Green Lake County

go to Waushara County go to Winnebago County
go to Marquette County go to Fond du Lac County
go to Columbia County go to Dodge County
       map provided by Delorme mapping software




attractions category logo attractions resources logo
1
Gloria Hills Sculpture Garden
aka Schwartz Art Gallery
closed
location:   Green Lake
roadside attraction / outsider artist

Gloria Hills Sculpture Garden
Gloria Hills Sculpture Garden
Lester O. Schwartz (1912 - 2006) was a lifelong artist who left a big mark on the landscape south of Green Lake, where he created "Gloria Hills," a sculpture garden named after his late wife. Les, who had been known mostly for his paintings, began covering the grounds with large metal sculptures made of discarded materials. The park is open to visitors, but an appointment must be made one week in advance.

2013 UPDATE:  The sculpture park is no longer open for visitors. There are talks underway to display one of Lester's sculptures in town. Some of Lester's paintings can be seen in the old Green Lake County Courthouse.

blinking arrow Click here for MORE PHOTOS
black_arrow  was at: W908 Scott Hill Road
Ripon, WI 54971
New Low
www.newlow.org
Wisconsin Art
www.wisconsinart.org
book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001)
page(s) 41
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.comicon
book:
"Great Little Museums of the Midwest"
by Christine Des Garennes
Trails Books (2002)
page(s) 32
buy it at
book:
"Strange Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey
Trails Books (2007)
page(s) 30 – 32
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.comicon
book:
"Miracles of The Spirit: Folk, Art, and Stories from Wisconsin"
by Don Krug & Ann Parker
University Press of Mississippi (2005)
page(s) 98 – 99
buy it at
2
Judson Tower
at the American Baptist Assembly & Green Lake Conference Center
location:   Green Lake
unique architecture / historic structure

"For a magnificent view of the Green Lake area, climb to the top of Judson Tower. Built in the early 1800's by Victor Lawson, the tower's observation platform is 121 steps above the foundation, 200 feet above the lake. The tower is made of poured concrete, and the roof is made of imported ceramic tile. The well is 400 feet deep, and the tank holds 75,000 gallons of water."
– section from Explore Wisconsin website
black_arrow   W2511 State Road 23
Green Lake, WI 54941
or
Judson Tower
Green Lake Conference Center
www.glcc.org
Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com
3
Woolly Mammoth Uncovered in 1989
location:   Markesan
historic discovery

"In May of 1989, Ed Westra of Markesan, unearthed the skeletal remains of a woolly mammoth while digging an irrigation pond on his farm... Paleontologist John E. Dallman identified the bones as the shoulder, tusk, tooth, and lower jaw of a woolly mammoth, a hairy elephant like mammal."
– section from Markesan Chamber website
Woolly Mammoth Uncovered in 1989
Markesan Chamber of Commerce
www.service-life.com
4
Chapel Car Grace
at the American Baptist Assembly & Green Lake Conference Center
location:   Green Lake
historic conveyance

Chapel Car Grace
Chapel Car Grace
"Chapel Car Grace is one of nine chapel cars put into service by the American Baptists from 1892 to 1914, carrying the Gospel to the rugged and wild western frontier. For many, these chapels on wheels were the first and only houses of worship in their communities. Grace contains the missionary's living quarters and a chapel which seats about 65 persons."
– section from Explore Wisconsin website
black_arrow   W2511 State Road 23
Green Lake, WI 54941
or
Green Lake Conference Center
www.glcc.org
Chapel Cars of America
www.chapelcars.com
Todd Taylor Photography
ttaylor.fotki.com
Paul Almquist Photography
www.paul.almquist.name
Frontier Trails
article "God rides the rails" or archived (here)
“Chapel Car Grace”
video by kingtiger59
5
former manure tank
Castle Arkdale
aka Happy Tales Bookshop
location:   Markesan
business with character / unique architecture

Castle Arkdale
Castle Arkdale
In Green County's scenic countryside sits an castle-themed bookstore converted from an old manure storage tank. (Not many of those floating around out there.) Owners Lloyd & Leonore Dickmann say that they have at least 1 million books for sale. You will be impressed by this unexpected collection, which fills several buildings on the property..
Castle Arkdale
Castle Arkdale
The portcullis is raised, young knights and rangers. Enter Castle Arkdale and the blessed Halls of Learning.
black_arrow   W1778 County Road K
Markesan, WI 53946
hours:
call for hours, but mostly Saturdays (9am – 5pm)
 web links
This Week in Book Hunting (blog)
thisweekinbookhunting
blogspot.com

She is too Fond of Books
www.sheistoofondofbooks.com
Cabin Countess
www.thecabincountess.com
UW-Oshkosh Advance Titan
article "Converted castle serves book lovers" or archived (here)
Wisconsin State Farmer
article "Former Harvestore Slurrystore now houses thousands of books" or archived (here)
Wisconsin State Journal
article "A home for her ocean of books" or archived (here)
Roads Traveled
article "Castle Arkdale: from manure to book storage" or archived (here)
 books & video
book:
"Sidetracked in Wisconsin"
by Mary Bergin
Itchy Cat Press (2006)
page(s) 213 – 215
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.comicon
book:
"Strange Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey
Trails Books (2007)
page(s) 75 – 76
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.comicon
book:
"Wisconsin Curiosities"
by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press 
(2nd ed., 2004) page(s) n/a
(3rd ed., 2009) page(s) 65 & 68
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
“Bill Geist visits a Bookstore made from a Manure Tank”
video by despondentisthmus
“A Visit to Castle Arkdale / Happy Tales Bookshop”
video by Brandon Domer
6
Elephant Guardian
location:   Markesan
roadside oddity

The Pawlaks have chosen a pachyderm to guard their driveway from brush salesmen, vagabonds, and the UPS man, but who protects the protector from poachers who prize those scrap metal tusks?
black_arrow   W 1644 County Road AW
Markesan, WI 53956
Elephant Guardian
(no resource available)

7
Bowling Ball Tree
at Prairie Lanes Bowling Alley
location:   Markesan
roadside oddity

Bowling Ball Tree
Bowling Ball Tree
This is another creation of Ken Soda, the farmer in Marquette county with the giant bowling ball rosary on his property. He and his two sons built this colorful attraction in the parking lot of an appropriate site: a bowling alley. Thanks to Barbara Beane on Facebook for the tip!
black_arrow   W1646 County Rd S
Markesan, WI 53946
Facebook (official)

8
Rubber Chicken Fling
location:   Princeton
event

Rubber Chicken Fling
image courtesy of official site
Do you possess the fortitude it takes to win the highly-desired Silver Rubber Chicken? All it takes is accuracy to gain past the initial trial (chucking a rubber chicken through a pair of goal posts), then going for distance (sending your bird hurtling down the street) to claim your prize. Children can toss the fowl as well in their own competition. You can even meet the event's mascot, Chuck, while checking out the other attractions available.
black_arrow   Princeton City Park hours:
Memorial Day Weekend
Official Site
rubberchickenfling.com
Facebook (official)

City of Princeton
www.cityofprincetonwi.com
Shimmering Chimps (blog)
shimmeringchimps.blogspot.com
Ken Cravillion Photography
www.kgcphoto.com


paranormal category logo paranormal resources logo
1
Dartford Cemetery
   haunted cemetery haunted cemetery
location:  Green Lake

Dartford Cemetery
Dartford Cemetery
This location was featured on a hour-long episode of "A Haunting" that aired on the Discovery Channel.

"The Dartford Cemetery is an old cemetery located in town. Residents live all around it. It has been haunted for many years. The main activities are dark figures such as shadows, and figures. Noises can also be heard. Most often figures seen are of civil war era soldiers, an Indian chief that once ruled and lived in the Ripon/Green Lake/ Princeton area (he apparently died while drunk when he was bet he could not swim across the fox river. He didn't make it and drowned.) The other main figure is members of a family. The children died of a disease,possibly polio They have a large stone building for their graves which holds plots for all the family members. At times, a person may sit on the roof and get pushed off. Orbs can also be seen, and feelings of being followed and watched."
– section from The Shadowlands website
grey_arrow   From Highway 23 in Green Lake, head east on North Street (County Road A). The cemetery is on both sides of the road.
Unexplained Research
1. www.unexplainedresearch.com
2. forum chadlewis.proboards.com
book:
"The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations"
by Chad Lewis and Terry Fisk
Research Publishing Co. (2004)
page(s) 103 – 105
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.comicon
book:
"Ghostly Tales of Wisconsin"
by Ryan Jacobson
Adventure Publications, Inc. (2009)
page(s) 86 – 87
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.comicon
book:
"Haunts of Wisconsin"
by Devon Bell
CreateSpace (2012)
page(s) 189 – 200
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.comicon
2
Princeton UFO Sightings
ufo
ufo
location:  Princeton

"Man witnesses a large, orange-colored ball of light."
– section from UFO Wisconsin 03-01-1996 report
UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com
3
“Sleepers”
ghosts
ghosts
location:  Berlin  /  Princeton  /  Green Lake

In the book "Northern Frights," author Dennis Boyer tells of bed-invading spirits which may influence people to commit unspeakable acts.

"Some patterns started to emerge. Almost all of my haunted clients seemed first to experience contact with ghosts while they were dreaming. Yes, while they were sleeping soundly in their own beds. These spirits would come repeatedly in dreams. Then they would come as a presence into the bedrooms and wake these people up. That is usually when the real trouble began."
– section from the book "Northern Frights"
book:
"Northern Frights"
by Dennis Boyer
Badger Books (2nd ed., 2005)
page(s) 223 – 230
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.comicon
4
Kingston UFO Sightings
ufo
ufo
location:  Kingston

"As in came closer, I actually became frightened as I thought maybe it was a meteorite going to hit or something. I hadn't ever seen anything like it. It finally changed direction heading south and then changed direction again and headed into space until it disappeared."
– section from UFO Wisconsin 06-22-2003 report
UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com
5
Mysterious Light Near River (1996)
ufo
ufo
location:  Marquette

"Then, it slowly lifted into the air until it reached tree-top level and went back over his head. He watched it as it silently and slowly flew away to the southwest."
– section from UFO Wisconsin report
UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com
6
Bleeding Gravestone
at Oakwood Cemetery
   haunted cemetery haunted cemetery
location:  Berlin

The headstone of a stabbing victim allegedly bleeds on Halloween. Sounds suspicious, being that the stone has chosen an obvious holiday to start working its fright tactics. But, then again its more appropriate than, say, Boss's Day.
(submitted story)

7
Green Lake UFO Sightings
ufo
ufo
location:  Green Lake

"Then, the second object suddenly, for lack of a better term, 'came about'. It seemed to take a more aggressive stance than the first. And then I heard a piercing noise, much like nails on a chalk board. There were multiple flashes of light."
– section from UFO Wisconsin 01-28-2002 report
UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com
8
Berlin UFO Sightings
ufo
ufo
location:  Berlin

So far my husband and I both, observed the lights of one, and then two, all of a sudden stop and put a bright beam of light on...After 5-10 seconds the light blinks off and we see nothing...then it will beam bright again...then go out. Because we dont understand what it is, it scares me.
– section from UFO Wisconsin 09-29-2005 report
UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com
"Ghosts of America" Haunted Location Reports
(take with a grain of salt)
ghosts
ghosts
location:  STATEWIDE

The reports on this site are presumably fiction, using random Wisconsin place names in the stories listed there. Even so, you might get a kick out of reading them.

"The ghost of a brawny lumberjack hauling a sizeable axe came into view trying on clothes in a Berlin mobile home. This individual ghost has been noticed over and over again in this location. A man who lives here declares that this ghost is that of a person who lived here in Berlin in the past."
– section from Ghosts of America website
Ghosts of America
www.ghostsofamerica.com


history category logo history resources logo
1
Berlin Museum of Local History
location:   Berlin
museum

"Strolling through the museum's displays you will see Nathan Strong's discovery of the Fox River site where he established Strong's Landing, later renamed Berlin; walk through a general store and millinery shop; sit down and enjoy slides of Berlin as it was in yesteryear in an old-time theater setting."
– section from Explore Wisconsin website
green_arrow   111 S Adams Ave.
Berlin, WI 54923
or
Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com
2
Clark School Museum
location:   Berlin
museum

"Down at Riverside Park stands a little white schoolhouse with the name of Clark over the door. The school was started up about 1863 and was moved to its present location in 1963. Inside, you can still smell chalk and imagine the presence of children. On the walls are pictures of parents, teachers and children of years long gone by."
– section from Explore Wisconsin website
green_arrow   253 Water St.
Berlin, WI 54923
Green Lake Country Visitors Bureau
www.glcountry.com
Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com
3
Little Depot Museum
location:   Green Lake
museum

"The first railroad depot in the Green Lake area was constructed in 1871. It houses a permanent exhibit on the history of the area from pre settlement to the 1990's."
– section from Portal Wisconsin website
green_arrow  (next to Dartford Historical Society Museum)
554 Mill Street
Green Lake, WI 54941
Wisconsin Local History Network
www.wlhn.org
Green Lake Country Visitors Bureau
www.glcountry.com
4
Grand Valley Museum and Train Depot
location:   Markesan
museum

"Displays include six residential rooms - 1895, an authentic Flag Stop Depot, shops of the old days, Veterans Section, tools of early Agriculture, old time photos, Histories of the Churches, and one of a kind appliances depicting the life style of the 1800's. Relive those frontier days with tales of the Mackford Murder, the Counterfeiters, the Raid on the Payroll Wagon headed for Fort Howard near Green Bay, Granite Mining and the Dynamite Disaster."
– section from Green Lake County Visitors Bureau website
green_arrow   214 East John Street
Markesan, WI 53946
hours:
April thru Nov 1 (Fri - Sun) 1pm – 4pm
Markesan Historical Society
www.service-life.com
Green Lake Country Visitors Bureau
www.glcountry.com
Portal Wisconsin
www.portalwisconsin.org
5
Princeton Historical Society Museums
location:   Princeton
museum

""The Princeton Historical Society is presently housing its collection in two buildings...

The Stone House is being restored to authentically portray a dwelling in the era -- although the building is probably older than that. The furnishings are nearly complete, thanks to generous gifts of artifacts from area people, and we're proud of our collection of beautiful old wedding gowns...

The Warnke Building...has artifacts which people enjoy seeing -- most of a complete set of old farm equipment, memorabilia of some of the former business men, and special photographs of area businesses and people.""
– section from Green Lake County Visitors Bureau website
green_arrow  Warnke Building & Tourist Information Center
708 W. Water Street
Princeton, WI 54968
green_arrow  Stone House
632 W. Water Street
Princeton, WI 54968
hours:
the last week in April thru mid-Oct
(Mon, Wed, Fri) 9am – 1pm / (Saturdays) 9am – 3pm
Green Lake Country Visitors Bureau
www.glcountry.com
Princeton Official Site
www.princetonwi.com


blinking arrow COUNTIES guide updates links & books city index attractions index  contact

updated 06-03-2014  •   all images and content excluding those attributed to others are property of Wisconsinosity.com