Green Lake, WI

“Wisconsin’s Undiscovered Jewel”

When I was about 10 years old, a business associate of my father invited our family up to spend a weekend at his cottage on Green Lake, Wisconsin. That was where I first learned to water ski. My clearest memory is that of my mother warning me to not fall off of the skis because, as she put it: “The lake has no bottom and you’d be gone forever!”

I was too scared to fall but I did have a great time and have loved waterskiing ever since. I have often wondered why I didn’t return to Green Lake sooner.

The town of Green Lake, Wisconsin is not much bigger now than I remember it. But it is very much what one might imagine a resort town to be like. There is a small park with a lagoon that looked to be a great place for ice skating or fishing.

The two main streets were Mill and Hill, and at the southwest corner of that intersection there sits a very old but stately courthouse. There are several restaurants and small shops, as well as an excellent hotel called the Heidel House and Grey Rock restaurant 

unfortunately, the restaurant is now permanently closed). I can highly recommend the Heidel House, though. Make a plan to stop in Green Lake – whether for a short visit or longer stay. Just make sure to sample the fishing, whether for summer or winter.