Here goes...
Word association….I say “Wisconsin Dells” and you say ? “Fun”, “Summer”, “Kitschy”, “Tacky”, “Water Parks”, “Scenic”, “Duck Boats”. Or maybe “Cheese”, “Forest”, “Golf”, “Food”, “More Food”, “Go Karts”, “Family” and “Tommy Bartlett”.
For many years, any of the above descriptions would be right on target. But now add, “Spa”, “Upscale”, “Theme Parks”, “Luxury”, “Gourmet” and “Year ‘Round” and you are more accurately describing the ongoing metamorphosis taking place in the Wisconsin Dells.
Our recent stay at the Tamarack Resorts (comprised of Mirror Lake, Peppertree and Fairfield) in Wisconsin Dells was a fun filled family vacation that while not far from home, was far from ordinary. We played, dined, swam, hiked, relaxed and generally had a great family vacation. I highly recommend the area for your family adventures.
Getting There:
You'll need a car. You can get there by Amtrak or you can fly into Madison or Milwaukee, but once there you will need a car. The Dells are conveniently located near Interstate 94 about one hour north of Madison, 3 hours from Chicago.
Tamarack Resorts:
Many Midwestern timeshare owners are familiar with Tamarack Resorts in Wisconsin Dells. For years there has been name confusion between the various “phases” of the resort. Mirror Lake, Peppertree and now Fairfield are some of the names you will see in the RCI book or website. It is all really one large “campus” style development that hovers from 80% capacity during a busy summer week to over 95% on weekends. Off season, the percentage drops to the mid forties (percentages as provided by the resort manager 7\06).
From what I learned, Fairfield manages the property and actually developed a new section too. The various homeowner’s associations are managed under the Fairfield umbrella. None of this matters to an RCI exchanger though. What does matter is the unit and the facilities. We found both to be in great shape and worthy of Gold Crown status.
Our unit was Oak Colony 7, a two bedroom, two bathroom condo on two floors. The first floor has the kitchen, dining room and living room all in one large rectangular space. A full bathroom with a large counter space (utilized by my better half) is adjacent to the kitchen/dining room. There are also a two closets for storage of luggage, coats, and cleaning supplies.
The kitchen is fully stocked with everything a TS should have. Appliances are newer and the countertops and tile floor are in great shape as are the cabinets. A counter/bar with two high chairs separates the kitchen from the dining area. A large oak table with 6 chairs provides ample space for family dinners or games. The living area has a high ceiling due to the loft design of the unit and a gas fireplace. There is a sleeper couch, love seat, coffee table and side tables. A sliding glass door leads to a patio with a glass topped table and four chairs.
Upstairs are two bedrooms and a full bathroom (with built in hairdryer). Both have queen beds, newer furniture (dresser, night stand, bed frame) and ample closet space for a one week visit. The front room has an air conditioner and is fully private. The back room, which is also the master has a large armoire with a TV as well as a phone by the bed. The master is a loft bedroom so it overlooked the living room area below. There is a 4 foot wall providing semi privacy to the master bedroom. No one below can see you in the loft bedroom, but they can hear you.
We liked the unit very much. It was truly a home away from home. There was no disappointment with any of the furnishings, fixtures or layout. The upstairs bath even had a Jacuzzi tub which is made for one or possibly two if thinking creatively.
The facilities of the resort are in great condition also. The central “lodge” houses an indoor pool, hot tub, tennis courts, racquetball courts, exercise room, recreation room, game room, locker rooms and reading room. All looked to be well maintained and in good condition. The staff was very helpful and nice. Outside the main building is an outdoor pool, playground, tennis courts and beach volleyball court. The outdoor pool has some nice lounging areas and an patio for picnicking or just hanging out.
As we always seem to do, we did not take part in the organized activities of the resort. We just get too busy off premises. There was a schedule provided at check in and it had lots of things to do including typical arts and crafts, movies, ice cream social, breakfast gathering, organized tours and more. We did purchase our tickets to the nearby Wilderness water parks from the front desk at a nice discount. Wilderness is also being partially developed by Fairfield.
Discount Books
We purchased a discount book from Jewel in Chicago that had lots of 2 for 1 and other discounts. It paid for itself and then some. Our youngest even got a free t-shirt as a member of the kid’s club. I think it can be purchased online also.
Shopping
Wal-Mart (w/gas station), Kohl’s, McDonalds, Home Depot and an urgent care center are all located within ½ mile of the resort, so all your bases are covered if you forget something or need a doctor. You can access them via the main road or by Xanadu Road where the resort is located.
One interesting note is that almost every person working at the Wisconsin Dells area attractions was from a foreign country. Apparently there is some type of “work study” program that the kids are utilizing to come to the Dells and “study” English. From what I learned, most are from Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Poland even Taiwan. Sometimes language was a barrier, but most were able to speak and understand English very well.
Not your parents’ Dells
As I mentioned before, the Dells are undergoing a change from a summer only budget vacation area to a year round upscale playground. The trend is evident in the massive developments like The Wilderness Resort and the redevelopment of older hotel/motel properties into luxury hotels complete with spas, golfing and indoor/outdoor waterparks. Also, the resorts are pushing for some year ‘round dollars with mega indoor waterparks. Soon to be open is a large Tanger Outlet Mall that was almost finished in 7/06.
I spoke to the Tamarack Resort manager who indicated that several other large timeshare companies were poised to make investments in the area. He was very knowledgeable and was on the state board overseeing the timeshare industry.
I personally like the trend towards newer, more complete resorts, but some will no doubts miss the tiny motels and inns that dotted the landscape. For now, there are still plenty of these “mom and pop” places along the strip and in the town of Wisconsin Dells. But I would say their days are numbered.
Things we did that were nearby:
Wilderness Resort: A very nice upscale resort. Great water parks. Indoor and outdoor. Bars, restaurants, game rooms, arcade. Golfing and a spa are onsite. We want to come for a longer visit. The Lost World water park is more geared towards the younger kids. The two other water park areas are for all ages.
Moose Jaw Brewery and Pizza: Great Northwood’s lodge feel. Beer brewed on premises. Great pasta and pizza. Kids love it.
Cheese Factory: Not really a factory, but a nice restaurant with Mediterranean food; all vegetarian. Great bakery and desserts.
Paul Bunyan’s: Logging camp kitsch and family style all u can eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. We’ve only ever done breakfast which will fill you up for the day!!
Culver’s: A staple in Wisconsin for their “butter burgers” and frozen custard. Fast food, but better than the average burger joints.
River’s Edge Resort: Where Lake Delton meets the Wisconsin River. We rented a pontoon boat and had loads of fun on the Lower Dells Glacial Park (a/k/a Wisconsin River). They have a nice pub with a Northwood’s lodge motif and a huge aquarium with native fish species; some really huge!
Ho Chunk Casino: Enter at your own risk!! You’ll think you are in Vegas. Your money will go just as fast. Very cool to visit though and a nice buffet.
A Dare Go Karts: On the US 12 “strip” across from Mt. Olympus and next the Original Wisconsin Ducks. We rode the two person karts. The kids loved it. Noisy fun.
Old River Golf: A bit past its prime, but location is everything. In the heart of downtown Wisconsin Dells. Park for free in the lot across the street. There are better “adventure golf” places, but this fine for our younger kids.
Essen Haus: German food and beer. Kind of pricey though. About $17 per adult meal. Beer garden seating is outside in view of the glockenspiel which has a show on the hour.
Devil’s Lake State Park: South of Baraboo. The park is a glacial remnant. 500 foot peaks surround a nice lake. We hiked the Eastern Bluff and then went swimming at the North Beach. An old beach dance hall houses a snack bar and small store. It apparently was quite the rollicking place in the good old days and was a good place to relax and have a snack.
Tommy Bartlett’s Exploratory: This is like all of the science and hands on things you would find at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry in one place. It begins with a “trip” to outer space with robots and such and ends at the Russian MIR Spacestation.
Madison and State Capitol: I am adding this one because it’s only about 45 minutes to Madison from the Dells. We stopped there on the way to the Dells and found the Capitol to be beautiful. There is almost always some type of fair or farmer’s market on the weekend. It is a great place to visit.
Riverview Park: This is right on the strip and has about a dozen or so carnival type rides, some go karts and a small water park. It’s getting a bit old, but the rides are still fun (if you like being dizzy) and the price is right, especially the night ticket or by using a coupon from the book.
Fudge: I don’t love fudge, but my wife does. Interestingly, no one would give out a sample of their fudge! At $14 a pound you think they could spare a gram or two for tasting. We tried several places on the main street in town and finally gave up. We did find a place called “Aunt Jenny’s Got It All Store” at the corner of the strip (US 12) and the main street/bridge. Free samples and lots of other candies too. We bought chocolate and vanilla.
AR
Word association….I say “Wisconsin Dells” and you say ? “Fun”, “Summer”, “Kitschy”, “Tacky”, “Water Parks”, “Scenic”, “Duck Boats”. Or maybe “Cheese”, “Forest”, “Golf”, “Food”, “More Food”, “Go Karts”, “Family” and “Tommy Bartlett”.
For many years, any of the above descriptions would be right on target. But now add, “Spa”, “Upscale”, “Theme Parks”, “Luxury”, “Gourmet” and “Year ‘Round” and you are more accurately describing the ongoing metamorphosis taking place in the Wisconsin Dells.
Our recent stay at the Tamarack Resorts (comprised of Mirror Lake, Peppertree and Fairfield) in Wisconsin Dells was a fun filled family vacation that while not far from home, was far from ordinary. We played, dined, swam, hiked, relaxed and generally had a great family vacation. I highly recommend the area for your family adventures.
Getting There:
You'll need a car. You can get there by Amtrak or you can fly into Madison or Milwaukee, but once there you will need a car. The Dells are conveniently located near Interstate 94 about one hour north of Madison, 3 hours from Chicago.
Tamarack Resorts:
Many Midwestern timeshare owners are familiar with Tamarack Resorts in Wisconsin Dells. For years there has been name confusion between the various “phases” of the resort. Mirror Lake, Peppertree and now Fairfield are some of the names you will see in the RCI book or website. It is all really one large “campus” style development that hovers from 80% capacity during a busy summer week to over 95% on weekends. Off season, the percentage drops to the mid forties (percentages as provided by the resort manager 7\06).
From what I learned, Fairfield manages the property and actually developed a new section too. The various homeowner’s associations are managed under the Fairfield umbrella. None of this matters to an RCI exchanger though. What does matter is the unit and the facilities. We found both to be in great shape and worthy of Gold Crown status.
Our unit was Oak Colony 7, a two bedroom, two bathroom condo on two floors. The first floor has the kitchen, dining room and living room all in one large rectangular space. A full bathroom with a large counter space (utilized by my better half) is adjacent to the kitchen/dining room. There are also a two closets for storage of luggage, coats, and cleaning supplies.
The kitchen is fully stocked with everything a TS should have. Appliances are newer and the countertops and tile floor are in great shape as are the cabinets. A counter/bar with two high chairs separates the kitchen from the dining area. A large oak table with 6 chairs provides ample space for family dinners or games. The living area has a high ceiling due to the loft design of the unit and a gas fireplace. There is a sleeper couch, love seat, coffee table and side tables. A sliding glass door leads to a patio with a glass topped table and four chairs.
Upstairs are two bedrooms and a full bathroom (with built in hairdryer). Both have queen beds, newer furniture (dresser, night stand, bed frame) and ample closet space for a one week visit. The front room has an air conditioner and is fully private. The back room, which is also the master has a large armoire with a TV as well as a phone by the bed. The master is a loft bedroom so it overlooked the living room area below. There is a 4 foot wall providing semi privacy to the master bedroom. No one below can see you in the loft bedroom, but they can hear you.
We liked the unit very much. It was truly a home away from home. There was no disappointment with any of the furnishings, fixtures or layout. The upstairs bath even had a Jacuzzi tub which is made for one or possibly two if thinking creatively.
The facilities of the resort are in great condition also. The central “lodge” houses an indoor pool, hot tub, tennis courts, racquetball courts, exercise room, recreation room, game room, locker rooms and reading room. All looked to be well maintained and in good condition. The staff was very helpful and nice. Outside the main building is an outdoor pool, playground, tennis courts and beach volleyball court. The outdoor pool has some nice lounging areas and an patio for picnicking or just hanging out.
As we always seem to do, we did not take part in the organized activities of the resort. We just get too busy off premises. There was a schedule provided at check in and it had lots of things to do including typical arts and crafts, movies, ice cream social, breakfast gathering, organized tours and more. We did purchase our tickets to the nearby Wilderness water parks from the front desk at a nice discount. Wilderness is also being partially developed by Fairfield.
Discount Books
We purchased a discount book from Jewel in Chicago that had lots of 2 for 1 and other discounts. It paid for itself and then some. Our youngest even got a free t-shirt as a member of the kid’s club. I think it can be purchased online also.
Shopping
Wal-Mart (w/gas station), Kohl’s, McDonalds, Home Depot and an urgent care center are all located within ½ mile of the resort, so all your bases are covered if you forget something or need a doctor. You can access them via the main road or by Xanadu Road where the resort is located.
One interesting note is that almost every person working at the Wisconsin Dells area attractions was from a foreign country. Apparently there is some type of “work study” program that the kids are utilizing to come to the Dells and “study” English. From what I learned, most are from Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Poland even Taiwan. Sometimes language was a barrier, but most were able to speak and understand English very well.
Not your parents’ Dells
As I mentioned before, the Dells are undergoing a change from a summer only budget vacation area to a year round upscale playground. The trend is evident in the massive developments like The Wilderness Resort and the redevelopment of older hotel/motel properties into luxury hotels complete with spas, golfing and indoor/outdoor waterparks. Also, the resorts are pushing for some year ‘round dollars with mega indoor waterparks. Soon to be open is a large Tanger Outlet Mall that was almost finished in 7/06.
I spoke to the Tamarack Resort manager who indicated that several other large timeshare companies were poised to make investments in the area. He was very knowledgeable and was on the state board overseeing the timeshare industry.
I personally like the trend towards newer, more complete resorts, but some will no doubts miss the tiny motels and inns that dotted the landscape. For now, there are still plenty of these “mom and pop” places along the strip and in the town of Wisconsin Dells. But I would say their days are numbered.
Things we did that were nearby:
Wilderness Resort: A very nice upscale resort. Great water parks. Indoor and outdoor. Bars, restaurants, game rooms, arcade. Golfing and a spa are onsite. We want to come for a longer visit. The Lost World water park is more geared towards the younger kids. The two other water park areas are for all ages.
Moose Jaw Brewery and Pizza: Great Northwood’s lodge feel. Beer brewed on premises. Great pasta and pizza. Kids love it.
Cheese Factory: Not really a factory, but a nice restaurant with Mediterranean food; all vegetarian. Great bakery and desserts.
Paul Bunyan’s: Logging camp kitsch and family style all u can eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. We’ve only ever done breakfast which will fill you up for the day!!
Culver’s: A staple in Wisconsin for their “butter burgers” and frozen custard. Fast food, but better than the average burger joints.
River’s Edge Resort: Where Lake Delton meets the Wisconsin River. We rented a pontoon boat and had loads of fun on the Lower Dells Glacial Park (a/k/a Wisconsin River). They have a nice pub with a Northwood’s lodge motif and a huge aquarium with native fish species; some really huge!
Ho Chunk Casino: Enter at your own risk!! You’ll think you are in Vegas. Your money will go just as fast. Very cool to visit though and a nice buffet.
A Dare Go Karts: On the US 12 “strip” across from Mt. Olympus and next the Original Wisconsin Ducks. We rode the two person karts. The kids loved it. Noisy fun.
Old River Golf: A bit past its prime, but location is everything. In the heart of downtown Wisconsin Dells. Park for free in the lot across the street. There are better “adventure golf” places, but this fine for our younger kids.
Essen Haus: German food and beer. Kind of pricey though. About $17 per adult meal. Beer garden seating is outside in view of the glockenspiel which has a show on the hour.
Devil’s Lake State Park: South of Baraboo. The park is a glacial remnant. 500 foot peaks surround a nice lake. We hiked the Eastern Bluff and then went swimming at the North Beach. An old beach dance hall houses a snack bar and small store. It apparently was quite the rollicking place in the good old days and was a good place to relax and have a snack.
Tommy Bartlett’s Exploratory: This is like all of the science and hands on things you would find at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry in one place. It begins with a “trip” to outer space with robots and such and ends at the Russian MIR Spacestation.
Madison and State Capitol: I am adding this one because it’s only about 45 minutes to Madison from the Dells. We stopped there on the way to the Dells and found the Capitol to be beautiful. There is almost always some type of fair or farmer’s market on the weekend. It is a great place to visit.
Riverview Park: This is right on the strip and has about a dozen or so carnival type rides, some go karts and a small water park. It’s getting a bit old, but the rides are still fun (if you like being dizzy) and the price is right, especially the night ticket or by using a coupon from the book.
Fudge: I don’t love fudge, but my wife does. Interestingly, no one would give out a sample of their fudge! At $14 a pound you think they could spare a gram or two for tasting. We tried several places on the main street in town and finally gave up. We did find a place called “Aunt Jenny’s Got It All Store” at the corner of the strip (US 12) and the main street/bridge. Free samples and lots of other candies too. We bought chocolate and vanilla.
AR
Thank you for the great info ... now my family knows what to expect next week when we make our 1st Dells visit. When we get back, I will add to this post because my kids are all teenagers & we may experience some other thrills & adventures.
