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"A self-guided tour of the Burlington Liars' Club championship lies immortalized on bronze plaques displayed on public buildings and storefronts throughout the downtown area. Visit Burlington's past, stroll past stately old homes and the historic business district. Enjoy this unique brand of American humor. The brochure is available at the Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce..." - section from Burlington Chamber of Commerce website
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Burlington Chamber of Commerce
113 East Chestnut Street
Burlington, WI 53105
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Chamber hours:
(Mon - Fri) 9am – 5pm / (Saturdays) 10am – 2pm
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Burlington History
www.burlingtonhistory.org
Burlington Chamber of Commerce
www.burlingtonchamber.org
book:
"Weird Wisconsin" by Linda S. Godfrey & Richard D. Hendricks Barnes & Noble Books (2005) page 49 buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book: "Oddball Wisconsin" by Jerome Pohlen Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001) pages 101 - 102 buy it at buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Eccentric America" by Jan Friedman
Globe Pequot Press (2nd ed., 2004)
page 89
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Wiscomical" by John M. Russell
Oak Point Press (2003)
page 27 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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Logic Puzzle Museum
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Spinning Top & Yo-Yo Museum |
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LOGIC PUZZLE MUSEUM: " 50 different hands-on logic, mechanical and brain puzzles to play, solve, and attempt, with bells to ring when you solve one: a celebration of your success! See vintage puzzles, Victorian style parlor puzzles and games; a private collection of sliding block puzzles, and more." - section from the official site
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TOP MUSEUM: "The Spinning Top Museum, Burlington, Wisconsin; is a unique and lively visit with hands-on spinning tops, an exhibit of more than 2,000 tops/ yo-yos/ gyroscopes; top spinning videos, plus a live presentation the celebrity The Top Lady, Judith Schulz." - section from the official site |
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Logic Puzzle Museum hours:
(Tues & Wed) 1pm – 6pm / (Saturdays) 10am – 2pm
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Top Museum hours:
special times & appointments only (see official website)
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533 Milwaukee Avenue
Burlington, WI 53105
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Official Sites
1. www.logicpuzzlemuseum.org 2. www.topmuseum.org
Journal Sentinel Online
article "The one and only" or (here)
book:
"Weird Wisconsin" by Linda S. Godfrey & Richard D. Hendricks Barnes & Noble Books (2005) page 191
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book: "Oddball Wisconsin" by Jerome Pohlen Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001) page 101 buy it at buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Eccentric America" by Jan Friedman
Globe Pequot Press (2nd ed., 2004)
page 88
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Offbeat Museums" by Saul Ruben
Santa Monica Press (1997)
pages 146 - 149 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book: "Great Little Museums of the Midwest" by Christine Des Garennes
Trails Books (2002)
pages 8 - 9
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"America Bizarro" by Nelson Taylor
St. Martin's Press (2000)
page 213 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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SC Johnson Research Tower
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location: Racine |
architectural oddity |
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This Frank Lloyd Wright-designed office building sits empty as it does not meet modern safety codes.
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"The 14-floor tower is one of the tallest structures ever built where there is no visible support under the outer walls. Wright designed the Tower using the cantilever principle which is similar to the root, trunk and branch system of a tree. This design allows the tower to appear to hang, suspended in the air." - section from Racine County Official Site
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"The Johnson Wax Building, also called the Administration Building, is constructed of more than 200 sizes and shapes of bricks. Light shines into the building through several layers of glass tubes which cannot be seen through. Wright also designed the original furniture for the building. Some chairs had only three legs, and would tip over if a forgetful secretary did not sit with correct posture." - section from About Architecture website |
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1525 Howe Street
Racine, WI 53403
contact: GOLDEN RONDELLE THEATER
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tour hours:
reservations requested (Fridays) 11am & 1:15pm
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Journal Times
story "Wright in Racine"
www.journaltimes.com
Roadside Architecture
www.agilitynut.com
Great Buildings
www.greatbuildings.com
Wright in Wisconsin
www.wrightinwisconsin.org
Racine County Official Site
www.racinecounty.com
Factory Tours USA
factorytoursusa.com
Peter Beers
www.peterbeers.net
Boston College
www.bc.edu
book: "Wisconsin Curiosities" by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook Globe Pequot Press (2nd ed., 2004) page 173 - 174 buy it at buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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location: Racine |
architectural oddity |
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"Wingspread is configured in wings, which fan out like a pinwheel from the central dome...The arrangement of the wings allows nearly every room easy access to a patio or balcony. The center of Wingspread is a living space Wright dubbed a “wigwam.” The 40- by 60-foot octagonal room is dominated by a 30-foot high chimney, around which are ranged four distinct living areas: a dining area, an inglenook, an intimate library, and a formal living room. Each space features a fireplace and built-in furniture that Wright designed for Wingspread. The mezzanine also features one of Wright’s less successful innovations: a fireplace designed to burn 12-foot logs leaning vertically against the firewall. Unfortunately, when the fireplace was first lighted, the logs burned from the bottom, collapsed, and fell into the room." - section from the official site
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33 East 4 Mile Wind Point
Racine, WI 53402
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tour hours:
(Tuesday - Thurs) 9:30am – 3pm
No tours are given during conferences.
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Official Site
www.johnsonfdn.org
Great Buildings
www.greatbuildings.com
Wright in Wisconsin
www.wrightinwisconsin.org
Peter Beers
www.peterbeers.net
Boston College
www.bc.edu
book: "Wisconsin Curiosities" by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004) page 173 (3rd ed., 2009) page 167 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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"Chicago Typewriter" (Dillinger's Tommygun) gangsters exhibit at racine police station
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location: Racine |
historical display |
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A similar model above and the real deal below. |
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"On November 20, 1933, four masked men entered the American Trades Bank (now the M&I Bank) on the corner of Fifth and Main Street in downtown Racine. One of the four was John Dillinger He and his gang robbed a teller of over $27,000, undeterred by the arrival of the police. Leaving the bank with their hostages -- including the bank president and three women -- they were slowed by the crowd which had gathered in the street, but eventually made their way out of town. During the robbery, they took a Model 1928 Thompson submachine gun from a police officer. The gun, with John Dillinger's signature on the stock, was recovered two months later when gang members were captured in Tucson, Arizona. Today it is on display in the police department lobby." - section from Argus Tech Services website
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lobby of the Racine Police Headquarters
730 Center Street
Racine, WI 53403
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hours:
call ahead for hours
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Journal Sentinel Online (this speaks about a separate exhibit on the same subject)
article "Exhibit takes shot at Dillinger legend"
The Weylands
www.theweylands.com
Argus Tech Services
www.argus-tech.com
NFA Toys
www.nfatoys.com
Northwest Indiana Times
www.nwitimes.com
book: "Wisconsin Curiosities" by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004) pages 170 & 172 (3rd ed., 2009) pages 160 & 162 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book: "Oddball Wisconsin" by Jerome Pohlen Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001) page 134 buy it at buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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"This hallowed Midwest facility is the longest continuously operating drag race track and open more dates then any other track in the United States...This track is more to its fans then just a great spectator seat, it also allows fanatics to take part in the thrill of drag racing themselves with many events and weekly activities that allow fans to experience the exhilaration of competition." - section from Discover Wisconsin website
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"Draco--the World's only Mutant, Bionic Mechanical, Fire-Breathing Creature with Jaws of Steel. The only one in the world of its kind! There is no other mechanical creature that can do all the thinks that are combined in the characteristics of Draco--unlike any other." - section from Broadway Bob's website
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photo courtesy of BroadwayBob.com |
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18411 1st St. Union Grove, WI 53182
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hours:
• April thru October (Tues - Sun)
• November (weekends only)
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Official Site
www.greatlakesdragaway.com
Broadway Bob www.broadwaybob.com
Journal Sentinel Online
article "Zero to 50: Track marking half century of drag racing" or (here)
Discover Racine County
story "Local luminary 'Broadway Bob' gets ready to celebrate Dragaway's 50th year of racing"
Discover Wisconsin
www.discoverwisconsin.com
book: "Oddball Wisconsin" by Jerome Pohlen Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001) pages 141 - 142 buy it at buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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"One of three dedicated Fire Museums in Wisconsin this is a former Racine Fire Station that dates to 1882. The museum has been restored to the early 1900's and includes both horse drawn and motorized fire fighting equipment in addition to many artifacts and photos." - section from Wisconline website
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700 Sixth Street
Racine, WI 53403
or
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hours:
(Sundays) 1pm – 4pm
CLOSED HOLIDAYS
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Official Site
my.execpc.com
Visiting Firemen
www.visitingfireman.com
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location: Racine |
restaurant with character |
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photo courtesy of official site |
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"The Kewpee is famous throughout the midwest as one of the oldest and best hamburger restaurants... [Rose O'Neil] was the creator of the original Kewpie Dolls back in 1909 who once said they came to her in a dream dancing around her head...The new Kewpee retains the classic art deco look of the one built in 1939...All together the Kewpee has been in operation for over 70 years. It is part of a small franchise. It is one of the oldest franchises in the country and had over 200 restaurants east of the Mississippi before WWII." - section from Official Site
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520 Wisconsin Ave.
Racine, WI 53403
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hours:
(Mon - Fri) 7am – 6pm / (Saturdays) 7am – 5pm
CLOSED SUNDAY
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Official Site
www.kewpee.com
Road Food
www.roadfood.com
Roadside Architecture
www.agilitynut.com
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Chocolate City, USA |
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Chocolate Museum |
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ChocolateFest |
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location: Burlington |
self- designation / museum / event |
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Nestlé built its Burlington chocolate plant in 1965. Gov. Tommy Thompson officially designated Burlington as "Chocolate City, USA" in 1989. Eat your heart out, Ray Nagen.
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"The Chocolate Museum is located at the Burlington Chamber of Commerce...Come and see our Chocolate Machine made of recycled metal and parts. We also have chocolate from around the world as well as Nestle Memoriblia (sic) on display. Free chocolate to all." - section from the Burlington Chamber of Commerce website |
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Chocolate Museum
113 East Chestnut Street
Burlington, WI 53105
(262) 763.6044
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hours:
ChocolateFest is held on Memorial Day weekend
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Burlington Official Site
www.burlington-wi.gov
Burlington Chamber of Commerce
www.burlingtonchamber.org
ChocolateFest Official Site
www.chocolatefest.com
book: "Great Little Museums of the Midwest" by Christine Des Garennes
Trails Books (2002)
page 9
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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Chainsaw-carved Alien on Lawn
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This certainly beats your humdrum bears and run-of-the-mill eagles any day.
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(just east of the intersection of Highways 11 & 75)
26640 Highway 11
Union Grove, WI 53139
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Burlington UFO & Paranormal Museum |
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Sci-Fi Cafe
(with old fashioned ice cream parlor & gift shoppe) |
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location: Burlington |
business with character / museum |
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"The aliens are here! See the Roswell Incident, Alien Autopsy and abductions! learn about crops circles, Area 51 and the face on Mars! Meet the giants, learn of ancient races and religions, Star War and Star Trek Characters, Fairyworlds, Et, Planet of the Apes and much much more...." - section from the official site
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532 N. Pine Street
Burlington, WI 53105
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hours:
(daily) 10am – 6pm
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Official Site
1. www.burlingtonnews.net/center 2. www.burlingtonnews.net/scificafe
Journal Sentinel Online
article "Cafe goes beyond food to fuel the imagination" or (here)
MySpace page
W-Tube (video)
www.thelightside.org
Meta Cafe (video)
"Roswell, Real or Not?"
www.metacafe.com
book:
"Strange Wisconsin" by Linda S. Godfrey
Trails Books (2007)
pages 6 - 7 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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"The Otherworldly Sculptures of Richard Arfsten"
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Linda Godfrey interviews this barn-painter by day, artist-by-all-other-times in her book "Strange Wisconsin".
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3031 Sheard Rd.
Burlington, WI 53105
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Official Site(s)
www.arfstenartworks.com or www.abstractsculpture.com or www.steelsculpture.com or www.contemporarysculpture.com or www.modernartmaker.com or www.twotrollspublishing.com or www.abstractartmaker.com or www.abstractprint.com or www.architecturalsculpture.com or...that's enough for now...Good God, man, how many domain names do you need?
book:
"Strange Wisconsin" by Linda S. Godfrey
Trails Books (2007)
pages 8 - 9 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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Corvette on Roof of Valenti Classics Showroom
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location: Caledonia |
roadside oddity / advertising gimmick |
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photo courtesy of Roadside Architecture |
355 27th St.
Caledonia, WI 53108
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Official Site
www.valenticlassics.com
Roadside Architecture
www.agilitynut.com
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Kraut Festival
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The Franksville Kraut Fest was held annually for 52 years before being cancelled in 2003 due to lack of sponsors & funds. It began as a Frank's Kraut company picnic and was known for its sauerkraut-eating contest and coronation of a Kraut Queen. The festival may be brought back in some fashion in the future.
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was held in Old Settler's Park in late June
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Racine County Tourism Site
www.racinecounty.com
2camels Festival List
www.2camels.com
Journal Sentinel Online
2006 article "Bid launched to revive Kraut Fest" or (here)
book:
"America Bizarro" by Nelson Taylor
St. Martin's Press (2000)
page 214 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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James J. Strang,
Mormon "King" and Prophet |
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The Mormon Ghost Town of Voree |
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Buried in Burlington Cemetery are the remains of James Strang, who in 1844, attempted to gain leadership of the Mormon Church after the death of its founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. Rejected from doing so, Strang and his followers settled west of Burlington and established the City of Voree. In 1845, Strang discovered small brass plates buried in the "Hill of Promise" near Voree. The plates were inscribed with the record of the "Rajah Manchou of Vorito". Three years later, Strang and his followers pulled up stakes and moved to Beaver Island near the northern tip of Lake Michigan. There the faithful resided until they were forced out by those opposed to their beliefs. Strang was wounded and later died back in Voree. Before being evicted from the island, Strang had declared himself "King" of his people.
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To Voree: Head west 1 mile out of Burlington on Highway 36. Turn right on Mormon Road.
To Mormon Park & the Hill of Promise: Head west 1 mile out of Burlington on Highway 11. Turn left on Mormon Road. Look for a small park on the right.
To Strang's grave at Burlington Cemetery: County Road W (S Browns Lake Dr.)
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Strangite Official Site
www.strangite.org
Burlington News
www.burlingtonnews.net
Wikipedia
1. Strang en.wikipedia.org
2. Voree en.wikipedia.org 3. Voree Plates en.wikipedia.org
book:
"Strange Wisconsin" by Linda S. Godfrey
Trails Books (2007)
page 10 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Wiscomical" by John M. Russell
Oak Point Press (2003)
page 75 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book: "Milwaukee Ghosts" by Sherry Strub
Schiffer Pub. Ltd. (2008)
pages 52 - 56 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"The Assassination of a Michigan King" by Roger Van Noord
University of Illinois Press (1997) buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"God Has Made Us a Kingdom: James Strang and the Midwest Mormons" by Vickie Cleverley Speek
Signature Books, Inc. (2006) buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Ghost Towns of Wisconsin" by William F. Stark
Zimmerman Press (1977) buy it at
book:
"Weird U.S.: The Oddyssey Continues" by Mark Moran, Mark Scuerman, Matt Lake
Sterling Pub Co Inc (2008)
pages 190 - 191 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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Gas Station Robots at Schultz Automotive
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location: Racine |
roadside oddity |
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3953 North Main Street
Racine, WI 53402
(262) or
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Borzynski's Farm Corn Maze
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"Eight acre maze, hayrides, straw bale maze, giant straw pile, petting zoo, pumpkin launch, make your own caramel apples" - section from the official website
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11600 Washington Ave.
Sturtevant, WI 53177
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hours:
Check official website for schedule.
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photo courtesy of official site |
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Official Site
borzynskis.com
Corn Mazes America
www.cornmazesamerica.com
Haunted Wisconsin
www.hauntedwisconsin.com
Corn Mazes
www.cornmaze.com
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One of three known giant painted smiles in the area. The other two being ANOTHER barn near Mukwonago, and the water tower in Eagle, both of which are in Waukesha County.
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From Waterford, head west on Highway 20. At the outskirts of town, turn right onto Highway 83. Look for the barn after traveling about 3/4 of a mile.
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photo courtesy of Ohio Barns |
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Ohio Barns
www.ohiobarns.com
The State Trunk Tour
www.statetrunktour.com
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