Vacationland: The History of Tourism in Sauk County
August 8 - 7 pm - Free Presentation
In August of 1865, just a few months after the Civil War ended, John Blake and Edward Marsh took a gamble and bought 58 acres at the north shore of Devil’s Lake. Despite the poor road to the lake and the lack of any railroad within 20 miles they purchased the property and began the construction of a resort hotel, the first purpose-built structure of its kind in Sauk County. With the construction of the railroad through the Devil’s Lake area six years later, right past the front door of the Minniwaukan House, visitors had a much easier time getting to the lake and the hotel. The fame of the lake spread far and wide with the help of the railroad. In 1872, Mary Todd Lincoln heard of the beauty there while she was taking the waters at Waukesha and came for a visit.
Tourism has been a part of the fabric of Sauk County almost since its inception. While geographical features formed the foundation for tourism in Sauk County, other factors added to its success. The advent of the automobile brought more tourists to the area and created different areas where tourism could flourish. Roadside attractions, eateries, and cabins became more common as roads improved. The late 1970s brought the first large water slides to the area and soon competition saw the nation’s largest waterparks develop.
Today Sauk County can boast the largest and most highly attended state park, the highest attended state historic site and the lion’s share of the top tourist destination in the entire state. A history of tourism in Sauk County will be given by SCHS executive director Paul Wolter on Tuesday, August 8 at 7 pm at the Frank Fischer Center, 20 Wisconsin Dells Parkway South in Lake Delton. An interactive quiz will be woven throughout the presentation which will take a fascinating look at what brings millions of people to Sauk County every year.