Greater Green Lake

GREEN LAKE

Nestled in the heart of Wisconsin, with miles of shoreline and an array of events and activities year-round, Green Lake welcomes everyone, from the foodie to the outdoors enthusiast, to come and enjoy the good life.

For hikers and bikers, there’s no shortage of trails, and you’ll be getting the best panoramic views of the natural world making up the Greater Green Lake area. When you’re near the Green Lake Conference Center, be sure to climb all 121 steps of Judson Tower—you’ll be glad you did.

Or get out on the water. Rent a boat for a day filled with fishing, wake surfing, and just cruising around. You can also take a sunset cruise on the Escapade if you’re looking to wind down and bookend the evening with some lake air.

Experience the taste of downtown Green Lake’s restaurants. You’ll find great burgers and bar food sprinkled in with fine dining and supper clubs. There are also cafes, hot dogs, and ice cream to put a cherry on top of your day. Depending on where you dine, you might find yourself enjoying the lake lighting up with the yellows and oranges of a golden sunset.

Every year, different seasons provide some fantastic events to enjoy. Summer comes with weekly live entertainment,

like Concerts in the Park every Wednesday, featuring bands of every genre. You’ll also find an eclectic mix of live music, comedy, and theater at the historic Thrasher Opera House. Come autumn, it’ll be time for Harvest Fest, where you’ll find handmade crafts and enjoy live performances.

If you’re looking for something local and fresh, it doesn’t get better than the weekly farmer’s market. You’ll also find a lot to like at the Green Lake County Fair, the “best little fair around,” in August, followed by the Wisconsin State Chili Cook-off in September. When the snow comes, Green Lake transforms. The lake provides ample opportunity for ice fishing and ice skating, and the trails open for snowmobilers. There’s also sledding at Zobel Park.

Green Lake isn’t just about everything there is to do; it’s about the people. You’ll find friendly faces everywhere looking to ensure everyone who comes to their community gets a taste of the good life.

For help planning your next visit, go to visitgreenlake.com or contact the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

RIPON

Ripon could easily be known for its university. It could be known for its history. Or the acres of parks, trails, rivers, and lakes. It could be known for the wide array of shops and restaurants downtown or its memorable community celebrations. But locals might tell you it’s not that complicated. Ripon is simply distinguished by its charm.

In a stunning historical downtown, you’ll find many dog-friendly businesses, cafes, a brewery, and some hip restaurants. Not too far north, you’ll also find a winery. An outdoors enthusiast will enjoy the nearby bike trails and parks, while golfers will get to take on some of the state’s top-rated courses.

Ripon is also a place residents are proud to call home. Everyone living here truly feels that they’re a part of the community; it’s a place where everyone comes together. The educational opportunities define Ripon’s dedication to its students and their families, and the vibrant business culture puts local first. When you’re in Ripon, because there’s so much going on and the architecture of downtown has you constantly looking up, it’s easy to forget you’re in a friendly small town somewhere special in Wisconsin.

For more information, contact the Ripon Chamber of Commerce at 920-748-6764.

PRINCETON

Local shops, antique stores, and the famous Flea Market make Princeton a great place to experience small-town charm with idyllic character. However long your stay, we got some ideas of what you can do to get the most out of your day, weekend, or week.

If you’re only around for a day, not to worry. That’s enough time to attend Princeton’s famous Flea Market, held April to October. The event takes place outdoors, and each booth offers an array of items you’ve either been looking for or didn’t realize you needed. Take the opportunity to dine at a delicious and cozy restaurant or enjoy an award-winning brat fry put on by the American Legion. You can also pick up a burger at the Flea Market’s food stand.

Outside of the Flea Market’s months or after a morning spent browsing market booths, downtown Princeton hosts some fantastic local shops. Local wines, handblown glass ornaments, and American-made clothing might just be what you need to round out the day. Some business owners even have their own shop dog waiting for pets and affection. It shouldn’t be too hard to find the perfect gift for any occasion.

A weekend-long trip provides opportunity for families and friends to really start exploring one of Princeton’s defining offerings: antique shops. Often filled with treasures that don’t jump out right away, like some one-of-a-kind furniture pieces or knickknacks that express your style perfectly, these shops have all the right stuff to make your house feel like home.

There are also a host of weekend-long events, including wine walks, the Rubber Chicken Fling, and the Whooping Crane Festival. Each major holiday also comes with something to do, like shopping local on Black Friday, where you’ll find hot chocolate and opportunities to take pictures with the big guy himself. And you won’t want to miss the Christmas in Princeton parade, held every Thanksgiving weekend.

For those fortunate enough to have a week to spend in Princeton, you’ll start to understand what it is to live like a local. You’ll set the tone by staying at one of our campgrounds, motels, or Airbnbs. Whether you’re here

to golf, fish, or hunt, it’s that peaceful time in nature everybody says they want but forgets to slow down to find. That said, every day comes with opportunity to explore new natural areas, learn more about Princeton’s history, and visit family businesses that have been in Princeton for generations.

Princeton is also the place to access the White River Marsh Loop, so be sure to bring your bike. If you’re visiting in winter, check out the snowmobile trails, go ice skating, or experience a winter wonderland while cross-country skiing. No matter how long you’re here, there’s always something to do in Princeton, even if that something is just watching the day go by.

For more information, contact the Princeton Chamber of Commerce at 920-295-3877.

MARKESAN

With top-notch educational facilities and comfortable living options for all ages, the friendly neighborhoods of Markesan truly make up a community that puts people first. There’s also a lot of rich history to be discovered when visiting.

Markesan’s past is rooted in a dedication to farming, so much so that it was once considered the wealthiest city in the nation. The history of the past 150 years of Markesan’s farming heritage can be viewed at the Grand River Valley Museum and Train Depot, presented by the Markesan Historical Society. It should come as no surprise that farming continues to be an important aspect of life in Markesan today.

There’s also a wealth of outdoor opportunities to be had. Anyone looking to fish will find Little Green Lake is filled with muskie and walleye, and anyone looking to cruise around the lake will appreciate the 462 acres of water to explore. Nearby Puckaway Lake and Grand Lake, along with many smaller lakes in the area, are also worth looking

into if you’re seeking a change in scenery. Be sure to check out the 7,000 acres of the Grand River Marsh State Wildlife Area, where you’ll find opportunities for hunting, trapping, hiking, birdwatching, and fishing.

Markesan’s annual events aptly echo the spirit of the town. June Dairy Days, held every second weekend in June, celebrates the town’s farming heritage. Local service organizations sponsor a variety of other festivals, including Kingston Krazy Days, Augustfest, Heritage Day, the fireman’s breakfast, and more.

The community of Markesan is also comprised of boutique shops, a grocery store, hardware store, public library, and medical facilities amongst other vital services. Parks and churches are all walking distance from downtown. Markesan may be small, but it’s a place where history, nature, and community thrive.

For more information, contact the Markesan Chamber of Commerce at 920-398-3031.

REFLECTIONS ON GREEN LAKE Preserving

WISCONSIN’S

HISTORIC

WATERS

BY KRISTEN RASMUSSEN

Green Lake has long been a cherished destination, its history woven into the fabric of Wisconsin’s lake country. Drawn by its sparkling waters and the idyllic small-town charm, families have flocked to its shores for generations. One of the most nostalgic symbols of this rich history is the Green Lake mail boat, a beloved fixture that delivered more than just letters and packages. Beginning in 1929, the mail boat made daily rounds, bringing a sense of connection to families along the shore. At its peak, residents and visitors would line up at the marina to board boats that followed the mail boat.

Though official mail delivery by boat ended in 1968, the legacy of the mail boat lives in the stories shared through the generations. As the oldest resort town west of Niagara Falls, Green Lake remains a place where the past feels present, with timeless traditions of wooden boats, fishing, and ice boating.

As Green Lake continues to honor its past, it faces new challenges. While swimmable today, the lake is currently classified as impaired due to

water-quality issues posing significant concerns for its future. The Green Lake Association (GLA) is working tirelessly with its partners to address these challenges, focusing on reducing pollution and phosphorus runoff that threaten the lake’s health. Through ongoing efforts, such as water-quality improvement projects, educational outreach, and community initiatives, the GLA is committed to reversing this decline and restoring the lake that sits at the heart of the community.

Protecting Green Lake isn’t just about conservation; it’s about preserving a way of life that has shaped the area for centuries. Long before it became a beloved vacation destination, Green Lake was sacred to the Ho-Chunk people, whose ancestral lands surround the lake. For them, the lake holds deep spiritual significance as a gathering place.

Today, the health of the lake is essential to the local economy, outdoor heritage, and the community’s future. Supporting the GLA means investing in this vision, ensuring that Green Lake remains a vital and vibrant part of Wisconsin’s natural legacy for generations to come.

To learn more and support these efforts, visit greenlakeassociation.org and join the movement to help protect this beloved lake for future generations to enjoy.

“Beginning in 1929, the mail boat made daily rounds, bringing a sense of connection to families along the shore.”

Leroy Meats

BY KYLE JACOBSON

Small businesses define the communities in which they exist. As consumers, we add to that definition when we choose to frequent our neighborowned establishments and utilize their services. When it comes to buying highquality food in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest, that local connection extends beyond the storefront.

Leroy Meats, with locations in Ripon, Fox Lake, and Horicon, seeks out the best the Midwest has to offer. Steve Christian, co-owner along with his wife, Valerie, says, “We hand select our suppliers and processors that deal directly with local farmers. Local farmers, they go to the stockyards and sell

their animals, and the local processors buy those animals. And those are the people we buy our meat from. It’s very small herd and very controlled for the best quality.”

The other aspect of the business that’s important to Steve and Valerie is making everything affordable for their customers while offering the best quality. Steve tells me there’s plenty of opportunity out there to buy poorer quality meats at cheaper prices, but they didn’t work hard over the decades earning their reputation only to throw it away for a quick buck.

We hand select our suppliers and processors that deal directly with local farmers.

0 “ ”

Per their website, “Leroy Meat began in the small town of Leroy, Wisconsin, in 1938

We proudly have just shy of 50 varieties of brats available all summer long. 0 “ ”

under the name Leroy Locker. The store butchered, cut, and stored meat for farmers and made old-world fresh and smoked sausage with recipes brought over from German immigrants, many of which are still made the same way today.

“Through the years, many awards were won at the state and national level, including an international award in Ghent, Belgium. Leroy Locker quickly became known as not only having the best sausage products in the United States, but also in the entire world.”

As part of continuing that legacy, Steve says, “We proudly have just shy of 50 varieties of brats available all summer long. We try to get creative. We have some tried and true that we have to carry no matter what because we have a following for them, and then we try to rotate new flavors. We always try to come up with something exciting people can try.”

More and more sought after are also the pizzas coming out of Leroy Meats. Each pie is handmade, and they’re sold fresh in store. “We make them, and that same day they’re being sold,” says Steve. “We never freeze

them in our personal stores.” That said, they’re available frozen at gas stations and grocery stores; you’ll even find their pizzas served at some area bars.

And for hunters, Leroy Meats does full animal processing of deer, elk, and other wild game. They also take boneless wild game and process them using the same recipe they use on their award-winning retail products.

Throughout our conversation, Steve took every opportunity he could to mention how having repeat customers, whether a business, restaurant, bar, or individual, is the best part of owning Leroy Meats. They work with local organizations for fundraising opportunities to donate what they can to events and raffles. “We’re very intertwined in the activities going on in all our communities,” says Steve. “We’re proud Wisconsinites, born and raised here. It’s our lifestyle.”

Kyle Jacobson is lead writer for Greater Green Lake.

Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

BIG

Green Lake

Wisconsin lakes are often the backdrop to our picturesque environments and play vital roles in the lives of those around them. Essential to the Greater Green Lake area, Big Green Lake stands as a prime example to the connection between nature and community. Just the way a person views and respects water becomes central to how they view the rest of the world. As any local will tell you, growing up by a lake is something special.

The obvious start is the beaches. Whether Hattie Sherwood Beach, Sunset Park, or Dodge Memorial County Park, there’s something to be had for the whole family. Youngsters can play in the sand, parents and grandparents can enjoy the sun, and teenagers have plenty of room for water and beachside games.

If you prefer to be on the water, Big Green doesn’t disappoint. With 7,346 acres, kay-

akers, boaters, and yachters have plenty of room to paddle, buzz, and sail. If you haven’t tried stand-up paddleboarding, a sunny vacation day is the perfect time to give it a go. For the adrenaline junkie, be sure to bring your wakeboard or waterskies. And if you really want to go fast, rent a couple of wave runners at a nearby marina and zip around in style.

A day of fishing is another great way to get the most out of the lake. With a depth of 237 feet, Big Green is hiding quite the assortment of species: walleye, northern pike, lake trout, and a variety of bass and panfish species. It was comedian Steven Wright who said, “There’s a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot,” so be sure to get out on a boat or, if you’re a special kind of enthusiast, go ice fishing. Any time of year, there are lunkers to be found, just be sure to read up on current regulations concerning size and limits.

HOMAN

FORD & CHRYSLER

BY KYLE JACOBSON

“I want to give back to the community every time we’re successful.”

Purchasing a vehicle, whether from a private seller or dealership, can feel like a bad trip that leaves you with a headache and buyer’s remorse. With a private seller, trying to set up a prepurchase inspection is often not practical, meaning you might be buying a project instead of something that’s reliable. Similarly, with a dealership, it always feels like there’s something they’re not telling you just to earn commission. At Homan Ford & Chrysler in Ripon, managing partner Rob Dresen has worked hard to not only change customers’ perceptions on car buying, but what buyers can expect post purchase.

“The thing that we have always tried to bring to the community is transparency,” says Rob. “That’s a motto that I speak with our employees. I want to be different in the sense that I’m hiding nothing, and I want to display everything and make sure that my community knows I

want to take care of them better than anybody else can. I don’t want to be the biggest; I just want to do a darn good job with what we have here and take care of everybody’s vehicles. And I want to give back to the community every time we’re successful.”

Rob and his staff work hard to ensure nobody takes home a vehicle they’re not comfortable with purchasing. “We’re here to help you purchase the vehicle; we’re not here to sell you a vehicle,” says Rob. In a community ranging from college students to retired seniors, there’s a wide variety of budgets and lifestyles looking for the right vehicle, which is why Homan provides an extensive interview and support process.

And when it comes to maintaining your vehicle, Rob’s mission is to make sure every customer leaves smarter and smiling. Aside from providing a wealth of information to help customers better understand their vehicles, Homan has implemented a new software program that shows them the condition of their vehicles through video.

To make things even easier for community members needing work on the vehicles, Rob says, “We have what we call a premium concierge service. When

someone schedules an appointment with us, they can choose to have us pick up the vehicle, bring it in for them, and then deliver it back to them. We also have a recently established full mobile service division, where we can come to you and do all the service.”

Since 2013, Rob and his staff at Homan Ford & Chrysler have utilized their success to give back to the community. Rob is proud of his efforts to spread donations around and work with nonprofits to enhance Greater Green Lake. Homan also partners with the Boys & Girls Club in Ripon through a program

they call Craftsmen with Character, where students can job shadow through the summer.

“Our employees are very local,” says Rob. “They’re in the community. We see each other at the grocery store. There’s nothing more important than being able to say hello to a customer and remember their situation. We’re proud that we can do that.”

Kyle Jacobson is lead writer for Greater Green Lake.

Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

REAL ESTATE EMMER

BY KYLE JACOBSON

My experience with realtors has been on an as-needed basis. Selling a house, buying a house—that’s it. What I never really knew was the role realtors can also play in shaping communities by developing properties. In the Greater Green Lake area, Emmer Real Estate Group has been doing all this and more since it opened a location in downtown Green Lake.

Founder Jim Emmer has been in the business since 1986, when he was 24 years old. “I grew up on a dairy farm. I still own the farm today. I was working the cows, helping my dad from the time I was 8 to the time I was 24, every day with him side by side. No matter if you felt good or bad or indifferent, the cows had to get milked twice a day.”

Jim credits his father for his work ethic and for learning the importance of taking care of those around you. Before leaving to practice real estate full time, he made sure to find a replacement hand to work with his dad on the farm—200 acres that has been in the family since 1906. He later sold that person a farm of their own.

A current project called the Legacy on the Bay is the development of the Bayview Motel and Marina into 17 on-water condominiums.

“ The Thursday before Memorial Day Week, we have the Emmer Loves Local event.”

In 1997, after years of working for a franchise company and with the ongoing real estate coaching mentoring program he’s involved with, Jim was confident he had gained the knowledge and skillset needed to open Emmer Real Estate Group in West Bend. His goal wasn’t to just to get the Emmer name out there, but to ensure every person working for him had what they needed to be successful.

“It’s a little bit different than the traditional company, where every agent works as an independent contractor and they kind of do their own thing. ... I have a team concept where I have sales agents that work under my umbrella. We provide a lot of the marketing and the leads for our agents. We have an inside sales team that follows up on leads until they’re ready to either list a home for sale or buy a home, then we set them up with an outside sales agent.”

In 2004, Jim and his wife purchased a cottage on Big Green Lake for them and their three children. In 2012, while

people were still struggling to recover from the Great Recession, Jim noticed 110 homes were for sale on the lake, some of which had been listed for years. He believed his proactive marketing style would benefit the area, and it wasn’t long before he was quickly selling lakefront properties for maximum price.

Since then, the Emmer Real Estate Group name has a strong foothold in the Green Lake community. Current projects include finding and securing a new location for the Green Lake County Highway Department; the development of the Bayview Motel and Marina into 17 on-water condominiums to be called the Legacy on the Bay; and Green Lake Getaways, a full-service rental management company for the Green Lake area.

The success of Emmer Real Estate Group has given Jim everything he needs to give back through his various donations to nonprofits and organizations, like Green Lake Association. It also allowed him to

start Emmer Loves Local, which is going on its fifth year. “The Thursday before Memorial Day Week, we have the Emmer Loves Local event. We provide free food and drinks, and we raffle prizes from local businesses in town. It’s welcome to anyone and everyone. We have some music; it’s really been a nice event.”

There really isn’t anything like lake life in Wisconsin, and having a cottage on Green Lake will create memories that last a lifetime. Whether you’re looking for a home or a home away from home, the team at Emmer Real Estate Group is here to help and empower you to build wealth through real estate investment.

To learn more, visit emmerrealestate.com or call 920-294-4747.

Kyle Jacobson is lead writer for Greater Green Lake.

Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

Discover

GREEN LAKE ON TWO WHEELS

Biking in Greater Green Lake offers a wealth of opportunities and experiences. Whether for the history, the beauty, or the culture, miles of country roads can take you anywhere between Green Lake, Ripon, Berlin, Princeton, and Markesan. With miles of paved and compacted-gravel bicycle paths, there’s an argument to be made that biking is the best way to explore everything the area has to offer.

Out of all the ways to take in Big Green Lake, biking Loop the Lake, Greater Green Lake’s most popular route, is a local and visitor favorite. The path follows the lakeshore via 23 miles of town and county roads, with access to the shoreline, public landings, parks, and Green Lake Conservancy properties. And it’s fantastic year-round. Beat the heat with the lake’s cool water; take in the red, orange, greens, and golds of autumn’s maple trees; and refresh with the reborn flowers of spring. Even winter provides ample opportunity to explore nature like no other season can. When you find yourself near the Tichora natural area, be sure to walk the trails to explore the tiered sandstone bluff and small spring-fed lake. No matter where you are on the trail, you’re sure to discover the beauty that so many photographers and artists strive to capture year after year.

Phase 2 of Lauree’s Trail finished in 2022, and this year will likely mark the end of Phase 3, which will complete the connection to Koro Road. Along with the Forest Ridge Loop, this 18-mile-long trail system of paved and compactedgravel sections connects Green Lake, Ripon, Rush Lake, and Berlin. Whether you start the trail on Koro Road or at the Green Lake Conference Center, the trip will take you through some of the best nature preserves the area has to offer. As of this writing, you can take the Northwestern Trail, 300 yards north of Lauree’s Trail on County Road PP, to complete the trip from Green Lake to Ripon.

snowmobile system. Rush Lake, with a maximum depth of five feet, is the star of the trail for birdwatchers. Benches provide a view of sandhill cranes and geese along with the potential for a rare red-necked grebe or black-crowned night heron spotting.

This is only a small sampling of the trails offered in the area. There’s still the Little Green Loop, which has an extension that takes you through Markesan; the Huckleberry Loop, which takes you to the Fox River along Huckleberry Road; and the White River Marsh Loop, which circles the White River Marsh State Wildlife Area. If that’s not enough, more trails await south of Puckaway Lake.

The Mascoutin Valley State Trail connects Ripon to Berlin by passing Rush Lake and state-protected wildlife areas and wetlands. While on this multiuse, compacted-gravel trail, expect to encounter joggers, dog walkers, and even horseback riders as well as other bikers. In the winter, the trail acts as part of a three-county

Whatever the reason for your visit, a weekend getaway is a great start to finding the bicycle journey you’re looking for. Bed and breakfasts near the bike trail offer the easiest way to get up and go, and each city has great offerings for lunch and dinner. You’ll be hanging out with the locals and learning about all the must-ride trails and must-see sites and events. One day, you might check out Ripon and the university, the next, you’re in Marquette County checking out nature preserves and John Muir’s boyhood home while listening to Greg Brown’s “Two Little Feet”. The wealth of opportunity is limited only by your stamina and the length of your stay.

Maps are available from the Green Lake Chamber of Commerce and at visitgreenlake.com/biking.

EMBRACE TRICKY GREENS THAT LOVERS OF LINKS-STYLE GOLF SEEK, OR NARROW FAIRWAYS LINED BY MATURE TREES WITH IMMACULATELY MAINTAINED HOLES.

GREATER GREEN LAKE GREENS

World-class golf has long been a defining feature of the Greater Green Lake area. Whether looking for something scenic, something historic, or a course to challenge your game, every ability of golfer is sure to enjoy chipping the day away. And if a day isn’t enough, each course offers weekend packages and seasonal specials to make your trip affordable and unforgettable. For the full experience, make it a week-long trip and play every course, complete with pro shops, food, and drink.

DIMINUENDO

Deb Gottschalk

COVER ARTIST

Deb Gottschalk was born and raised in rural Wisconsin and spent much of her childhood exploring the fields, forest, and marsh converging

on her family’s land. She attended college to major in art at University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, got her degree, and has been creating and showing her art ever since.

Her paintings have appeared in numerous shows and galleries over the years. She is currently represented by the Abel Contemporary Gallery in Stoughton, though she does take on additional commission projects.

Deb works from reference photos of the land, water, and flowers near her home. Capturing moments that make their way into her paintings with sublime accuracy, underpinned always by a sense of passing time and the mutability of the natural world, her intent is to recapture that single resonating moment of light, color, water, or sky as remembered and felt. She has worked for many years almost exclusively with an oil on board approach. She lives and works from a home studio in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and three cats.