Sometimes the staff at the local visitor bureau in Wisconsin Dells just has to pinch itself. Every year their member businesses manager to come up with far-flung, way-out-there ideas for new attractions that actually make it from drawing board to completion. How fun for the business owners and for the nearly three million visitors through the community each year. For all that's new in 2010, plus the "you might also like this" suggestions that dovetail nicely with those new offerings, see below.
Extreme Rides
It's early, but the #1 pick so far to grab the "new news" headline for 2010 is the new ride at America's largest outdoor waterpark, Noah's Ark Waterpark - it's called "The Scorpion's Tail." If it sounds stinging, that's because it is.
This 10-story-tall slide is the first looping tube waterslide in the U.S. and also the tallest and largest of its kind in the world. Smaller versions exist in a handful of other countries including Germany and Japan. Riders step into a tube with a floor and, on a countdown of 3-2-1, the bottom drops out, with gravity, water and centrifugal force taking over. The rider whooshes through a 45-degree angled loop-de-loop at speeds of up to 40 mph. For those new to waterparks, Noah's Ark is the country's largest outdoor waterpark at 70 acres and boasting 49 rides and slides.
Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort added an outdoor go-kart track, two indoor black light mini-golf courses and one outdoor mini-golf course, indoor bumper boats, a Tombstone Town Haunted Hotel and Livery and, the monster of them all, a zip line that takes riders over the tree canopy of Lost Canyon behind the resort. The Wilderness Canyon Zip Line Canopy Tour is really five lines suspended between six towers, with the last run being the longest at 900 feet in length and the fastest with riders reaching speeds of up to 30 mph. Needless to say, there's a whole lot of screaming going on at the Wilderness Resort these days. At their sister property on Lake Delton, Wilderness on the Lake, they've added a new "Big Fish" black light indoor mini-golf course with large fish tanks that hold many species of freshwater fish found in Wisconsin's streams and lakes.
There will be a second zip line debuting in the community in April, this one is behind Dells Army Duck Tours - it's called BigFoot Zipline Tours and it's comprised of six lines strung across 30 acres, making it the largest in the nation. Riders will take in especially scenic views as they glide over the attraction's four water crossings.
Back to Top >
Magical Offerings
At Great Wolf Lodge, their newest attraction is MagiQuest, a 20,000 square foot, four-story, full-size adventure game that makes incredible use of video and computer technology. The setting is a mythical Renaissance world complete with dragons, unicorns and evildoers. Participants are cast as the main characters in the quest to gain more power and unlock higher levels of quests. But before visitors can begin the adventure, they must go through magic wand training school. This is definitely a family sport.
Magically appearing at Chula Vista Resort is the new Jeremy Allen's Grand Illusions Mayan jungle-themed show which blends elements of magic, adventure and comedy in a specially designed theater that has the look and feel of a real jungle. His signature trick is to make a white Siberian tiger appear out of nowhere. He's also known for levitating a table over the audience and even levitating himself eight feet in the air and then vanishing. His tiger will be on display at the resort during the day.
Back to Top >
Food, Glorious Food
In culinary news, the community adds to its already 80+ portfolio of restaurants with the addition of two new ones. The Green Owl is a kitschy, hip place precariously perched over Mirror Lake Dam. It offers appetizers, a signature pizza, specialty drinks and live music, making it a favorite of locals. Gilly's Island isn't really an island at all, but it does have a family-recipe hot sauce which happens to go great on the deep-fried cheese curds. They're also known for their signature steak sandwich, traditional Friday night fish fry and fine selection of German beers. One other culinary note - Buffalo Phil's Pizza & Grille has added a train depot inside its restaurant; sit near the tracks and your food will be delivered by miniature train.
Over at the new Tourdot Winery, they'll be showcasing 10 wines made from California grapes, with next year's wines to be made using grapes now maturing on their estate. For those just not into wine, they'll be "opening" several types of Wisconsin microbrews each day for tasting too. They carry 25 different craft beers. Also new this year, there will be picnicking in their 36-acre forest that adjoins the vineyard.
Back to Top >
Conservation Hero
Finally, the International Crane Foundation, the only place in the world to see all 15 species of cranes, will host its first-ever after-hours series called "An Evening with the Cranes," with the first event set for June and the second in August. Along with a guided tour and wine and cheese reception, the real highlight of these evenings will be the chance to meet environmental legend and Foundation co-founder George Archibald. Dr. Archibald, one of Jane Goodall's Conservation Heroes, is featured in her recently released book, "Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink" for his tireless efforts on behalf of the world's cranes and wetlands.
Back to Top >
If You Like This...You Might Also Like This
The Scorpion's Tail at Noah's Ark Waterpark
The fastest, tallest and most adrenaline-inducing waterslides in town.
Timber Falls Adventure Park - Grab some air on the hybrid wood and steel roller coaster called the "Hellcat" with 70-degree banks and drops as high as 10 stories.
Poseidon's Rage - At Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Parks, visitors must try "Poseidon's Rage," one of the world's largest outdoor surf pools. It takes two million gallons of water to fill this pool, with waves topping off a nine feet.
Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort Zipline and BigFoot Zipline Tours
Perlstein Resort and Conference Center - If zipping's your thing, then try it over a lake.
Parasail on the Wisconsin River or Lake Delton.
The Catapult - Daring riders with no fear of heights will want to get in line for The Catapult, an extreme bungee ride at Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Parks that catapults riders 180 feet into the air in less than two seconds.
MagiQuest at Great Wolf Lodge
Wizard Quest in downtown Wisconsin Dells has a new game every day of the week.
The Tommy Bartlett Exploratory - Interactive Science Center has 150 hands-on exhibits and a Russian MIR space station.
Jeremy Allen's Grand Illusions
Rick Wilcox Magic Theater - Master illusionist Rick Wilcox built his own theater so he'd have enough room for his Lamborghini trick.
Culinary Finds
The Cheese Factory Restaurant's Big Cheese double-decker grilled cheese sandwich was declared one of the country's five best by Rachel Ray.
High Rock Café is the spot for a seasonally fresh, eclectic menu and has just expanded to two stories.
Tug's Kitchen - The motto is "Food so good, you'll wish your mouth was bigger!" Oysters Rockefeller and Oysters Hemingway are now on the menu.
The Del-Bar and Field's at the Wilderness were both designed by a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright.
House of Embers has been making its famous ribs for 50 years.
Seek out other food finds.
Tourdot Winery
Wollersheim Winery - At the 150-year-old winery, winemaker Philippe Coquard predicts the new crop will be among its top three vintages.
International Crane Foundation
Wisconsin Deer Park is the place to hand-feed and pet more than 100 deer.
Camping - The area had close to 3,000 campsites.
Three state parks offer canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing and a chance to hike the Ice Age Trail.
