distillery is in order. At nanobrewery Rocky Reef in Woodruff, you can sample eight handcrafted brews plus some seasonal varieties. Then sit down and enjoy a pint of your favorite, while playing one of the games Rocky Reef has on hand, such as ping-pong, shuffleboard and a giant version of Jenga. When it’s time to leave, purchase a growler to go. Minocqua’s Northern Waters Distillery is a small-batch operation, where every spirit is carefully made by hand. A visit to the tasting room nets you a view of the distillery’s operations, plus product samples. Looking for a behind the scenes tour? On a limited basis, the distillery offers opportunities to participate in a production day that includes mashing, fermenting and distilling. Call ahead for a schedule and pricing.
5.
FRY ‘EM UP Make sure to take in a quintessential Wisconsin fish fry at one of the local supper clubs, like The Plantation Supper Club in Woodruff. Operated by the same family since 1970, its Friday fish fry includes deep-fried and broiled cod, deep-fried walleye, and deep-fried lake perch. Over at Mama’s, an institution for 60 years, you can nosh on beer-battered or broiled haddock, plus haddock Parmigiana. Or pass on Mama’s fish fry and tuck into a heaping plate of spaghetti or fettuccine Alfredo. It is an Italian eatery, after all.
6.
SEEK ADVENTURE At the Northwoods Zip Line, adventurers can experience nine different zip lines and cross five adventure bridges. Tours take you 1,000 feet over the ground, high above the forest canopy and across a lake. Or try an Argo ATV tour takes you on a 16-mile tour through scenic wilderness. Take the wheel yourself or hang out as a passenger.
7.
REST YOUR HEAD When it’s time to hit the hay, cabins or cottages are the way to go for Northwoods authenticity. One great option is the Narrows Resort on Tomahawk Lake, on the Minocqua Chain of Lakes. Its one, two, and three-bedroom cabins sit on 28 acres with a private sandy beach, sun deck, and boat launch. No matter where you land, relax lakeside before you go to bed. As you sit outside, with millions of stars twinkling overhead and the water gently lapping at the shore, you’ll be vacationing the true Wisconsin way.
For more ideas and to plan your adventure, visit Minocqua.org
DID YOU KNOW? WI S C ONS I N RA NKS
1
#
AMONG ITS MIDWEST
195,255 TOURISM SUPPORTS
WISCONSIN JOBS
COMPETITORS, IN FUN, FAMILY FRIENDLINESS, AFFORDABILITY, AND A
TOURISM POSITIVELY INFLUENCES HOW PEOPLE THINK
WELCOMING, WORRY-FREE
ABOUT WISCONSIN AS A PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, ATTEND
ATMOSPHERE.
COLLEGE, BUY A VACATION HOME, OR RETIRE.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE WATER: TWO DAYS IN MINOCQUA by Molly Rose Teuke
Let’s start with the fact that it’s all about the water. The fresh air, hospitality and great food are important, but let’s face it ... we come for the water. To be in it, on it or see it. Thanks to the glaciers of ages past, the Minocqua area has the highest concentration of lakes in the world. Everywhere you turn, people are out enjoying the fun. It’s good for the soul, being witness to such joy. That’s why, when we visit Minocqua for a long weekend, we begin with the water. Where we stay, the toys we bring, the gear we rent, where we dine — everything centers around the cool blue stuff. A day spent frolicking in sun, sand and water creates the perfect line of demarcation from the hustle of the work-aday world. Lodging on the water runs the gamut from hotel room to condo to cottage to lodge. Most places offer some form of water recreation, whether it’s a rowboat or kayak, a pontoon or a personal watercraft. Or you can find them for rent at several
$1 BILLION
places throughout town.
THE TOURISM ECONOMY
Our perfect first day calls for checking into our lodgings, unpacking swim suits and racing for the lake. First one in gets to choose where we have lunch. In short order, we’re all dripping wet and laughing. An hour of swimming, sand castles and soaking up the rays, and we’re famished. Minocqua has tons of options. Will we stick with main street classics, venture out to a lakeside bar and grill or choose a downtown spot on the water? Greek specialties or Mexican? Burgers or fish sandwiches at a lakefront bar and grill setting? Coffee shops abound with great lunch menus, and there’s no shortage of pizza. For dessert, we’ll have to make perhaps the toughest decision: the deliciously difficult choice between goods from a homemade candy shop or from a specialty ice cream parlour, or maybe we’ll just have both. Next stop: the World’s Largest Penny and the Dr. Kate Museum in Woodruff. Dr. Kate was a legendary Northwoods doctor in the first half of the 20th century. She made house calls any way possible, arriving by canoe, snowshoe or snowmobile. Her dream of having an area hospital came true when local children launched a million-penny campaign to raise $10,000 to build the hospital. The Lakeland Memorial Hospital opened its doors in 1954 — and Woodruff got the World’s Largest Penny. Time for more water, so we head to our home away from home and repeat the morning’s beach routine. After a fish fry overlooking the water, we stroll down the street to catch the Min-Aqua Bats water ski show. An exquisite pink sunset over Minocqua Lake caps off a happy Day One.
On Day Two, the early risers sneak out for a quick dip before we pile into the car for the short drive to Wildwood Wildlife Park. Kids love being up close and personal with the animals, and there are enough activities to keep them happy for days — a paddle boat adventure, safari train, nature trail boardwalk and more. We catch our breath over lunch at the Hungry Bear Hut or the new Jambo Hut (lunch with a giraffe!). By mid-afternoon, it’s time for more rigorous recreation. We rent stand up paddle boards and kayaks, and paddle through glittering sun diamonds dancing across Minocqua Lake. Clouds gather on Day Three as we head into town for a hearty breakfast. We seize the grayish day for shopping at our favorite boutiques. Downtown Minocqua offers shopping for just about anything … from antiques to home décor, to beautiful jewelry, and both casual and upscale fashion. Hooray! The sun’s back out. Time to regroup. We grab lunch on the fly, rent bikes and hit the Bearskin Trail. This old railroad bed is now part of Wisconsin’s Aldo Leopold Legacy Trail System. It starts in Minocqua and follows the Bearskin Creek some 18 miles south, crossing so much water that there are 13 trestles along its length. A state trail pass is required for bikers over 16. Over a leisurely meal and a brew, we use a napkin to make the inevitable “Wish we had time for …” list for our next visit. The events calendar at minocqua.org is a good place to start choosing dates for our return visits, because it’s clear one visit is never enough.
TOP 5 COUNTIES FOR TOURISM IMPACT IN THE NORTHWOODS
GENERATES OVER $1
Rank
County
2018 Tourism Spending (in millions)
1
Oneida County
$237.50
2237
TOURISM, EACH WISCONSIN
2
Vilas County
$232.8
2043
HOUSEHOLD WOULD PAY
3
Lincoln County
$59.4
735
4
Langlade County
$47.6
478
5
Ashland County
$36
564
BILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL REVENUE EACH YEAR AND OVER $1 BILLION IN FEDERAL TAXES. WITHOUT
AN ADDITIONAL $660 TO MAINTAIN EXISTING SERVICES.
Tourism Jobs
WATER, WOODS, PEACE,
SPARKLING, PRISTINE LAKES. THICK, PINE-SCENTED FORESTS. AND DEEP, VELVETY SILENCE. IF THIS IS THE KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU WANT TO PLAY, THEN HEAD TO THE MINOCQUA AREA IN WISCONSIN’S GREAT NORTHWOODS.
AND QU IET
DROP A LINE When you escape up here, get ready to have a lot of fun “naturally.” Head out on one of the area’s 2,300-plus freshwater lakes, streams and ponds and try reeling in some northern pike, muskellunge or smallmouth bass. You’ll also find largemouth bass, trout and walleye in the waters up here. Need a little direction on where to head? A few of the more popular spots include Big Arbor Vitae Lake, Squirrel Lake and Mid Lake, plus the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area. Don’t fret if the spot you choose isn’t quite to your liking; just move to one of the thousands of others.
TAKE A HIKE GRAB YOUR PADDLE If paddling is your thing, you’re also in the right spot. With this much freshwater flowing through the area, there are plenty of places to canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard. Novice paddlers may wish to check out the Tomahawk River, known for its long stretches of flat, calm water. As you drift along the river, check out the forests, savannah and grassy meadows you’re gliding past. You may even spot chickadees, osprey and otters. More experienced paddlers will find hundreds of lakes in the expansive North Highland-American Legion State Forest (NHAL), Wisconsin’s largest state forest. The NHAL has six water trails mapped out for those with intermediate skills; stop by 24-hour visitor information center at the Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce on Highway 51 to pick up your map. Twitchers Welcome Birders love to walk through the 5,000-acre Rainbow Flowage, home to species such as spruce grouse, black-backed woodpeckers, olive-sided flycatchers, palm warblers and evening grosbeak. But that’s not all. Bald eagles and osprey reliably nest in this area. And come fall, when the flowage’s waters recede, shorebirds strut along the exposed mud flats. Another prime bird-peeping spot is the 4,300-acre Powell Marsh State Wildlife Area, where you may spot great blue herons, marsh hawks, sandhill cranes and black terns. There’s also an 1,800-acre refuge here. Some birders have spotted the rare gray jay in the NHAL State Forest, plus the LeConte’s and Nelson’s sharp-tailed sparrows.
The NHAL is also one of the area’s top hiking destinations, with more than 70 miles of trails snaking through its scenic, dense forestland. If you think that’s impressive, consider this: the Minocqua area boasts more than 600 miles of trail. In addition to the NHAL, you’ll find trails in Powell Marsh Wildlife Area, the North Lakeland Discovery Center and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
FUN ON TWO WHEELS Cyclists have hundreds of miles of paved bike trails from which to create a ride of any length. The trails slip in and out of the woods, and sometimes parallel the roads. Mountain bikers aren’t out of luck, as the area’s Raven Trails offer five miles of singletrack, plus some obstacles. The most popular area biking spot, though, is the 18-mile Bearskin Trail, a compact-granite recreational path that traces Bearskin Creek and heads south out of Minocqua, eventually connecting with the 15-mile Hiawatha Trail that takes bikers to Tomahawk. No matter what activity you enjoy, make sure to take time to relax in your nature-filled surroundings at the end of the day. Breathe in the fresh air, then let the soothing sounds of the water and wildlife lull you to sleep. Naturally.
minocqua.org