8 Delightfully Odd Towns In Wisconsin
When discovering the quirkier side of destinations is a major focus in your travel plans, Wisconsin happens to be home to over 180 unusual things to see and do. In fact, the state slogan is “Discover the Unexpected.” Wisconsin offers no shortage of the weird and wonderful, featuring attractions like the world’s largest scrap metal sculpture, the site of a circus elephant rampage, monstrous tales of creature sightings, and a bypass lined with trolls.
Whether you are a weekender, Sunday driver, or out for a days-long adventure, these delightfully odd towns in Wisconsin cater to intriguing tales and curiosity seekers.
Baraboo
If you fear clowns, steer clear of Baraboo, the historic winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Dubbed “Circus City,” Baraboo is just one hour or so from Madison, where braver souls unfazed by red noses can celebrate the town’s circus heritage.
The salute to clown culture is a little hard to find tucked behind the town’s business multiplex, where the art of clowning is not restricted to circus performances. The one-room International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center showcases different types of clowns, artifacts like Chester “Bobo” Barnett’s clown car, and assorted clown-related costumes and paraphernalia.
Circus World Museum is a “tad” larger than the one-room clown collection, spanning 63 acres. Experience the colorful spirit and energy of the circus, where you can see the world’s largest collection of restored historic circus wagons and thousands of circus treasures.
Just down the road in Sumpter is the world's largest scrap metal sculpture at Dr. Evermor's Art Park. Dr. Evermor’s Forevertron is an intricate 300-ton structure built by the late demolition expert Tom Every, or more accurately, his alter ego, Victorian inventor Dr. Evermor from Eggington, England. The visionary artist's work is open to the public seasonally, including the massive centerpiece and smaller works throughout the grounds and gardens.
Spring Green
Frank Lloyd Wright fans cut a path to Spring Green, where the groundbreaking architect's most iconic house sits on expansive acreage in the forested landscape he loved. However, Mr. Wright’s works are not the only structures attracting visitors to the town. The curious House on the Rock is an “architectural compound” built by Alex Jordan on Deer Shelter Rock.
This Wisconsin oddity was built as an eclectic 13-room private retreat and opened up to the public in 1960. The original house experience at the compound includes the character-filled home, two Asian-inspired gardens complete with a 14-foot waterfall, and a gatehouse with a peculiar music machine. An unsupported Infinity Room spanning 218 feet with 3,264 windows offers scenic views of the valley from an impressive concrete and glass addition. Several major attractions include a carousel featuring over 250 animals and 182 chandeliers, a 200-foot-tall sea creature, and a recreated 19th-century street.
The expansive grounds and beautifully designed buildings at Taliesin Preservation are tough competition for House on the Rock. Taliesin was Frank Lloyd Wright's home for nearly 50 years, set against the hills on an 800-acre estate. You can also dine at the world’s only remaining restaurant designed by the architect, Riverview Terrace Cafe.
The final stop on your architectural odyssey is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wyoming Valley School, a former elementary school that now serves as a Cultural Arts Center.
Marshfield
Odd towns tend to have a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, something noted in Marshfield’s off-the-wall attraction, Jurustic Park, where pieces of rusted scrap metal bring a collection of dinosaurs and other creatures to life.
Amateur paleontologist Clyde Wynia’s creations are not scrappy by any means. Instead, the park is filled with sculptural delights that spark the imagination and offer a whimsical place to explore fantastical dragons, little critters, and, of course, dinosaurs. The park is also the front yard and garden of the charming Hobbit House that serves as a studio and gift shop.
A 150-foot round and 70-foot-high red barn is the focal point on Marshfield’s fairgrounds. Touted as the world’s largest red barn, it serves as an arena to display purebred animals and hold town events. The awe-inspiring structure is supported by massive crossbeams beneath the cupola, and visitors can arrange a $1 tour. Completed in 1916, the original roof had 88,000 shingles, and the show ring was designed to seat about 1,000 people.
Meet rare Kodiak Bear twins Munsey and Boda at the more than 150-acre Wildwood Park & Zoo. The orphaned bear cubs arrived from Alaska in 2015 and found a new home designed to mimic their natural habitat. Encounter American Bison, American Elk, Timber Wolves, and White-Tailed Deer along the Zoo’s wild animal drive and immerse yourself in several interactive displays, including the Sensory Gardens.
Gamer and hobbyist hot spot Oddities, Manga, & Games (OMG) is all about hands-on experiences where playing games is encouraged, and shoppers find opportunities to rub elbows with fellow enthusiasts.
Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Dells is a mystical place where you can explore otherworldly landforms, discover your inner larper, and unveil the mystery of early photography at the 1875 photo studio.
You can explore Wisconsin Dells' sandstone formations by land or by water. A Lost Canyon horse-drawn carriage ride explores Wisconsin's longest and deepest land canyon. Some sections are so narrow that passengers hold their breath as the carriage barely squeezes by. River cruises of the Upper Dells glide through a channel formed by glaciers. An evening stop at Witches Gulch includes a torch-lit walk casting shadows on the windswept sandstone walls.
The LARP sensation, Wizard Quest, is a fantasy-themed labyrinth filled with fantastical creatures, wizards, and magical sights. Questers immerse themselves in a journey testing their riddle-solving skills to discover hidden passages in the “Quadrasphere.”
American photographer H.H. Bennett captivated the imaginations of his viewers and brought the stunning landscape of Wisconsin Dells to life. The H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum is believed to be America’s oldest continuously operating photography studio, where you can view his equipment and original photos. You can also recreate his most notable photo, Leap in the Chasm, which captured Bennet’s son in mid-air, jumping to Stand Rock. Many flabbergasted people who saw the photo were convinced the image was a fake.
Rhinelander
When lumber surveyor and notorious town prankster Eugene Shepard produced a photograph of a Hodag monster he claimed to spot in the woods, he had no idea his 1893 hoax would become the stuff legends are made of. Now part of Rhinelander's folklore, Hodag spottings are commonplace throughout town. The Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce even offers a prize for visitors who spot all the town’s hodag murals, sculptures, and bizarre stuffed beasts as part of the Hodag Hunt.
The legendary creature is celebrated in all its hokey glory at the annual Hodag Heritage Festival, complete with a Hodag calling contest and Hodag hunt photo ops. Take home proof of your Hodag encounter with kooky souvenirs from The Hodag Store.
Although Hodag spotting is a popular Rhinelander pastime, birdwatchers prefer to stick to the short trail at Holmboe Conifer Forest. The trail is also a favorite spot for nature lovers and hikers who can spend some quiet time along the Pelican River, admiring the scenic Northwoods, boardwalks, and peaceful old-growth forests.
Phillips
Another Northwoods gem, Phillips is home to an offbeat roadside attraction created by folk artist Fred Smith. The retired lumberjack’s concrete and mixed media sculptures were built between 1948 and 1964, leaving 237 works scattered throughout his property as his legacy.
Known as The Wisconsin Concrete Park, the untrained artist’s work is warm and folksy, depicting a wide range of characters from Sacagawea to Ben Hur, snippets of local history and folklore, and a menagerie of animals.
The former home of Fred Smith is now a gallery and gift shop filled with one-of-a-kind treasures and handmade items, with many reflecting Fred’s work, such as mosaic art and concrete craft pieces. The eclectic mix at Countryside Artists' Gallery & Gifts ranges from puzzles and toys to creative works and furnishings, along with Wisconsin Concrete Park T-shirts and keepsakes.
About 30 minutes from Phillips is the Smith Rapids Covered Bridge, at the Smith Rapids Recreation Area. Located on the Flambeau River, the covered bridge is the only glue-laminated town lattice covered bridge in Wisconsin. The recreation area is also part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, ideal for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing along the scenic river.
Somewhat zany events like the Phillips Flurry Snowshoe Race bring the town together to watch skilled and not-so-skilled snowshoers keep their balance in cumbersome footwear across the snow.
Mount Horeb
A town riddled with troll sculptures definitely falls into the delightfully odd category. Mount Horeb’s rich Norwegian culture has a lot to do with the friendly characters spotted along the byway and throughout town.
Troll folklore is a whimsical Norwegian tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. They first appeared in Mount Horeb on the lawn of a Scandinavian gift shop in the 1970s. When a bypass built around Mount Horeb put the town's economy in jeopardy in the mid-1980s, these legends of folklore became the town’s savior. The attention the lawn trolls garnered inspired the Trollway, featuring different troll characters carved by Michael Feeney. The life-sized carvings are captured tending to day-to-day activities, relaxing, or acting adorable along the town’s Main Street, with many new woodcarvers contributing their work to expand the troll community.
The award-winning Driftless Historium is an Interpretive Center telling the story of Southwestern Dane County from prehistory to modern day with a selection of artifacts, changing exhibits, and an interactive virtual reality experience touring three local historical sites.
Embrace the sweet side of troll culture at the Sugar Troll, munching on nostalgic vintage candies, gelato, fudge, macrons, and tons of treats. If things get too sweet, the Grumpy Troll Brew Pub offers a dose of friendly grumpy charm while you sample craft-made beers and pub fare.
Neillsville
Chatty Belle is the self-proclaimed world’s largest talking cow, standing tall and proud in the heart of Neillsville. She originally appeared at the 1964 World’s Fair to wax fantastic about the glory of Wisconsin dairy products. Chatty Belle is just plain old Belle now that her voice box is all but worn out. Nonetheless, at 16 feet tall and 20 feet long, she still attracts a fair amount of attention.
The giant Holstein is not the only World’s Fair relic in town. The World's Fair Wisconsin Pavilion also survived its return trip from New York and now serves as the WCCN radio station. The pavilion was shipped complete with its distinct roof and space-age mid-century modern façade. It is also home to Pavilion Cheese, Wine & Gifts, where you can purchase artisan cheeses, cheese-related wares, and assorted wines and beers.
The town’s prohibition-era ballroom’s early modernist architecture seems out of place in the middle of the hinterlands. Aptly named The Silver Dome Ballroom, the circular building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The interiors are true to the original design, free of pillars and columns thanks to the patented Lamella truss, which sports a textured honeycomb-patterned ceiling.
Just down the road is The Speakeasy Saloon, another prohibition era location that acted as a supper club and secret place to find cold drinks. Today, it still serves up cocktails and tipples and is known for a wicked plate of walleye.
Finding alternative routes for the everyday traveler is easy when you know where to look. Wisconsin might be known as America's Dairyland, but it also has a zany side filled with outlandishly giant-sized roadside attractions, unusual glimpses of history, and unconventional architectural designs. If your ideal road trip is a journey into the unexpected, include these eight delightfully odd Wisconsin towns in your travel plans.
