PORTAGE COMMUNITY & VISITOR’S GUIDE
2022
PORTAGE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | PORTAGEWI.COM
PORTAGE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 104 West Cook St., Ste. A Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6242 or (800) 474-2525 pacc@portagewi.com portagewi.com
On their way to appearing on the cover of this publication, Elizabeth and Rick Hengel of Wild Wisco Waters carry their canoe at the Sunset Park boat launch to access the Wisconsin River.
Cover Photograph: Elizabeth and Rick Hengel canoeing along the Wisconsin River. Photographs: Provided by Portage Chamber of Commerce unless otherwise noted. Additional Photographs: Blystone Towing & Radiator, Cascade Mountain, Glacier Valley Campground, Historic Indian Agency House, Madison College – Portage, Portage Center for the Arts, Solas & Kin Photography
INSIDE THE GUIDE
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©2022 Portage Chamber of Commerce. Any reproduction or reprint of this guide, or portion there of, without written permission from Portage Area Chamber of Commerce is prohibited. Information is subject to change without notification. Please call published telephone numbers to confirm details.
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PUBLISHER:
Towns & Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 174 Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 (608) 356-8757 info@townsandassociates.com townsandassociates.com General Manager: Amy S. Johnson Publication Designer: Crea Stellmacher Sales Coordinator: Jacklyn Ewerdt Senior Copy Editor: Kyle Jacobson Additional Staff: Jennifer Denman, Debora Knutson, Olivia Seehafer, Linda Walker, Barbara Wilson
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Welcome to Portage Mayor’s Welcome Chamber Involvement History of Portage Location & Transportation Residential Living Hotels Recreation Parks Lakes & Fishing Campgrounds Calendar of Events Arts & Entertainment Portage Canal Tourism Biking Map Points of Interest Shopping & Dining Restaurant Listings Education Community Development Healthcare Government Places of Worship Member Directory portagewi.com | 3
Madleen and Joe share a laugh over the bridge spanning the Portage Canal in downtown.
WELCOME TO PORTAGE The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce proudly welcomes you to Historic Portage: a wonderful tourist destination, a great place to raise your family and the right location to grow your business. Our significant historical heritage, small-town charm and seasonal recreational opportunities create a desirable setting in which to live, work and play. Portage is the ideal destination for you. Portage possesses a wealth of reliable employment, great neighborhoods, stable industries, educational opportunities, outdoor recreational resources and excellent healthcare facilities. With a population just over 10,000 and a regional population exceeding 55,000, Portage, the county seat for Columbia County, has a vibrant downtown, lively arts center and many museums providing living lessons in history. Home to two Pulitzer Prize winners, historian Frederick Jackson Turner 4 | portagewi.com
and novelist Zona Gale, Portage builds on their legacy by supporting and promoting the arts. Portage Center for the Arts (PCA), with its Drury Gallery and Zona Gale Theatre, showcases local artists’ works and offers stellar performing arts programming throughout the year. Along with the PCA in the downtown, visitors can revel in the district’s renaissance with the addition of Columbia County administration offices along the canal, new yoga and photography studios, candle shop and diners. Tourists will enjoy vast historical experiences at the Historic Indian Agency House, Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters, Museum at the Portage, American Legion State Headquarters & Museum, Women’s Civic League and refurbished section of the Portage Canal. Outdoor enthusiasts will take pleasure in the recreation provided by the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers and Cascade Mountain, the Midwest’s largest ski resort, offering great skiing, tubing and snowboarding.
PORTAGE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 104 West Cook St., Ste. A Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6242 or (800) 474-2525 pacc@portagewi.com portagewi.com
FOLLOW US! @portagechamberwi @PortageWI #portagechamberwi youtube.com/user /PortageChamber Whether you’re interested in visiting our community or you’re looking to relocate and make Portage your home, we invite you to explore all that we have to offer.
MAYOR’S WELCOME I would like to welcome you to Portage, the third-oldest settlement in Wisconsin. Portage has a rich history and offers every recreational opportunity you can imagine. The Wauona Trail is just one of the historical places to visit and walk. We welcome you to become part of history and follow in the footsteps of Native Americans and settlers. At one end is the Historic Indian Agency House/ Fox River and at the other is the Wisconsin River. The trail was used for transporting goods between the south-flowing Wisconsin and the north-flowing Fox. This is how Portage later got its name from the French that traded and settled in this area. Your visit would not be complete without a stop at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters. This is the last remaining part of Fort Winnebago, established in 1828. For a condensed version of the history of Portage, visit the Museum at the Portage.
Rick Dodd, Mayor
When you’re finished exploring Portage, visit some of the best recreational areas in the state. From biking to golfing to skateboarding to swimming, there’s something for everyone to do. Swimming at Silver Lake Beach will be an experience not soon forgotten. It’s a spring-fed lake that also has some of the best fishing around. Portage also has more than 15 beautiful city parks that you can enjoy. Goodyear Park is home to the Splash Pad and Portage Family Skate Park. You may also want to play a round of disc golf at Collipp-Worden. All the parks offer you a great place for a picnic. Portage also has an excellent healthcare campus: Tivoli at Aspirus Divine Savior Healthcare, an extended care facility, and La Vita Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art physical therapy and exercise facility.
CITY OF PORTAGE MUNICIPAL BUILDING
115 West Pleasant St. Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2176 Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm @CityofPortageWI
Portage is also home to some of the best educational facilities in the state, from the public and private schools to the Madison College campus, including its advanced manufacturing facility at the Portage Enterprise Center. Whatever you would like to do, you will find it in Portage. Thank you for visiting, and we hope you enjoy your stay in our lovely city. We hope to see you again. Rick Dodd, Mayor
Madelyn takes her little brother, Luca, for a walk along Silver Lake Beach.
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CHAMBER INVOLVEMENT A ribbon cutting was held at Saddle Ridge Golf Course to celebrate the completion of their brand new clubhouse, The Rendezvous.
The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization of the business community providing leadership for building a healthy economy and a high quality of life in our area. Consisting of businesses, organizations and individuals working as one voice, the Chamber solves critical issues and partners in economic development with a goal to expand existing businesses while attracting new businesses. The Portage Chamber promotes members by touting their products and services while helping members obtain valuable leads through networking opportunities, such as our Chamber Business Luncheons. We
For more information, contact us at the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce, (800) 474-2525. 6 | portagewi.com
showcase community pride through our events, such as Concerts in the Park, Taste of Portage and many holiday events. We provide resources and information, such as this guide, to our tourists and potential residents. We
have a great group of businesses and individuals who generously give their time and talents to help support our goals. We are committed to the success and growth of the community with the help of leaders who work in collaboration to provide the best for all involved.
We continually strive to complement the assets Portage possesses to make the city even better: •
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The Chamber helped the Portage Service Club Association raise $190,000 for a matching Wisconsin DNR grant to construct a pavilion, paved trail and upgrades at Pauquette Park. A previous collaboration brought a Splash Pad to Goodyear Park. With the Portage Tourism Commission, bringing Canoes on Parade, a public art display of fiberglass canoes painted by local artists, to various locations around Portage. Tourists and residents are encouraged to take their photos in front of the upright canoes to look like they are portaging, or carrying, their canoes. Taking advantage of the beautiful countryside, we helped bring a system of scenic bike routes to cycling enthusiasts. We continue to partner with city government to encourage revitalizing properties that need investment.
You’ll never know what you‘ll see at the Portage Downtown Market. Debuting last summer, the event mixed vendors with live music, kids’ activities, crystal ball reading, stilt walkers, caricature artists and more.
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Adam Novey of the Historic Indian Agency House guides the creation of a dugout canoe with the help of fire. The project is one of many educational experiences offered by Agency House and Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters.
HISTORY OF PORTAGE The historical distinction of Portage lies in its unique geographical location between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers. Here, the two rivers, one flowing north to the St. Lawrence, the other south to the Mississippi, are separated by a narrow neck of land over which, for two centuries, Indians, missionaries, trappers, traders, adventurers and settlers traveling the waterway had to portage their canoes and heavy packs from one stream to another. The settlement, which grew here because of the resulting traffic, was first known as “Wau-wau-onah,” Winnebago for “carry on the shoulder.” During the French occupation, it was simply “le portage” (from porter: to carry) and was eventually anglicized to Portage. So far as we know, the first white men to visit Portage were the explorers Fr. Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet, who portaged here on June 14, 1673, en route to exploring 8 | portagewi.com
and mapping the upper Mississippi. The two men were followed by a slew of others, including Lauant Barth, who arrived in 1792 and built a trading post carrying on the first transport activity. He was the original permanent settler. With the American occupation of the Northwest Territory, the government began to protect its interests by building a string of forts along the now famous FoxWisconsin water route. Indian resentment over invasion of their lead mine regions and the exorbitant tolls levied on transport goods resulted in the establishment of Fort Winnebago in 1828 to ensure peace and fair business practices. With the end of the Blackhawk War, European immigration brought to Wisconsin a flood of settlers eager for cheap land. The portage point continued in importance for trade and transportation, and Portage
itself grew rapidly as a thriving farm community. The lumber industry brought a tide of hardy woodsmen and rivermen to Portage during its heyday. Agriculture and industry soon took over the lumbering days. Today, the city is a progressive community treasuring the story of its past, and is eager and willing to share it with visitors and guests While visiting Portage, you’ll find that many of our historic sites have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. A selfguided tour of downtown Portage, which includes a map and building description, is available at the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce office. Guided downtown walking tours are scheduled during the summer tourist season. Call the Portage Chamber at (608) 742-6242for specific dates and times. Portions of article by Ina Curtis, author and historian.
When drivers happen upon trouble, it’s great to have Blystone Towing & Radiator Service in our neighborhood to help.
LOCATION & TRANSPORTATION Learning to fly: The new Portage Area Flying Club is a nonprofit, social flying club whose members can learn how to fly with a certified instructor. Portage is conveniently located 35 minutes from Madison, 90 minutes from Milwaukee, 3 hours from Chicago and 4 hours from the Twin Cities. Interstate 90/94 and Interstate 39 intersect just three miles south of Portage. Travelers from Milwaukee, Chicago and Rockford can continue west on I-90/94 to the Twin Cities or head north along I-39 to Stevens Point and Wausau. State Highways 16 and 51 intersect State Highway 33 in our downtown.
Madison and the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Columbia County provides transportation for seniors who are over 60 years of age and the disabled for a nominal charge. More unique forms of travel are available to visitors as well. More than 10,000 rail passengers a year use the Amtrak depot in Portage to ride the popular crosscountry Empire Builder Route as
the Canadian Pacific Rail runs freight service through Portage. The Portage Municipal Airport is a public-use facility featuring two asphalt runways, a pilot’s lounge and fuel available 24/7 with restaurants and convenience stores within walking distance. The Dane County Regional Airport, located just 35 minutes from Portage, provides commercial air service.
For over 75 years, Henry G. Meigs, LLC has been proudly serving the Wisconsin road building industry with superior quality asphalt products.
Portage has various transportation options for commuters. The Portage Cab Company runs 24/7. Van Pool exists for commuters to portagewi.com | 9
Portage is a great place to raise a family.
RESIDENTIAL LIVING The quality of life found in Portage attracts new residents from all stages in life – from first-time home buyers and growing families to empty nesters and retirees. Residents benefit from an outstanding school system, great healthcare providers, yearround recreational opportunities and a rich arts community. Portage offers an affordable and diverse range of options for all home buyers. Newer homes situated along tree-lined streets in well-maintained subdivisions mix well with the stately
historic homes nestled within the Society Hill Historic District. Spacious lots for new home construction are currently available in the Rolling Hills Country Estates subdivision on the north side with another development of more than 60 lots planned nearby. Portage will be ready for growth. The Portage area is a community that values its senior population, offering many options for independent and assisted living, enabling resi-
dents to maintain relationships and stay active in the community without the challenges or responsibilities of home ownership. Enhancing the quality of life for our residents in Portage are two foundations to assist community needs and projects: Positively Portage and the Portage Area Community Foundation. The people behind these organizations are dedicated to giving back and care deeply about our city and its residents. The Free Summer Lunch program, free to kids 18 and under, is available at five locations Monday through Friday during the summer months. Also, the community will benefit from efforts to bring a Boys & Girls Club to our community.
For more information, contact us at the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce, (800) 474-2525. 10 | portagewi.com
HOTELS With accommodations to meet every traveler’s needs, Portage is a great place to stay overnight.
Enjoy a comfortable stay in Portage to experience all the history and attractions the town has have to offer.
The Best Western Hotel & Conference Center has more than 90 rooms, conference meeting space, fitness center, pool and Suzy’s Steak & Seafood House nearby. The Ridge Hotel has 100 rooms, a pool, meeting space and workout center and is conveniently attached to Dino’s Restaurant. The Sunset Motel has 17 rooms with close parking and quick access to great food options. Ho-Chunk Gaming in Baraboo offers a resort-inspired atmosphere with luxury hotel entertainment, meeting space, gaming, food and fun.
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Rosie demonstrates how to throw strikes at J & J Fireball Lanes.
RECREATION The Portage Park and Recreation Department does an outstanding job of maintaining the beautification of our city parks. The department also provides year-round activities an entire family can enjoy. Having fun on the water is a favorite year-round pastime for residents and visitors. Boaters hit the waters of the Wisconsin River
and swimmers enjoy a day at Silver Lake Beach, a wide sandy beach with wading, swimming and diving fun. An indoor pool located at Rusch Elementary School, 117 West Franklin St., and a nearby outdoor Splash Pad at the Gary O’Hearn Recreation Complex at Goodyear Park keep youngsters cool.
Visit us online at
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Biking enthusiasts will really enjoy the Columbia County Bike Loops. Portage is home to four of the routes. See page 23 for more information. Also located at Goodyear Park, the Portage Family Skate Park, where construction was completed on Phase 2 and is now ready for skaters and scooters. Golfers can try their skill at the 18-hole course at Portage Country Club or the adjacent 9-hole Saddle Ridge Golf Course with its all new clubhouse. Take aim at good times, pizza and the pins at J & J Fireball Lanes, featuring daily food specials.
The Portage Rod & Gun Club offers members full use of its outdoor pistol and rifle ranges, archery range, four trap stations, skeet station and 120 acres of hunting land. Portage is along the Ice Age Trail, one of eight congressionally designated National Scenic Trails located throughout the U.S. The trail meanders through 31 Wisconsin counties along the terminal moraine left by a glacier over 10,000 years ago. The Heritage Trail Chapter in Columbia County maintains more than 12 miles of trails, boasts 21 hand-built bridges and showcases the intersections of prairie, wetlands and waterways. When winter arrives, skiers and boarders in Portage are lucky to have the highly rated Cascade Mountain nearby. A recent expansion added two lifts, eight trails, increased snowmaking, an expanded main lodge, paved parking and several base area
improvements. Some of Cascade’s trails are steep and challenging to any skier, while others are more than a mile long and fun for beginners. Kids 12 and under ski free when accompanied by a paid adult. Ice skating is enjoyed on Bridal Pond in Pauquette Park, and for those who crave horsepower to get over snow, snowmobile trails run alongside Portage, connecting with other trails throughout Columbia County and Wisconsin. Snowmobile maps are available at the Chamber office. The Scottish game of curling is played on a level sheet of ice inside the Portage Curling Club, where players try to throw the stone closest to the center of the house target. As a stone travels down the ice, teammates sweep the ice, guiding the stone to a desired position, sometimes bumping or blocking opponents’ stones as necessary.
Snowboarders love to take flight at Cascade Mountain.
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CITY OF PORTAGE PARKS 18 PARKS - 116.42 MAINTAINED ACRES
COMMERCE PLAZA
(303 West Wisconsin St.) - .25-acre pocket park located in downtown Portage. This area was deemed a park by the City of Portage Common Council. It consists of restrooms, park benches, trees and plant/flower beds. Located in the heart of downtown; this is a beautiful natural area in a busy downtown!
GOODYEAR PARK
Silver Lake Beach is the perfect place to build a sand castle.
BLUE STAR PARK
(100 West Slifer St.) – 2.3-acre wayside park located on Highway 51 and Slifer Street. Home of the Portage Veteran’s Memorial and Killed in Action Memorial. This park also hosts the City of Portage annual Memorial Day Celebration. A gazebo, shelter and picnic tables are located in this park.
BRUCE A. SMITH LITTLE LEAGUE COMPLEX
(1208 Coit St.) – 7.55-acre park located at Coit Street and Wauona Trail. This community park contains three youth baseball fields, a concession stand with restrooms, batting cages and playground. The complex is home to Portage Youth Baseball Inc., who operates and helps maintain the facility.
COLLIPP-WORDEN PARK
(226 West Slifer St.) – 16.5-acre park located on Slifer Street, two blocks west of Highway 51. The city’s largest park is home to two shelters, restrooms, three basketball courts, two tennis courts, sand volleyball court, a ballfield backstop and green space, a large playground with various age group equipment and zip line, electricity, charcoal park grills and more! This park is also home to the City of Portage disc golf course.
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GUNDERSON PARK
(574 Meadowlark Ln.) – 11.5-acre park located at the corner of Hamilton Street and Meadowlark Lane. This park contains playground equipment and a gravel recreation trail that begins at the park entrance on Hamilton Street and runs through the entire park, across Portage Community School District property and ends by Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital & Clinics.
HIGHWAY 33 WAYSIDE
(1825 State Highway 33) – 3.15acre area located on Highway 33 at the east entrance to the City. This wayside contains a parking lot, DOT information markers and front to the Fox River. Many kayaks are launched at this location.
To reserve a park for your event, call the Portage Park & Recreation Department at (608) 742-2178 or visit the website at: portage.recdesk.com
CATTAIL PARK
(510 Burns St.) – 1-acre park located at Burns and Armstrong Streets. This park is adjacent to St. John’s school and contains spring rider playground equipment, green space and shelter.
(920 DeWitt St.) – 2.74-acre park located between Dewitt Street and MacFarlane Road. This park is home to the Splash Pad, Portage Family Skate Park, playground equipment, two shelters, restrooms, electricity, charcoal park grill and large green space. Goodyear Park also has two veteran monuments paying tribute to the military. The Portage Splash Pad is operational Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, 10:00am to 8:00pm.
Disc golf is a sport enjoyed by all ages on the course at Collipp-Worden Park.
Online registrations are available.
Get a little exercise in with a morning walk on the Wisconsin River Levee.
LINCOLN PARK
(404 East Carroll St.) – 1-acre park located on the corner of Monroe and Howard Streets. Lincoln Park is home to a shelter, basketball court and playground equipment and is also host to the Portage Food Pantry.
PAUQUETTE PARK
(900 West Conant St.) – 9.2-acre park located at the west entrance of the City along West Conant Street and Highway 33. This park contains the rentable Beasley Pavilion, home to Concerts in the Park; two additional shelters; restrooms; electricity; recreational trails; basketball court; gazebo; playground equipment; flower gardens; walking path; and Bridal Pond. Many weddings and celebrations are held within this park. Snow is cleared each winter on Bridal Pond to allow for ice skating activities.
PINE MEADOW PARK
(865 Hamilton St.) – 5.15-acre park located on the north half of Hamilton Street. This park contains one tennis court, two pickleball courts, shelter, electricity, ballfield backstop, large green space and playground equipment.
RIVERSIDE PARK
(300 East Wisconsin St.) – 2.1-acre wayside park on East Wisconsin Street next to the Wisconsin River Levee. This park is home to a historic shelter erected in 1924 which displays the slogan “Where the North
Begins.” The park contains off-street parking, swing set and an entrance to the 2.8-mile asphalt Levee Trail designed for recreational use.
SANBORN PARK
(922 West Franklin St.) – 1.38-acre park located on the corner of Sanborn and Carroll Streets. This park contains a shelter, play equipment, basketball court and green space.
SILVER LAKE PARK AND BEACH
(522 Silver Lake Dr.) – 2.5-acre park located on Silver Lake Drive. This park contains restrooms, shelter, playground equipment, public sand beach and swimming area with slide, beach house with concessions and changing room, boat launch and a fishing pier. The beach and swimming area is staffed with lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
SUNRISE PARK
(513 Hamilton St.) – 5-acre park located on Hamilton Street, commonly referred to as “The Gully.” This park is home to a large sledding hill in winter with a large green space.
Wisconsin River at Sunset Point, one of the highest points in Portage at the peak.
VETERAN’S MEMORIAL FIELDS
(Located between Superior Street and Wauona Trail) – 36.1-acre park. This park is host to a shelter and concession stand facility with restrooms, electricity, ballfields, soccer fields, fair grounds and grandstand. This park is host to the annual Columbia County Fair, numerous City-wide event celebrations and special events, along with Portage High School varsity soccer and Portage Youth Soccer. The Fritz Port Dog Park is also located within this complex.
WOODRIDGE PARK
(424 Winnebago Ave.) – 4.5-acre park located on Winnebago Street in the Oak Ridge subdivision. This park is home to a shelter and playground equipment.
SUNSET PARK
(1217 West Pleasant St.) – 4.5-acre park located at Sunset and West Pleasant Streets. This park contains a shelter, restrooms, electricity and horseshoe pits, charcoal park grills, and playground equipment. A gravel path winds through the park to a beautiful view of the
The zip line at Collipp-Worden Park.
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Bridal Pond at Pauquette Park is a popular place to cast a line.
LAKES & FISHING BUFFALO LAKE
2,210 acres; 8-foot depth; panfish, bass and pike. West of State Highway 22, Montello.
CRYSTAL LAKE
27 acres; 12-foot depth; panfish, bass and pike. County Road P, east of Pardeeville, approximately 1.5 miles to Pardeeville Road. This lake has walk-in access only, carry-in for canoes, kayaks, etc. No developed boat ramp.
LAKE COLUMBIA
A man-made lake heated by the Alliant Energy generating plant. This lake stays ice free and features year-round open-water fishing: bass and catfish. State Highway 51 south to County Road V. Public access to Lake Columbia: enter from County Road V/J via the driveway and drive back to the parking area to the launch area on the southeast side of the lake. There is no boat ramp, anglers are limited to boats they can carry down to the water, and only electric trolling motors are allowed (the motor rules are posted on a sign on the chain-link fence next to the parking area). Fish from shore as well.
LAKE GEORGE
36 acres; 22-foot depth; panfish, bass and pike. County Road P, between 16 | portagewi.com
Portage and Pardeeville. Use of motor-powered craft is prohibited.
SWAN LAKE
9,000 acres; 39-foot depth; panfish, bass, pike, walleye, sauger, muskie, sturgeon and channel and flathead catfish. Interstate 90/94 to County Road CS, exit at Poynette.
406 acres; 82-foot depth; panfish, bass, pike, walleye and channel catfish. Off either State Highway 33 or County Road P, between Portage and Pardeeville. A public boat launch is located on the south shore of Swan Lake at the end of South Shore Drive off of Breneman Road.
MASON LAKE
WISCONSIN RIVER
LAKE WISCONSIN
885 acres; 9-foot depth; panfish, bass and pike. State Highway 127 to County Road AA in Briggsville, 12 miles from Portage.
PARK LAKE
312 acres; 27-foot depth; panfish, bass, pike, walleye and channel catfish. The county boat landing on Highway 44 was newly renovated in 2019. Between State Highways 44 and 22 in Pardeeville.
SILVER LAKE
74 acres; 42-foot depth; panfish, bass and pike. Silver Lake Drive off of State Highway 16 or Haertel Street off State Highway 51 in Portage.
SPRING LAKE
24 acres; 32-foot depth; panfish, bass, pike, walleye and channel catfish. Just off State Highway 22 in Pardeeville. No gasoline-powered boat motors are allowed on Spring Lake.
Approximately 35 miles long from Wisconsin Dells to Lake Wisconsin; accessible from Portage. The river has many sandbars and low-water areas, so precaution is advised. Panfish, bass, pike, walleye, sauger, muskie, catfish and sturgeon. A public access boat landing is located at the corner of Conant and Summit Streets in Portage. There are two key access points to the river between Portage and the Dells: a public boat launch on the Wisconsin River at Pine Island (south bank) along Levee Road 6 miles west of State Highway 33, and a public boat launch on the Wisconsin River off of County Highway O on Fox Run Road, south of State Highway 16, 3 miles east of Wisconsin Dells.
Duck Creek Campground
W6560 County Rd. G, Pardeeville (608) 429-2425 • duckcreekcampground.com
Glacier Valley Campground
N8129 Larson Rd., Cambria (920) 348-5488 • glaciervalleycampground.com
SNACK BAR/STORE
GAME ROOM
PLANNED ACTIVITIES
PLAY AREA/MINI GOLF
DUMP STATION
CABINS/COTTAGES
WATER/ELECTRIC
FULL HOOKUP
CAMPGROUNDS
SWIMMING POOL/POND/BEACH
The swim pond provides lots of summertime fun at family-owned Glacier Valley Campground.
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Pride Of America Camping Resort
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Sky High Camping Resort
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W7520 West Bush Rd., Pardeeville (800) 236-6395 (ask about our variety of rentals) • camppoa.com N5740 Sky High Dr., Portage (608) 742-2572 (open year-round) • skyhighcampingresort.com
Camping is a popular way to enjoy the beautiful Wisconsin landscapes in summer. Several high-quality campgrounds are available for those wishing to experience the great outdoors. Campers can spend their days relaxing, grilling, boating, fishing and swimming in lakes or heated pools; walking along nature trails; and enjoying the playgrounds, game rooms and, of course, telling stories around a campfire while making s’mores. portagewi.com | 17
2022 CALENDAR OF EVENTS ONGOING EVENTS FARMER’S MARKET Thursday afternoons May - October
CONCERTS AT THE PORTAGE Wednesday evenings June - August
ARTIST SHOW AT PORTAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS New exhibit on display every month
APRIL 16 24 28 29
Portage Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt Student Recital Series at Portage Center for the Arts Lunch Break at Portage Center for the Arts Portage Wine Walk
MAY 14
15 15
26 30
Historic Indian Agency House “A Landscape of Families” Outdoor Exhibit Grand Opening Book Club at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters Opening Day at Historic Indian Agency House & Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters Lunch Break at Portage Center for the Arts Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade
JUNE 3-30 Art That Blooms Exhibit at Portage Center for the Arts 4 Canal Days 4 Downtown Portage Walking Tour 4-5 Civil War Encampment at Historic Indian Agency House 5 Elks Kids Fisheree 8 Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing 9-11 Citywide Garage Sales 10-12 St. Mary Church Rededication 18 | portagewi.com
11 12 12 14 18 25
Classic cars on display at Taste of Portage Market Fair
Flag Day Celebration at Historic Indian Agency House Book Club at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters Elks Flag Day Celebration Speaker Series at Historic Indian Agency House History Alive at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters Historic Indian Agency House Guided History Hike
JULY 1-22 Art That Blooms Exhibit at Portage Center for the Arts 1 Concert in the Park at Pauquette Park 2 Festival Foods Fireworks Celebration 9 Elks Golf Outing 9 Prairie Restoration Guided Nature Walk at Historic Indian Agency House 12 Speaker Series at Historic Indian Agency House 14-16 Garden Tractor Daze 17 Book Club at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters 21 Downtown Portage Market 22-24 Youth Softball Tournament 23 Christmas in July at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters 27-31 Columbia County Fair 30 Voyageur Canoe Experience at Historic Indian Agency House 30-31 Enduring Skills Weekend at Historic Indian Agency House
AUGUST 6-7 & Community Archaeology 13-14 Dig, Blacksmithing Demonstrations at Historic Indian Agency House 9 Speaker Series at Historic Indian Agency House 20 Kids at the Cabin at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters 20 Zona Gale Celebrates Friendship Village 21 Book Club at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters 26-27 Taste of Portage Market Fair
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Classic Car & Truck Show at Taste of Portage Downtown Portage Walking Tour
SEPTEMBER 9-10 American Legion Celebration of Freedom Event 11 Book Club at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters 11 Patriot Memorial at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters 13 Speaker Series at Historic Indian Agency House 17 Living History Day at Historic Indian Agency House 24 Fall Festival at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters
OCTOBER 7 15 15 15 31
Portage Wine Walk Book Club at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters Closing Day at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters Free Admission Day at Historic Indian Agency House Portage Trick or Treating
NOVEMBER 5 12 24 25
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Community Campfire at Historic Indian Agency House Harvest Dinner at Portage Presbyterian Church Free Community Dinner at St. Mary Parish Lighted Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting and Portage Presbyterian Church Chili Dump Santa’s Real Live Reindeer at Commerce Plaza
DECEMBER 3 3 3 10 10 24 25
Cookie Walk Photos with Santa at Edgewater Home & Garden Holiday House at Presbyterian Church Culver’s Breakfast with Santa Kiddie Christmas at the Historic Indian Agency House Santa visits the Elks Lodge Christmas Day Dinner at Portage Presbyterian Church
Creating new memories at the Columbia County Fair
Please Note: Events are subject to change. Please check with us before planning your vacation. portagewi.com | 19
The cast of Really Rosie performed by the Zona Gale Young People’s Theatre at Portage Center for the Arts.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Come to Portage Center for the Arts the first Friday of each month for an Opening Reception of a featured exhibit in the Drury Gallery from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.
Thirty-five years ago, a small group of community members in Portage recognized how vital the arts can be to a community, and embarked on a vision: to create an arts center in this small, rural community. On a shoestring budget and with nothing but the passion of a handful of volunteers, Portage Center for the Arts (PCA), as it is now known, was born! Each year, they work hard to cultivate the founding members’ vision: bringing together music, theatre, poetry, visual arts and arts education opportunities all under one roof. Visit free monthly art exhibits in the Drury Gallery, enjoy live theatrical performances and
workshops for the young young at heart, experience music in an intimate venue more! For more information, portagecenterforthearts.com.
and live and visit
The Portage Area Community Theatre has been bringing live theatrical performances to our community since 1971. Theatrical projects take place at many times throughout the year, helping to enhance the quality of life of residents. This group is working to make sure that everyone is touched by the performing arts. They welcome both individuals and businesses as members and sponsors. Full details of membership, sponsor opportunities and forthcoming productions may be found by visiting pacttheatre.org. The Portage Community School District also supports the arts by offering theatrical and musical performances from its talented students. Portage Theatres, with its comfortable recliners, shows Hollywood blockbuster movies in Dolby Digital 3-D along with the area’s sharpest, brightest picture and best digital surround sound on seven screens. Enjoy a cold beverage in their lounge after the show.
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Photograph provided by Entact LLC
A portion of the $7.8 million canal restoration project involved manually removing 30,000 cubic yards of sediment for contaminate remediation.
PORTAGE CANAL Phase 2 of Portage Canal restoration should be completed this spring. The remediation of contaminated sediment in this segment phase was completed last fall. The restoration work will bring back the canal’s use as a transportation water trail. A shared-use path alongside the canal, complete with lighting and interpretive signs, is in the works along with pedestrian bridges.
ed sediment and refurbishing the locks near the Wisconsin River side of the canal. Since that time, the addition of the Columbia County
Administration Buildings and a reconstruction of the Wisconsin/DeWitt Street intersection have revitalized that canal segment.
Photograph provided by Anchor QEC
The first phase of Portage Canal restoration, completed back in 2007, involved remediation of contaminat-
Grass starts to peek through along the newly completed segment of the canal, looking west toward Adams Street and the Columbia County Administration Buildings.
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TOURISM Whether you’re looking for a historical educational experience or a family-friendly event, there are many exciting things to do when visiting Portage. Festivals and fairs are really a treat in Portage. The Taste of Portage Market Fair draws thousands of visitors each year. The event features great food, craft vendors, live music and car show. The Columbia County Fair brings a week of fun carnival games, exhibits and rides. Other highlights include St. Mary’s Best Fest, Festival Foods Fireworks and Concerts in the Park. When winter takes hold, Cascade Mountain awaits. Recognized as the Midwest’s top-rated ski and snowboard destination, Cascade Mountain provides downhill fun
for experts through beginners, and kids 12 and under ski for free with paid adult. Snowmobiling is another popular winter activity. The Portage area is linked to trails within Columbia County and throughout the state. Portage is home to the Winnebago Ridge Runners, a volunteer group ensuring the trails are groomed and ready for you each season. During the holiday months, Portage Theatres offers a free kids’ movie day. Santa lights the tree in Commerce Plaza. Make plans to have breakfast with him or have your picture taken with his reindeer. You can find a complete listing of community events at portagewi.com.
Visitors gather to enjoy the Concerts in the Park at Pauquette Park, once a longtime tradition featuring a singular performance by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, now expanded to include more concert evenings with a wide range of music.
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Cycling enthusiasts will love the scenery around Portage.
BIKING
Tours ● Interpretive Trails ● Events
Historic Indian Agency House Portage attracts cyclists from all over to ride the Columbia County Bike Loop routes. A total of 13 routes plus 3 connecting routes take you to every corner of the county and interesting places in between. Located in downtown and next to the Wisconsin River, Riverside Park in Portage is a great place to start your journey. Three of the routes begin at Riverside Park, which has plenty of parking and is a nice rest area to come back to. And there are many good places to eat nearby with nice places to stay overnight in Portage. Experience the natural views of wetlands, waterways, wildlife areas and so much more along challenging hills and downhill slopes once you are on the routes beyond our city. The routes can be found at portagewi.com.
at Fort Winnebago Step back to 1832 and experience nationally significant history at this crossroads of cultures.
Open May 15 - October 15 Wed - Sat 10 - 4 and Sun 12 - 5
Follow Facebook and www.agencyhouse.org
1490 Agency House Rd, Portage ● 608-742-6362 portagewi.com | 23
Adams St. Agency House Rd. Airport Rd. Albert St. American Legion Dr. Armstrong St. Averbeck St. Barden St. Blackhawk Rd. Bluebird Dr. Bluffview Ct. Boeck Rd. Brady St. Brittingham Ct. Brook St. Burns St. Caledonia St. Cardinal Ct. Carmaunee Dr. Carroll St. Cass St. Cemetery St. Center St. Charles St. Clark St. Clemens Ct. Coit St. Collins St. Collipp St. Columbia Dr. Conant St. Cook St. Crestview Ct. Deerfield St. Denning St. DeWitt St. Dodge St. Dorn Dr. Dorothy Dr. Dunn St. Eagle Ridge Ln. Eastridge Dr. Edgewater St. E G White Ct. Emmett St. Erie St. Evergreen Trl. Fair Blvd. Fairfield St. Forest Hill Dr. Franklin St. Frontage Rd. Griffith St. Grove St. Gunderson Dr. Haertel St. Hamilton St. Harlan Dr. Henry Dr. Herman St. Hiawatha St. Highland Ave. Howard St. Houston St. Hunters Trail Ct. Huron St. Jackson St. James St. Jefferson St. Jones St. Karla Ct. Kirking Ct. Klemp St. Kutzke Rd. LaDawn Dr. La Moure St. Lake Rd. Latton Ln. Lennon St.
G7, G8, H8 J5, J6 E4, E5 F7, I7, H7, G7 F3 F7, F8 F7 H7 F11 G3, G4 D7 A4, A5 H8, H9 H6 H8, H9 F7, G7 E10 H3 L5, L6 F8, G7, G8 G8 C6, D7 I7, J7 D7, E7 G8 H5 J9 E4, F4, G4 E5 C3, C4 F8, G8, H8, I7 F8, G8, H8, I7 D7 E5 J7, K7 G7, G8 H8, H9 H4, H5 H6, H7 F7, F8 H4 F3, G3 G9, H8, I8 I6 F7, G7 I9 H5 I8 D9 H3 E8, F8, G7 F3 I8 H6 F2, F3, G3 F6, G6 H4-H7 J10 E4, F4 E7 F5, G5 D7 G8, H7 H6 G3 I9 I7, H7 E7 H7, H8 J7 H6 A4 E5 A5 B4, C4 D7 E6 E5 F5
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Levee Rd. Lock St. Locust Ct. MacFarlane Rd. Main St. Marchowsky Pl. Marion St. Maryln Dr. McMahon Rd. McPherson St. Meadowlark Ln. Michigan St. Minnehaha Ave. Mohr Rd. Monroe St. Mooreland Cir. Morgan St. Morningstar Dr. Mullet St Murphy Rd. New Pinery Rd. Northport Rd. Northridge Dr. Northside Dr. Oakridge Dr. Ontario St. Oneida St. Orchard St. Pacific Estates Ct. Park St. Parkview Ct. Pauquette St. Pierce St. Pine Ridge Cir. Pine Ridge Ct. Pleasant St. Portage Rd. Prospect Ave. Red Fox Run Red Pine Ct. Reid St. Ridgeview Ct. Riley Rd. River St. Riverview Ct. Sanborn St. Sandhill Crane Ct. Sandhill Crane Rd. Schneider St. School Rd. Schultz St. Silver Lake Dr. Slifer St. Smith Rd. Solar Ct. Southtown Rd. Suellen Ln. Summit St. Sunset St Superior St. Thompson St Town St. Townsend St. US HWY 51 Frontage Village Rd. Volk St. Washington St. Warren St. Wauona Tr. Whitney St. Whitney Rd. Wild Rose Ct. Winnebago Ave. Wisconsin St. Wolf St. Wood St. Woodcrest Dr. Wood Thrush Cir. Yellowstone Ave.
B9 G8, G9 D7 G7, G8 G8, H8 H8 F8, G7, G8 H3, I3 E1, F1 I8 H4 I8, I9 F5, G5 B5 H7, H8 H4, I3, I4 I8, J8 H3, H4, I3 H8, I8 B4, B5 F2-F6 D4 E3, F4 E2, F4 G5 J8, J9, K8 F7 D7 K6 E8 C6 H8, H9 F8 B6 G5 G8, H8 D4 F8, E8 G3 G5 F7 C6 C4 C7, E7, E8 D7 E8 K6 K6, L6 F6, F7 F4, G4, H4 E5 E5, E7, F5, F7 F5, H5, G5 B4 I6 J9, J10 H6 D7, D8 E8 I8, I9, J7 I9 F6 H8, I9 F2-F4 F3 F6 H9, I8 H9 I8, I9, J7, J8 J7 K7 L5 G5 G8, I9, H9 I7 F11 G5 I3 G5
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POINTS OF INTEREST There’s much to see and do while in the Portage area. Historic sites and museums are accompanied by various cultural outlets and a calendar year full of events, leaving just one question:
WHAT TO
DO FIRST?
AMERICAN LEGION STATE HEADQUARTERS & MUSEUM
The American Legion State Headquarters & Museum houses such historical relics as statues, uniforms, medals, photographs and documents from the history of Wisconsin’s American Legion as well as war-era memorabilia. (608) 745-1090. wilegion.org
AMISH COMMUNITY
Located to the northeast and east of Portage is a fairly large Amish community. The Amish are well known for their beautiful handmade quilts, baskets, furniture and many other items. The Amish businesses in this region include bakeries, furniture and cabinetmaking shops, greenhouses, quilt shops and general stores. 26 | portagewi.com
CASCADE MOUNTAIN
Cascade Mountain is a top-rated ski and snowboard destination for experts through beginners. Find hours of fun on the 900-foot-long tubing hill. Kids 12 and under ski for free with a paid adult. (608) 742-5588.
FORT WINNEBAGO SURGEONS QUARTERS
The only remaining building of historic Fort Winnebago, the Surgeons Quarters was built in 1828 by the U.S. Army and is one of the oldest log houses in Wisconsin still standing on its original foundation. The log house is fully refurbished as a home of the army occupation days with authentic artifacts from the fort. (608) 742-2949. fortwinnebagosurgeonsquarters.org
CREEK BED COUNTRY FARMACY
Family fun starts with hayrides to the pumpkin patch, huge corn mazes and endless activities. Enjoy fresh air, amazing views and family fun. Located just south of Portage. (608) 635-8798. creekbedcountryfarmacy.com
DOWNTOWN RETAIL DISTRICT
As a trade center for central Wisconsin, the Downtown Retail District thrived with activity as early as the 1860s. Many of the buildings are preserved in their original Victorian architecture, providing a colorful background for the busy retail area today.
HISTORIC INDIAN AGENCY HOUSE
The Historic Indian Agency House, built in 1832, is one of Wisconsin’s earliest houses still in existence. It was constructed as a residence for John Kinzie, the Indian agent to the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago), and his wife, Juliette Kinzie. After 100 years of varied use, the house was restored to its 1832 frontier grandeur and officially reopened in 1932. (608) 742-6362. agencyhouse.org We invite you to explore Portage and our wide range of outdoor recreation for every season, museums and history, the arts and so much more.
SO MUCH
TO DO!
MUSEUM AT THE PORTAGE
The William L. and Zona Gale Breese home was donated to the City of Portage in 1946 and housed the Portage Public Library until 1994. In 1996, the Museum at the Portage was established to showcase displays relevant to the history of the City. Within the Museum, visitors will find Zona Gale’s study preserved and a permanent collection of photographs and artifacts depicting historical events that occurred in the City. (608) 742-6682. portagemuseum.org
PORTAGE CURLING CLUB
The Portage Curling Club was established in 1850. The club operates a four-sheet facility from late October until March each year. Leagues are offered for men, women and mixed rinks, as well as a junior curling program. (608) 742-3237. portagecurling.com
Visit us online at portagewi.com
ZONA GALE HOME/ WOMEN’S CIVIC LEAGUE
After the successful publication of her first novel in 1906, Zona Gale built a home for her parents on the bank of the Wisconsin River. Its classical Greek Revival exterior is in contrast to its rustic Craftsman interior. Gale’s 1920 bestselling novel, Miss Lulu Bett, won her the Pulitzer Prize in 1921, and her home was given to the Women’s Civic League in 1932. (608) 742-7744. womenscivicleagueofportage.com
PORTAGE IS A CITY STEEPED IN HISTORY.
PORTAGE CANAL
The Portage Canal, a connector of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, was finished in 1876 and reached its peak for recreational boat traffic in 1908. The first of a four-phase canal refurbishing project was completed in 2007. portagecanal.org
PORTAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Portage Center for the Arts supports a fine tradition of culture in our community with theatrical performances, art displays and a performing arts series. (608) 742-5655. portagecenterforthearts.com portagewi.com | 27
SHOPPING & DINING The Portage area is home to a wide variety of restaurants that are sure to please any appetite. You will find quaint cafes, buzzing bar and grills, casual family restaurants, fine dining and fast food diners all around. The menu selection is as varied, with restaurants serving up everything from American classics and rich home-style cooking to prime steaks, fresh seafood, flatbread pizzas, gourmet burgers, delicious hand-battered cheese curds, sub sandwiches and sweet treats. When it comes to shopping, you can find what you’re looking for with a variety of local shops and national department stores. The historic downtown district serves as a charming backdrop for today’s shoppers. Catch up with a friend over a nice glass of wine at Neil’s
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Wine House. Shopping has a nice ring to it at Forever Yours Jewelry. Make your own bracelet at Prairie Flower Beads. DW Sports Center should be on the sights of every hunter and fisherman. Find a comfy recliner at Portage Furniture Store or candles and artwork at Spark & Sparkle. The Mercantile offers a wonderful selection of
Portage has all kinds of great gifts for every season and occasion.
antiques, wines, jewelry, clothing, kid’s games and more. At Commerce Plaza, handcrafted items, fresh flowers and plants, baked goods and homegrown produce are all ripe for picking at the Farmer’s Market every Thursday afternoon from May through October.
RESTAURANTS 608 NUTRITION 2800 New Pinery Rd. (608) 566-1276 A healthy cafe with a juice bar offering smoothies, energizing teas and iced protein coffee ARBY’S PORTAGE #8827 2921 New Pinery Rd. (608) 745-0810 Try our Famous Roast Beef Sandwiches & more B&B HITCHING POST 2503 West Wisconsin St. (608) 742-8208 Family-style restaurant bar & grill BROTHERS 220 West Cook St. (608) 745-1144 Friendly neighborhood tavern CANAPE SANDWICHES 2830 New Pinery Rd. (608) 683-2003 A trendy sandwich shop with a little something for everyone CARRIE LYNNE’S COFFEE, LLC 322 DeWitt St. (608) 228-8788 Coffee shop serving breakfast & lunch COTTONWOOD BAR & GRILL 312 DeWitt St. (608) 742-5917 Daily drink & food specials. DJ Thursday – Sunday. Authentic gyros
CULVER’S 2733 New Pinery Rd. (608) 742-7982 Butterburgers, custard, quick service, made to order DINO’S RESTAURANT 2900 New Pinery Rd. (608) 742-4111 Breakfast, daily lunch/ dinner & drink specials, fullservice bar & banquet room DOUGLAS’ BIG DOG SALOON 218 West Cook St. (608) 742-3644 Enjoy friends, great food & good times in historic downtown Portage DUNKIN’ 2950 New Pinery Rd. (608) 745-5700 World’s leading baked goods & coffee chain with dozens of coffee & donut choices J & J FIREBALL LANES 817 East Wisconsin St. (608) 742-6638 Weekly and daily food specials, including a Friday fish fry JACK’S TAP 1207 Dunn St. (608) 566-1666 Burgers, pizza, sliders, wings & drink specials KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN 2990 New Pinery Rd. (608) 616-4700 Featuring “Finger-LickingGood” chicken, catered to any size group
LA TOLTECA 2756 New Pinery Rd. (608) 745-6776 Authentic Mexican Cuisine for the whole family. Friendly atmosphere and fast service
RED APPLE FAMILY RESTAURANT 1152 East Wisconsin St. (608) 745-9000 Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, full senior citizen menu & daily specials
LITTLE ITALY ITALIAN CUISINE 2653 New Pinery Rd. (608) 566-1232 Authentic Italian cuisine and every dish prepared with love
RENDEZVOUS AT SADDLE RIDGE 100 Saddle Ridge (608) 742-2181 (3 miles east of Portage) Open for lunch & dinner, overlooking the Saddle Ridge Golf Course
NEIL’S WINE HOUSE 235 West Pleasant St. (608) 617-8463 Diverse beer and wine selections, seasonal cocktails & delicious appetizers
SUZY’S STEAK & SEAFOOD HOUSE 2711 County Rd. CX (608) 742-8400 Top-quality steaks, fresh seafood, fine wines & classic cocktails
PAPA MURPHY’S 2936 New Pinery Rd. (608) 745-4200 Take and Bake Pizza
TAMARACK PIZZA 412 East Wisconsin St. (608) 742-6424 Tenderloin and fresh Angus beef burgers, bar & grill, carryout, cocktails & pizza
PIZZA HUT OF PORTAGE 401 East Wisconsin St. (608) 742-8829 Carryout, delivery, dine in, Wing Street menu, Explore Flavor menu PIZZA RANCH 2905 New Pinery Rd. (608) 566-1750 Buffet featuring chicken, pizza, salad bar, soup, dessert, pies & ice cream PORTAGE CAFÉ LLC 111 West Cook St. (608) 566-7194 Breakfast & lunch café
THE NORTHSHORE W7245 Country Club Rd. (608) 742-3553 (3 miles east of Portage) Friday fish fry, Saturday prime rib, steaks, pastas, sandwiches & outdoor seating WILZ HOMETOWN PHARMACY 140 East Cook St. (608) 742-3545 Old-fashioned soda fountain offering delicious sandwiches & refreshing beverages portagewi.com | 29
Walk through the doors of the Madison College – Portage campus and you’ll find friendly faces ready to help you. Portage Campus is a welcoming place to start, or restart, your college journey.
EDUCATION Students and families in Portage will find an outstanding education system in place to foster lifelong learning. With public, private, alternative and higher education options all available, it’s easy for each individual student to find the best education to suit their needs. The Family Resource Center provides excellent service to all families
who have children ages up to five. Services include play groups, field trips, workshops, home visiting, parenting classes, toy and resource lending library and more. Visit them online at renewalunlimited.net for more information. The Portage Community School District provides a quality education to all students. The curriculum includes
advanced classes, innovative technologies and classes to meet the students’ interests complemented by a wide variety of extracurricular offerings and activities. The district includes four-year-old kindergarten programs, five elementary schools, one middle school, one high school and one alternative high school. The district appreciates the support of families along with community and business partners who, together with staff and board of education members, are committed to the success of every student. For more information, please check out the district website at portage.k12.wi.us or see what’s happening on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PortageCSD. Two elementary-level parochial schools are a great way for parents to ensure that their children receive
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faith-based education along with their traditional education. St. Mary Parish & School and St. John’s Lutheran Ministries are K-8 schools that not only offer outstanding classes within the core curriculum but also focus on spiritual education with an emphasis in family involvement and positive daily practices. After graduation, students wishing to continue their education, along with adults looking to go back to school, can find several higher-learning institutions both within Portage and nearby.
Count on unwavering support. Online options. Local campus. We’re here for you. Learn more!
madisoncollege.edu/portage 608.745.3100
Madison College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. Inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies are handled by the Affirmative Action Officer, 1701 Wright Street, Madison, WI 53704. Phone 608.243.4137.
Madison College–Portage is a community-based, post-secondary institution serving the educational and training needs of Columbia and Marquette Counties. Associatedegree-level programs and certificate courses are available in various fields. Area businesses contract with them to provide customized training to their employees. The campus also provides Adult Continuing Education and Adult Basic Education throughout the year in community centers, schools and churches based upon local requests. Adult Basic Education provides instruction to individuals 18 1/2 years or older to prepare them for completion of the GED or HSED. The University of Wisconsin–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County, just 20 minutes from Portage, provides academic courses in a rural campus setting. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is only 45 minutes away and is the cornerstone of the statewide University of Wisconsin System. A proud member of the Big Ten, it’s recognized worldwide for its teaching and research facilities. Madison is also the home of the main campus for Madison College and Edgewood College. The Portage Public Library encourages lifelong learning through free internet access, great programming for ages toddler through adult, an annual book sale and much more. For more information, visit portagelibrary.us. portagewi.com | 31
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Portage continues to make positive strides in economic development. The north side of the city has seen much activity with the recent additions of WCCU Credit Union and Arby’s and with the Northridge Mall now at or near tenant capacity. There’s much potential for more growth with available land and easy access to Interstate 39.
The south side of town is bouncing back from a summer of construction with a brand new Wisconsin Street (Highway 16/51) and a new Dollar General business. In the last five years, a good number of the businesses located in the industrial park have undergone physical
St. Mary Parish is undergoing an $8 million renovation that includes refurbishing the steeple and the creation of a gathering space. A church rededication event is planned for June 10-12.
Made right here in Portage, the large culvert now lies under the reconstructed intersection of DeWitt and Wisconsin Streets as part of the Portage Canal.
A new Dollar General store opened last summer on the south side of Portage.
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Canape Sandwiches has a wide variety of creative sandwiches and hot dogs to try.
plant expansions while also adding employment. The industrial park has room for more businesses that would like to have a base in Portage. Portage is combating the skilledlabor shortage plaguing industries and employers nationwide. The Portage Enterprise Center offers workforce training. The local CESA 5 Youth Apprentice program offers students paid employment and up to two years related instruction.
Simply Well Air sells the most powerful air and surface-cleaning technology ever created.
Portage is the place to grow your business. The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce is here to help.
608 Nutrition is a new business in Portage serving up delicious teas, tasty shakes, energy drinks and hot soups.
Visit us online at portagewi.com for additional information pertaining to community development. portagewi.com | 33
The Portage community is in good care with providers, such as Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital & Clinics.
HEALTHCARE Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital & Clinics has been dedicated to providing the highest level of care to Portage and the surrounding communities for over 100 years. Their comprehensive list of high-quality services and programs are available to patients close to home. Their experienced, compassionate physicians, nurses and staff are here to ensure availability of comprehensive medical services. Their state-of-the-art hospital and clinic are home to the Emergency Department, Urgent Care, Surgery, Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Orthopedics, Family Medicine Physicians, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Dialysis, Diagnostics, Laboratory, OB/GYN, Birthing Center and more for all of a family’s needs. On their Portage Campus, you’ll also find the Tivoli Community, a welcoming and modern facility offering assisted living and skilled-nursing beds. New in 2016, The Wellness Center, located between the hospital and Tivoli, is the home of La Vita, a medically integrated fitness center. UW Health is the academic medical center and health system of the University of Wisconsin, caring for more than 650,000 patients each year in the upper Midwest and beyond with 1,785 employed physicians and 21,000 employees at seven hospitals and 77 clinic locations. Governed by UW Hospitals and Clinics Authority, they partner with the University of 34 | portagewi.com
Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and are dedicated to excellence in patient care, research, education and community service. UW Health operates a number of community-based clinics in the region, including in Portage. The clinic is conveniently located and offers allergy, cardiovascular, gastroenterology, hematology, medical oncology, rheumatology, urology and vascular surgery services. This clinic also provides laboratory and radiology services.
offers on-call nursing services. Among the specialties provided are oncology, urology, neurology, endocrinology, cardiology, rheumatology and dermatology. Portage residents are well taken care of with other quality healthcare services, including dentists, chiropractors, physical therapists and counseling services.
UW Health has expanded Med Flight services to Portage, reducing response times as onboard physicians and nurses tend to patients with life-threatening trauma and medical conditions faster. The UW Health Med Flight base is located on the campus of Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital & Clinics. SSM Health operates three facilities in Portage: SSM Health Davis Duehr Dean Eye Care – a comprehensive eye clinic, SSM Health Dean Medical Group and SSM Health Dean Medical Group Specialty Services. SSM Health’s medical group location in Portage offers comprehensive family healthcare services, health assessments and physicals, preventive medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, minor surgery, foot care and on-site laboratory and x-ray services. In addition, the second floor houses a specialty-services clinic and also
Dr. Kevin Blau performs chiropractic adjustments outdoors during a fundraising event organized by Blau Family Chiropractic & Integrated Wellness.
Here’s to a healthier future. Together. Aspirus Health helps keep you at your best.
Find an Aspirus provider.
call 800.847.4707 visit aspirus.org
For me and my family
Dr. Kevin Blau
Dr. Lance Brisky
Celebrating 26 years of excellent care, education, and service in the Portage Community! We focus on your entire lifestyle, because there is nothing more precious and finite than our time on this beautiful earth.
Agrace.org (608) 276-4660 portagewi.com | 35
The Portage Fire Department proudly displayed the American flag at last year’s Celebration of Freedom event, which also featured New York’s 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit. The event was hosted by the Wisconsin American Legion, headquartered in Portage.
GOVERNMENT The City of Portage, the seat for Columbia County, is a full-service municipality providing a range of excellent public services, such as street maintenance, refuse and recycling, library, water, public safety and recreation. Municipal government for the City of Portage consists of the Mayor, City Administrator, Business Development
& Planning Director and nine elected alderpersons. Portage City Hall, 115 West Pleasant St., is the home to all municipal services, including police and fire department and TRIAD, where law enforcement and seniors meet and work together to enhance their quality of life
and ensure their needs are met in the community. Seniors also meet for a catered lunch Monday through Friday at the senior dining center inside the Aging and Disability Resource Center in the new Columbia County Administration Building. Citizens have further access to information regarding city projects, green initiatives, city services and programs, meeting minutes, community events and much more by visiting the City of Portage online at portagewi.gov or contacting one of the departments.
For more local information about Portage, go to: portagewi.com
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CITY OF PORTAGE CONTACT INFORMATION CITY HALL 115 West Pleasant St. (608) 742-2176 COLUMBIA COUNTY AGING & DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER 111 East Mullett St. (608) 742-9233 COLUMBIA COUNTY COURTHOUSE 400 DeWitt St. (608) 742-2191 COLUMBIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION BUILDING 112 East Edgewater St. (608) 742-9801 COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT 711 East Cook St. (608) 742-4166 PARK, RECREATION & FORESTRY DEPARTMENT 701 West Slifer St. (608) 742-2178 PORTAGE FIRE DEPARTMENT 119 West Pleasant St. (608) 742-2172 PORTAGE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 1011 Silver Lake Dr. (608) 742-3300 PORTAGE POLICE DEPARTMENT 117 West Pleasant St. (608) 742-2174 PORTAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY 253 West Edgewater St. (608) 742-4959 WATER DEPARTMENT 135 Northridge Dr. (608) 742-4727 portagewi.com | 37
PLACES OF WORSHIP Several faith communities are represented in the more than 15 churches in Portage, available to help residents meet their spiritual needs. Local churches are collaboratively working with the residents to create places of worship and offer faithbased educational opportunities to enrich the lives of Portage residents. Local faith organizations belong to and support the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce. These organizations elevate the quality of life in the Portage area through education, charity benefits, programs and outreach. The community is invited to share in their social gatherings, often centered around friendly card games, luncheons, healthy cooking classes, trivia contests and craft and bake sales.
Portage United Methodist Church welcomed Christmas with this nice display. Local parishes welcome those seeking spiritual guidance and help those in need.
MEMBER PARISHES CrossPoint Assembly of God 2727 County Rd. CX (608) 742-2221 Freedom in Christ Assembly Church 409 Fourth St., Baraboo (608) 434-0348 Portage Presbyterian Church 120 West Pleasant St. (608) 742-6006 Portage Seventh-day Adventist Church 2100 East State Rd. 33 (608) 742-4695 Portage United Methodist Church 1804 New Pinery Rd. (608) 742-2107 St. John’s Lutheran Ministries 850 Armstrong St. (608) 742-9000 St. Mary Parish and School 309 West Cook St. (608) 742-6998 St. Mary of the Pines Chapel at Durward’s Glen Retreat & Education Center W11876 McLeisch Rd., Baraboo (608) 356-8113
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MEMBER DIRECTORY 608 Nutrition 2800 New Pinery Road, Unit 3 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-1276 ambitionnutritionwi.com Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative 401 East Lake Street Friendship, WI 53934 (800) 831-8629 acecwi.com ADRC of Columbia County 111 East Mullett Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-9233 co.columbia.wi.us/columbiacounty/adrc Agrace Hospice Care 1670 South Boulevard Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 327-7209 agrace.org See ad on page 35 Agri Business Insurance Services-Rural Mutual Insurance 201 DeWitt Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4444 braddamoninsurance.com Alliant Energy 2777 Columbia Drive Portage, WI 53901 (800) 255-4268 alliantenergy.com Allstate Ins-Shelly Cibulka Insurance Group LLC 214 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6548 allstate.com/shellycibulka Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of WI 3330 University Avenue, Suite 300 Madison, WI 53705 (608) 232-3400 alzwisc.org American Legion State Headquarters 2930 American Legion Drive Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-1090 wilegion.org AMPI/Associated Milk Producers, Inc. 301 Brooks Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2114 ampi.com Anytime Fitness 2800 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-0250 anytimefitness.com/gyms/2312 /portage-wi-53901/
Arbor Green, Inc. 430 East Albert Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-0055 Arby’s Portage #8827 2921 New Pinery Road, Unit 1 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-0810 Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital & Clinics 2817 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4131 aspirus.org See ad on page 35 Associated Bank 222 East Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4115 associatedbank.com B & B Hitching Post 2503 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8208 bbhitchingpost.com See ad on page 11 Band Box Cleaners & Laundry, Inc. 1207-23 Superior Avenue Tomah, WI 54660 (800) 362-3305 bandboxclean.com Beasley, Nancy M. Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5757 Beautifully Blemished 104 West Cook Street, Suite B Portage, WI 53901 (608) 697-0297 Bee Alive Yoga 230 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-9333 facebook.com/beealiveyoga See ad on page 12 Best Western Resort Hotel & Conference Center 2701 South County Highway CX Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2200 bestwestern.com /resorthotelconferencecenter See ad on page 11 Bindl Family Chiropractic 2121 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4300 bindlfamilychiropractic.com
Blau Family Chiropractic & Integrated Wellness 641 Latton Lane, Suite A Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-1300 blauchiropractic.com See ad on page 35 Blystone’s Towing & Radiator Service 1201 West Highway 33 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4228 blystonestowing.com BonBon and Bordeaux 117 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-5768 facebook.com/BonBonandBordeaux Bonded Collectors of Wisconsin 2425 Airport Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4124 bondedcollectorsofwi.com Brakebush Brothers, Inc. N4993 6th Drive Westfield, WI 53964 (608) 296-2121 brakebush.com BrightStar Care Baraboo 507 Linn Street, Suite B Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 355-5015 brightstarcare.com/baraboo Brothers 220 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-1144 Burdick Powersports 2646 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-1293 burdickpowersports.com C & D Seamless Gutters 505 Washington Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7530 Cafe Face, LLC Portage, WI 53901 (608) 393-9764 cafeface.net Canape Sandwiches 2830 New Pinery Road, Suite J Portage, WI 53901 (608) 683-2003 canapesandwiches.wordpress.com Cardinal FG 1650 Mohr Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-1966 cardinalportage.com See ad on Inside Back Cover
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MEMBER DIRECTORY Carquest 2666 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-9336 carquest.com
Country Plumber, Inc. W8371 County Highway P Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2648 countryplumber.com
Dean Clinic - Portage 2825 Hunters Run Trail Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7161 deancare.com
Carrie Lynne’s Coffee, LLC 322 DeWitt Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 228-8788 facebook.com/Carrie-Lynnes-Coffee
Covia Corporation N6082 US Highway 51 Pardeeville, WI 53954 (608) 742-2101 coviacorp.com
Dean Health Plan 1277 Deming Way Madison, WI 53717 (866) 794-3326 deancare.com
Cascade Mountain Ski & Snowboard Area W10441 Cascade Mountain Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5588 cascademountain.com
Crawford Oil & Propane Company 416 East Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2414 crawfordoilandpropane.com
Design 1 Apparel 1207 Wauona Trail Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5642 design1apparel.com
Creek Bed Country Farmacy N2767 Mountford Road Poynette, WI 53955 (608) 635-8798 creekbed.farm
Dino’s Restaurant 2900 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4111
CBD American Shaman 2814 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 683-2055 cbdamericanshaman.com Century 21 Affiliated 1606 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8521 C21Affiliated.com CESA 5/Cooperative Educational Svc Agency 626 East Slifer Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-5400 cesa5.org Chaos Management, Inc. P.O. Box 191 Poynette, WI 53955 (864) 325-2677 chaosmgt.com Columbia County CASA, Inc. 311 East Wisconsin Street, Suite 207F Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-9977 columbiacountycasa.org Columbia County Fair Association P.O. Box 57 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 697-5043 columbiacountyfairwi.org Columbia County Humane Society N7768 Industrial Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3666 cchswi.org Community Bank of Portage 2930 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-4300 commbankportage.com See ad on page 7 Cottonwood Bar & Grill 312 DeWitt Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5917
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Cricket Wireless 2830 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 683-2039 cricketwireless.com
Don-Rick Insurance, Inc. 236 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5548 don-rick.com See ad on page 36
Cross Jenks Mercer & Maffei 221 3rd Avenue Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 356-3981 cjmmlaw.com
Douglas’ Big Dog Saloon 218 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3644 facebook.com/BigDogSaloonPortage
CrossPoint Assembly of God 2727 County Road CX Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2221 crosspointag.com
Dreyer Design N4360 Allan Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-1453 dreyerdesign.com
Culver’s Restaurant 2733 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7982 culvers.com See ad on page 27
Duck Creek Campground W6560 County Highway G Pardeeville, WI 53954 (608) 429-2425 duckcreekcampground.com
Cutting Edge Insurance LLC 702 DeWitt Street, Suite A Portage, WI 53901 (608) 697-8282 See ad on page 19
Dungarvin Wisconsin 2802 Coho Street, Suite 101 Madison, WI 53713 (608) 316-7670 dungarvin.com
Daley’s Beverage Mart 1623 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4651
Dunkin’ 2950 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-5700 dunkindonuts.com/en
Dane County Title CompanyPortage Office 115 East Conant Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5552 danecountytitle.com
Durward’s Glen OLRG, LTD. W11876 McLeisch Road Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 356-8113 durwardsglen.org See ad on page 38
Davis Construction Co. of Portage, Inc. 800 Whitney Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7224 davisblacktop.com
DW Sports Center 125 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7745 Easton Motors 102 Henry Drive Portage, WI 53901 (608) 253-0511 eastonmotors.com
MEMBER DIRECTORY Ebenezer Janitorial Service 2345 Schultz Street, Suite 309 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 415-1180 Edgewater Home & Garden 2957 County Highway CX Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6558 edgewaterhomeandgarden.com Edward Jones - Josh Vehring, Financial Advisor 145 East Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5408 edwardjones.com Edward Jones - Klay Vehring, Financial Advisor 240 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8841 edwardjones.com Electric 1, Inc 3021 County Road CX Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2222 elec1.com Elsing Oil Company P. O. Box 85 Poynette, WI 53955 (608) 635-2164 Enbridge 9001 Dumke Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 756-0071 enbridge.com/wisconsin Encapsys, LLC 2500 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5386 encapsys.com Energizer/Rayovac - Portage Plant 2851 Portage Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-5220 rayovac.com Engelland Landscape Architecture 111 Lake Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 347-5870 Eulberg, Dave and Judy 522 West Edgewater Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4957 EXP Realty 1115 West Pleasant Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 697-4098 coryotto.exprealty.com Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. 2425 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-0097 fairwayportage.com
Family Heritage Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 (608) 333-3155 Fancy Pants 124 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5711 Fearing’s Audio Video Security 722 Walsh Road Madison, WI 53714 (608) 443-2595 fearings.com Fenske & Associates, LLC 2622 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-0980 fenske007.com See ad on page 37 Festival Foods 2915 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2386 festfoods.com First Weber Group 333 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4897 firstweber.com First Weber Relocation Services 135 Linn Street Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 254-3127 firstweber.com Forever Yours Jewelry, Inc. 123 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-3330 foreveryoursjewelryinc.com Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters 1824 East State Road 33 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2949 fortwinnebagosurgeonsquarters.org See ad on page 23 Fortifi Bank 408 Main Street Montello, WI 53949 (855) 876-1500 fortifibank.com Forward Service Corporation 2875 Village Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 448-3826 fsc-corp.org FoxArneson, Inc 5972 Executive Drive, Suite 100 Madison, WI 53719 (608) 381-8326 foxarneson.com Free Spirit Travel, LLC Portage, WI 53901 (608) 617-5558 free-spirit-travel.com
Freedom Carpeting 602 East Albert Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-0471 freedomcarpeting.com Freedom in Christ Assembly Church 409 Fourth Street Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 434-0348 ficachurch.org Freeland Industries, Inc. 1203 Adams Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2189 freelandind.com G. Karl Enterprises 126 West Prairie Street Endeavor, WI 53930 (608) 381-1518 gkarl-stewarts.com Galley Studio 222 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6151 galleystudio.com General Engineering Company 916 Silver Lake Drive Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2169 generalengineering.net See ad on page 30 Gerber Collision & Glass 3015 County Highway CX Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-9302 gerbercollision.com/gatescollision Giggles For Kids 117 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-5768 facebook.com/PortMercantile Glacier Valley Campground N8129 Larson Road Cambria, WI 53923 (920) 348-5488 glaciervalleycampground.com Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin, Portage 2902 American Legion Drive Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-0616 goodwillscwi.org Grande Cheese Company 181 West Monroe Street Wyocena, WI 53969 (920) 269-7200 grande.com Grothman & Associates, S.C. 625 East Slifer Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7788 grothman.com
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MEMBER DIRECTORY Gumz Muck Farms, LLC N570 6th Court Endeavor, WI 53930 (608) 981-2488 gumzfarmswi.com
Jack’s Tap 1207 Dunn Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-1666 jackstapportage.com
La Crosse Graphics 3025 East Avenue South La Crosse, WI 54601 (608) 788-2500 lacrossegraphics.com
H & M Contracting 967 Saddle Ridge Portage, WI 53901 (608) 335-9336
Johnson Chiropractic 1512 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5578 johnsonchiropracticoffice.com
La Tolteca Authentic Mexican Cuisine 2756 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-6776 facebook.com/LaToltecaPortage See ad on page 28
H.G. Meigs, LLC 1220 Superior Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5354 hgmeigs.com Haareway Laser and Skin Rejuvenation Center 2910 New Pinery Road, Suite B Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-9300 haareway.com See ad on page 13 Hair Sensations 127 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4888 hairsensationsportage.com Hamilton Park Place 2525 Hamilton Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7888 therapeuticalo.com Hart & Olson Family Dentistry 225 Gunderson Drive Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3272 hartolsonfamilydentistry.com See ad on page 21 Head 2 Toe Salon 321 West Conant Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-4935 facebook.com/Head-2-Toe-Salon Heritage House of Portage Assisted Living 2685 Airport Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-3312 heritagehouseofportage.com Historic Indian Agency House 1490 Agency House Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6362 agencyhouse.org See ad on page 23 Ho-Chunk Gaming S3214 County Road BD Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 356-6210 ho-chunk.com See ad on Back Cover J & J Fireball Lanes 817 East Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6638 facebook.com/FireballLanes
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Journey Mental Health Center, Inc. 1440 East Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 280-2700 journeymhc.org Just Me Windsor, WI 53598 (608) 846-5299 Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) 2990 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 616-4700 Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Inc. 1115 West Pleasant Street, Suite 8 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 697-5351 kinshipcc.org Klearvue, LLC P.O. Box 191 Poynette, WI 53955 (608) 669-2857 Knight Barry Title Services 311 East Wisconsin Street, Suite 205 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 683-3040 knightbarry.com Kratz Funeral Home 302 East Conant Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5585 kratzfuneralhome.com See ad on page 38 Kwik Trip - Central #764 1925 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8005 kwiktrip.com Kwik Trip - North #683 2970 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6676 kwiktrip.com Kwik Trip - South #653 1223 East Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5226 kwiktrip.com L’BRI PURE n’ NATURAL Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-9953 robynaustin.lbri.com
Larry’s Trophies and Awards N6315 Hillcrest Road Pardeeville, WI 53954 (608) 742-5854 Laura’s School of Dance 201 East Albert Street Portage, WI 53901 (866) 326-2356 laurasschoolofdanceportage.com Lilac Shop Studio 242 West Edgewater Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 617-9066 Link’s Greenhouse N9905 Link Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6758 linksgreenhouse.com Little Italy Italian Cuisine 2653 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-1232 littleitalyportage.com Loggerhead Deco, Inc. 1640 LaDawn Drive Portage, WI 53901 (608) 320-2846 loggerheaddeco.com Lotus Advisors 311 East Wisconsin Street, Suite 109 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4688 houznergroves.wradvisors.com Loves Travel Stop W9493 County Highway CS Poynette, WI 53955 (608) 635-2944 loves.com LYCON Inc. 1110 Harding Street Janesville, WI 53547 (800) 955-8758 lyconinc.com Madison College 330 West Collins Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-3100 madisoncollege.edu/portage-campus See ad on page 31 Madison Media Partners 714 Matts Ferry Road Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 745-3500 wiscnews.com/portagedailyregister
MEMBER DIRECTORY Magnum.Media N6912 Highway 51 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-1001 magnum.media Main Street Consignment 13 Main Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-1644 facebook.com/MainStreetConsignmentLLC Malone’s State Farm Insurance 415 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6754 statefarm.com/agent/US/WI/Portage /Sean-Malone-Y5B0Z1YS000 Mary Kay Independent Consultant 1144 Saddle Ridge Portage, WI 53901 (608) 697-3433 marykay.com/dholland Mary Ramsey, EXP Realty LLC 113 East Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 617-5466 maryramsey.exprealty.com MBE CPAs 208 West Town Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5591 mbe.cpa McReath Orthodontics 2625 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4800 drmcreath.com MCRO Photography & The Big Picture 242 West Edgewater Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 617-9066 mcrophotography.com Meigs Transport, LLC 1220 Superior Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5354 hgmeigs.com Mercantile 117 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-5768 facebook.com/PortMercantile See ad on page 19 Miller & Miller, LLC 311 DeWitt Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8585 portagelawyers.com Miller, Brussell, Ebben and Glaeske, LLC 611 East Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2103 mbegcpas.com See ad on page 7
Mosquito Squad 207 Cretney Street Ridgeway, WI 53582 (608) 438-2077 Museum at the Portage 804 MacFarlane Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6682 portagemuseum.org NAPA Auto Parts 125 East Edgewater Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7191 napaonline.com Nature’s Way Landscaping and Snow Removal LLC W6865 State Road 16 Pardeeville, WI 53954 (608) 408-0585 Neil’s Wine House 235 West Pleasant Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 617-8463 facebook.com/NeilsWineHousePortage New Life Physical Therapy Services & Sports Medicine 2639 New Pinery Road, Suite 2 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-9356 newlifept.com Next Level Creative Group 146 1/2 Fourth Avenue Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 356-6640 nextlevelcreativegroup.com Nona’s Tailoring and Tuxes 210 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3257 nonastailoringandtuxes.com Northwoods Inc. N6510 US Highway 51 South Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7114 nwdswi.org OCD Graphix & Apparel 105 North Main Street Poynette, WI 53955 (608) 575-5884 ocdgraphix.com Optimist Club of Portage W8407 Foote Drive Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3036 optimist.org Our House Senior Living 215 Northridge Drive Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-0331 ourhousesl.com Papa Murphy’s 2936 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-4200 papamurphys.com
Pepsi Cola, Company WP Beverage 6176 Pepsi Way Windsor, WI 53598 (608) 846-1200 pepsi.com Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home 430 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2126 pmmfh.com Pizza Hut 401 East Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8829 pizzahut.com Pizza Ranch 2905 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-1750 pizzaranch.com See ad on page 19 Plumer Karate America Portage 2211 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 469-5631 pkaschools.com See ad on page 31 Point B Wealth Advisors 130 East Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-1919 pointbwealthadv.com Pointon Heating and Air Conditioning 2559 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-4616 pointonheating.com Portage Area Community Fund P.O. Box 293 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 692-4629 madisongives.org/portage Portage Area Community Theatre (PACT) 11 Main Street Portage, WI 53901 pacttheatre.org Portage Cab Company 103 Dodge Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4700 runninginc.net Portage Cafe LLC 111 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-7194 Portage Center for the Arts 301 East Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5655 portagecenterforthearts.com See ad on page 20
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MEMBER DIRECTORY Portage Community Schools 305 East Slifer Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4879 portage.k12.wi.us See ad on page 31 Portage Country Club W7245 Country Club Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5121 portagecc.net Portage CrossFit Cooperative 211 East Albert Street Portage, WI 53901 portagecrossfitcooperative.com Portage Curling Association 107 West Albert Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3237 portagecurling.com Portage Diesel W8616 Highway 33 East Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3039 portagediesel.com
Portage Printing 309 East Albert Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8505 Portage Public Library 253 West Edgewater Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4959 portagelibrary.us Portage Rod & Gun Club W10450 Highway 16 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6885 portagerodandgun.org Portage Service Club Association P.O. Box 1 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5757 Portage Seventh-Day Adventist Church 2100 East State Road 33 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4695 portage22.adventistchurchconnect.org
Portage Elks Lodge 675 201 West Conant Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6040
Portage State Bank 2838 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-0940 baraboobank.com See ad on page 13
Portage Furniture Store 126 East Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4106 portagefurniture.com
Portage Theatres 322 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6900 portagetheatres.com
Portage Kiwanis Club 430 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 697-8184 portagekiwanis.com
Portage United Methodist Church 1804 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2107 portageumc.com
Portage Library Foundation P.O. Box 858 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4959
Positively Portage! (The Portage Area Community Charitable Trust) 121 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-4336 positivelyportage.org
Portage Lions Club P.O. Box 531 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 513-2317 e-clubhouse.org/sites/portage-wi Portage Lumber Do-It Best 1009 East Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7186 portagelumber.com See ad on page 33 Portage Park & Recreation 701 West Slifer Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2178 portage.recdesk.com/recdeskportal Portage Presbyterian Church 120 West Pleasant Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6006 portagepresbyterian.com
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Prairie Flower Beads 210 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5900 prairieflowerbeads.com Pregnancy Resource Center 306 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (800) 705-4710 portagewiprc.com Preuss Implement Inc. W8380 County Road P Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5525 Pride of America Camping Resort W7520 West Bush Road Pardeeville, WI 53954 (800) 236-6395 camppoa.com See ad on page 17
ProLytic LLC N6702 Blackhawk Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-5256 prolytic.vpweb.com R. Condon Gallery & Studio 223 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 617-1733 robertacondon.com Realty Solutions 2616 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-8010 realty-solutions.net Red Apple Family Restaurant 1152 East Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-9000 Reliable Handyman Service Portage, WI 53901 (608) 235-1431 Remedy Intelligent Staffing 104 West Cook Street, Suite 103 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 729-5222 remedystaff.com Rendezvous at Saddle Ridge 100 Saddle Ridge Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2181 rendezvousatsaddlerdg.com See ad on page 27 Renewal Unlimited, Inc. 2900 Red Fox Run Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5329 renewalunlimited.net Restaino & Associates ERA Powered 2425 New Pinery Road, Suite 101 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7777 restainohomes.com ReStore - Habitat for Humanity Wisconsin River Area 1450 East Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 356-0332 hfhwisconsinriver.org Revita Dance Studio 277 Lawrence Street Westfield, WI 53964 (608) 432-2512 revitadancestudio.com Rhyme N6832 Highway 51 South Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3747 rhymebiz.com Ridge Health & Fitness Center 2900 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2348 theridgemotorinn.com
MEMBER DIRECTORY Ridge Hotel 2900 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5306 theridgemotorinn.com Riley Kubatzke Agency 1606 New Pinery Rd. Suite B Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3888 amfam.com River Haven Homeless Shelter 108 East Pleasant Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7687 riverhavenshelter.org Rolling Woods Estates 2548 Airport Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-1567 pre-3.com Rotary Club of Portage P.O. Box 818 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-5220 portagerotaryclub.com Roth Professional Solutions 315 DeWitt Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 697-5857 rpsprofessionalsolutions.com Saddle Ridge Golf Course 100A Saddle Ridge Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2181 saddleridgegolfcourse.com Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics 2316 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8541 saint-gobain-northamerica.com
MEMBER DIRECTORY Sheila Link Agency Inc. American Family 131 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3999 sheilalink.com See ad on page 10 Simply Well Air 2555 New Pinery Road Portage WI 53901 (608) 697-3451 simplywellair.com Sky High Camping Resort N5740 Sky High Drive Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2572 skyhighcampingresort.com Sleep in Heavenly Peace Portage Chapter Portage, WI 53901 (608) 683-9109 shpbeds.org/chapter/wi-portage Small Business Development Center 975 University Avenue Grainger Hall #3260 Madison, WI 53706 (608) 265-3052 wisconsinsbdc.org/madison Smart Woman 120 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5733 Smart Woman Shoes & Accessories 201 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5766
St. Vincent de Paul 1311 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5513 svdpportage.org Summit Credit Union 110 Henry Drive Portage, WI 53901 (608) 243-5000 summitcreditunion.com Sunset Motel 2617 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5566 Suzy’s Steak & Seafood House 2711 County Road CX Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8400 suzysportage.com Tamarack Pizza 412 East Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6424 Terrytown Plumbing Heating and Cooling 1050 Thompson Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2665 terrytownplumbing.com See ad on page 37 The Flower Company 211 DeWitt Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4108 flowercompanyportagewi.com
Smiley Law Office 235 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5336
The NorthShore W7245 Country Club Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3553 nsportage.com
Sauk Columbia SHRM 311 East Wisconsin Street, Suite 106 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7800 saukcountyhr.shrm.org
Solas & Kin Photography 118 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-3886 solasandkinphoto.com
The O’Brion Agency, LLC 628 East Albert Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4677 obagency.com
Save The Grandstand Portage, WI 53901 (608) 617-8204 savethegrandstand.com
Spark & Sparkle LLC (Specialty Craft Mall) 126B West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 617-4002 sparkandsparklellc.com
The Phoenix 104 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-4450
Schmidt Insurance 121 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 358-0647 Schultz Small Engine 1110 Thompson Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3927 schultzsmallengine.com Seubert Family Dentistry 260 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-2331 portagedentists.com
St. John’s Lutheran Ministries 850 Armstrong Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-9000 stjohnsportage.com St. Mary Parish and School 309 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-6998 stmaryoticandhoc.org
The Portage Flooring Store 2830 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 768-5055 portageflooring.com The QTI Group 311 East Wisconsin Street, Suite 106 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7800 qtigroup.com The Rivers 621 Latton Lane Portage, WI 53901 (608) 566-1500 theriversportage.com
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MEMBER DIRECTORY Tiny Homestead N9164 Muskrat Road Portage WI 53901 (608) 235-2675 etsy.com/shop/tinyhomesteadshop
Verlo Mattress of Portage 2830 New Pinery Road, Suite C Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-1800 verlo.com
Wisconsin Army National Guard 2425 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (920) 279-7527 nationalguard.com
Title Experts 313 DeWitt Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-0203 titleexpertswi.com
VFW Post 1707 215 West Collins Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5350
Wisconsin Distributors, LLC/Budweiser 900 Progress Way Sun Prairie, WI 53590 (800) 373-2921 wdbud.com
Towns & Associates, Inc. PO Box 174 Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 (608) 356-8757 townsandassociates.com Tractor Supply Company 3033 County Highway CX Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-0750 tractorsupply.com Trans Works Transmissions, LLC 3025 County Highway CX Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5136 trannyman.net Trecek Automotive of Portage, Inc. 1350 East Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7155 trecek.com Two Rivers Signs & Design of Portage, Inc. 1316 Wauona Trail Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-4242 tworiverssigns.com U.S. Cellular 2920 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-4771 uscellular.com United Country Hamele Auction & Realty 1325 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5000 hameleauctions.com University of Wisconsin - Platteville Baraboo Sauk County 1006 Connie Road Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 355-5200 uwplatt.edu/baraboo UW - Health Portage 2977 County Highway CX Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3004 uwhealth.org Vacationland Vendors 225 Pioneer Drive Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 (608) 254-6300 vacationlandvendors.com
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VIBE Salon & Spa 218 West Wisconsin Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8423 vibesalonportage.com Walgreens - Store 7732 2700 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5727 walgreens.com Walmart 2950 New Pinery Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-1432 walmart.com WCCU - Westby Co-op Credit Union 138 Northridge Drive Portage, WI 53901 (608) 634-3118 wccucreditunion.coop Weaver Auto Parts of Portage 239 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-5394 weaverautoparts.com Whole Choice Living Nutrition & Wellness Consulting 311 East Wisconsin Street, Suite 202 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 333-6102 wholechoiceliving.com Wholeistic Healing Wellness Clinic 1000 Links Drive Poynette, WI 53955 (608) 622-3415 wholeistichealing.net Wieser Concrete Products, Inc. 2815 Riley Road Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-4464 wieserconcrete.com Wild Wisco Waters Merrimac, WI 53561 (608) 617-0998 wildwiscowaters.com See ad on Inside Front Cover Wilz Hometown Pharmacy 140 East Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3545 hometownpharmacyrx.com Winnebago Ridge Runners N6838 Boyd Drive Pardeeville, WI 53954 (608) 742-6352 winnebagoridgerunners.com
Wisconsin Network Solutions LLC 1 Main Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 745-6789 wisnetworksolutions.com Wisconsin River Title Consultants, Inc. 101 Hiawatha Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3316 wisconsinrivertitle.com See ad on page 31 Women’s Civic League of Portage P.O. Box 311 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-7744 womenscivicleagueofportage.com World Finance 2555 New Pinery Road, Suite 4 Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-0135 loansbyworld.com Zimmerman Plumbing, Inc. 303 East Albert Street Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-3222 zimmermanplumbing.com Zombyte Repairs 107 West Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 (929) 269-3349
Kids admiring the tree display inside the Mercantile in downtown.
Superior Glass Engineering for Residential Windows
GLASS
CARDINAL
GLASS
CARDINAL
Since 1996
Portage Proud
www.cardinalcorp.com/careers
608-742-1966
We will be the premier float glass manufacturer, delivering exceptional quality, service, and productivity.
We believe safety is our #1 priority and we are committed to providing a workplace that is safe, clean, and substance free.
We know our customers personally. We are determined to do what needs to be done to provide them with the products they need with the quality and service they admire.
We are good stewards of our resources, caring for our families, friends, and neighbors while supporting our community and environment.
Our entrepreneurial culture, team-focused structure, and decentralized management philosophy foster a healthy, creative, solution-based environment. All Cardinal team members are empowered and encouraged to make decisions and solve problems.
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