On the weekend of August 5-7 the small city of Boscobel in Southwest Wisconsin will again be the site of a Civil War re-enactment. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, so it seems particularly appropriate to remember the sacrifices this country made to respect all people, to stay whole, and to thereby become the great country that we are.
Soldiers Grove: The B&B Capitol of Wisconsin
July 5th, 2011 by knapik
In Wisconsin there is one Bed and Breakfast for every 12,500 residents. However, in the little Western Wisconsin village of Soldiers Grove, located about one hour south of La Crosse, there is one B&B for each 200 residents.
Read the rest of this page »
Author of Amish Novels Researches Cashton Settlement
June 15th, 2011 by knapik
Vanetta Chapman with Nora
Last week, Lonesome Hollow hosted Vanetta Chapman and her husband, from Texas. Vanetta came to Wisconsin to research the Wisconsin Amish for her upcoming book series of Amish mysteries. Her book, A Simple Amish Christmas, was published last October, and she has begun releasing a series of books called the Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series. Falling to Pieces, A Quilt Shop Mystery will be released November, 2011.
Read the rest of this page »
Southwest Wisconsin Hiking
June 7th, 2011 by knapik
View from Wyalusing State Park
Hiking opportunities in Southwest Wisconsin abound!
Five large parks (three state parks, one national monument, and one public reserve) are located between the Prairie du Chien area and the northern end of the Kickapoo River. As the proverbial crow flies, this is a distance of about 60 miles, but taking the crooked, winding roads of the Driftless Area would require about 80 miles and two hours of driving. The good news is that all of that driving will be along scenic rural roads with little traffic and with pleasant surprises along the entire route. Read the rest of this page »
Mother’s Day Music, Dance, Shopping
April 19th, 2011 by knapik
If you are looking for a truly unique Mother’s Day experience, look no further than the Kickapoo River village of Gays Mills, Wisconsin. From May 6 through May 8, 2011 this picturesque village will hold its 19th annual Folk Festival of Music and Dance. Gays Mills is located in Southwest Wisconsin, thirty minutes northeast of Prairie du Chien, or a little more than one hour south of La Crosse. Highlights of this year’s Festival include a Friday evening Square Dance and a Saturday Rodeo. Music workshops are also scheduled for Saturday, including fiddle, banjo, and clogging; a writers workshop is also on tap. You also won’t want to miss the Saturday chili dinner and evening concert.
Gays Mills Folk Festival
Southwest Wisconsin Trout Fishing
February 18th, 2011 by knapik
We are only two weeks away from the opening day of catch-and-release trout fishing in Wisconsin – March 1. The southwest corner of the state has hundreds of cold water streams and trout fishing opportunities abound. The landscape in this corner of Wisconsin is that of the Driftless Area – rugged ridges and valleys that sit on a limestone/sandstone base. Cold, clear springs “pop up” along the hillsides and in the valleys and combine to form great trout streams. Native brook trout along with stocked rainbow and brown trout constitute this fishery.
Read the rest of this page »
Many of the Southwest Wisconsin streams pass through heavily wooded terrain. The wooded areas are not suited to farming and the scattered cabins and houses are few and far between. You definitely get the feel of being much more remote than you really are. Other parts of the stream do pass through agricultural land and as you gaze up from the stream you may see crops or livestock in the foreground and the ever-present wooded hills in the distance.
Soliders Grove Area Events 2011
February 6th, 2011 by knapik
The Inn at Lonesome Hollow lies in the middle of Wisconsin’s Hidden Valley Region. Year long our main events are hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, antiquing, Amish shopping, and driving the scenic country roads. In addition to the natural beauty of our area, here is a sampling of many local festivals and events that will add to the enjoyment of your visit. Make your lodging reservations as soon as possible for these great upcoming events.
All Year: Explore the beauty of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area. Visit the Kickapoo Reserve.
All Year: Shop for locally made arts & crafts and visit dozens of antique shops. Look at www.driftlesswisconsin.com.
All Year: Hike and Explore Five Area State/National Park Areas – Wildcat Mountain State Park, Wyalusing State Park, Kickapoo Reserve, Pike’s Peak State Park, and Effigy Mounds National Monument
Jan: Winter Festival – Kickapoo Valley Reserve Read the rest of this page »
Feb: Annual Fisheree, Ice Fishing Tournament – Prairie du Chien
Feb: 85th Annual Snowflake Ski Jumping Tournament – Westby
Feb: Bald Eagle Appreciation Day – Prairie du Chien
Wisconsin’s Driftless Area
February 4th, 2011 by knapik
The “driftless area” of the Upper Midwest derives its name from the fact that it was unglaciated during the most recent glacial event about 12,000 years ago. Glaciers surrounded but did not pass over this land.
The landscape of the Driftless area is as unique as it is beautiful. The area’s defining features are a seemingly endless series of ridges and valleys. Ridge tops typically rise 300 to 500 ft above the valley floor. Hillsides are very steep and mostly wooded with a first generation oak/hickory forest that is gradually changing to a maple dominated woodland. Sandstone and limestone outcroppings add a rugged look to the terrain and offer opportunities for thousands of springs to flow year round in the region. The flow from these springs combine to form hundreds of crystal clear, cold water streams, perfect habitat for brown, rainbow, and brook trout.
DRIFTLESS AREA WILDLIFE
The Driftless Area is rich in wildlife. Whitetail deer, wild turkey, and fox are commonly sited. Less common but still present in reasonable numbers are river otter, mink, and bobcat. Black bear visits are becoming increasingly common as the Wisconsin black bear population moves southward, expanding their territory into the perfect woodland environs of the Driftless Area. Ducks, geese, heron, egrets, and sandhill cranes are usually present. Bird watchers enjoy a vast array of song birds, owls, hawks, vultures, and an occasional bald eagle that wanders east from the Mississippi River.
Read the rest of this page »
The History and Community of Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin
February 4th, 2011 by knapik
Settlement came to the Kickapoo Valley in the first half of the 19th century. Much of the local land was deeded to veterans of U.S. wars in payment for service to their country. Pine Grove was the original name given to the village because of the presence of large groves of white pine trees. The name was changed to Soldiers Grove in 1867 to honor the soldiers who had camped nearby during the 1832 Blackhawk War. The first building in the village was a sawmill Built by J.H. Brightman in 1856. Ten years later Samuel Hutchins built a general store and the village was legally platted.
Early farmers grew mostly wheat, but during the late 1800′s the switch to dairy farming was underway. Tobacco growing also became a staple of the area’s small family farms. High quality cigar leaf and chewing tobacco became a valued cash crop. Today the tobacco raising has essentially ended and area farmers are exploring replacing that high value crop with others such as ginseng and wine grapes.
The 20th century saw the rise and fall of small family dairy farming in the Kickapoo Valley. Remaining dairy farmers are fiercely competing for their economic existence, competing with the ultra large, corporate dairy farms of California. Orchards sprang up on the ridges near Soldiers Grove in the early 20th century and have been more successful at maintaining their economic viability. Some ridges around Soldiers Grove and Gays Mills are covered with orchards that produce apples, cherries, and a variety of berries.
Read the rest of this page »
Outdoor Wisconsin Weddings
January 29th, 2011 by knapik
Outdoor wedding ceremonies and receptions seem to be growing in popularity. For many wedding couples the appeal of a beautiful, natural setting outweighs the concern of weather related inconveniences. Proper planning and careful site selection can minimize weather problems. The perfect site should have plenty of parking for guests, privacy, a quiet and natural backdrop, and space and utilities that can be used for the amenities that many wedding couples desire at the reception.
Read the rest of this page »
A Day in Wisconsin's Amish Country
Prairie du Chien Attractions
A Great Day of Wisconsin Trout Fishing
