Willow River State Park a gem no matter how you look at it
Sun 6/30/2013
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By: Margaret Ontl, Hudson Star-Observer
The grand opening event on Friday at the Willow River State Park was something of a Who’s Who for the Wisconsin DNR. All of the speakers, including the Bureau of Parks Director Dan Schuller, agreed Willow River State Park represents all of the best when it comes to the state’s parks. From the fact that it is the only state park that has a silent lake as no motors are allowed, to its inherent natural beauty including the falls.
“Its (campsites) are filled 50 percent of the time over-all and 100 percent of the time on weekends,” said Schuller, of the park’s popularity. “Forty percent of the visitors are from out of state and 100 percent of the DNR board members have visited here.” He went on to say that the park revenue, which goes to the state park funding, is $500,000 a year, 75 percent which comes from fees.
“There have been more physical changes in this park than any other park in the region,” said Scott Humrickhouse, West Central Director-DNR. He went on to cite the removal of two dams and the building of new three campgrounds including the two that were part of the grand opening event. The expansion added 80 new family campsites, 30 at one location and 50 at another. Also added was the new park office and visitor’s station and the accouterments that go with the campsites: fire rings, picnic tables, tree and shrub plantings, four water fountains, two vault toilet buildings, one flush toilet building, one flush toilet and shower building and asphalt roads.
“Willow River campgrounds are special,” said Jane Wiley, a member of the DNR board of directors. “All of our campgrounds (throughout the state) have a niche and all of them are very different.” Wiley, an avid camper herself, acknowledged that adding 35 new electrical sites, is a recognition of the way of the future. “Campers want to have that access.”
Willow River OWLS provided refreshments for the event.
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