Wisconsin Dells History: Everything You Need to Know

Since its founding in the 1850s, Wisconsin Dells has been an area beloved for its scenic beauty, leading to a thriving tourist industry. But while the natural splendor of the region was originally the initial draw for travelers, the twentieth and twenty first centuries saw an expansion into family-friendly activities and entertainment.

Today, Wisconsin Dells is affectionately called the “waterpark capital of the world” due to the numerous parks that reside in the city and the surrounding area. This aspect, along with many other attractions, has helped to make Wisconsin Dells one of the crown jewels of the Midwest, a fact that thousands of visitors discover every year!

Let’s take a detailed look at the rich history of Wisconsin Dells and how the city came to be such a focal point for vacationers.

Wisconsin Dells is located in central southern Wisconsin within the counties of Columbia, Sauk, Adams, and Juneau. Named for the dells of the Wisconsin River – valleys formed as part of the area’s gorge – the region has long been prized for its aesthetic beauty. The sandstone cliffs and bluffs of the gorge that abut the Wisconsin River, and which were formed by glacial activity some 19,000 years ago, reach over 100 feet high in some places. Viewing these formations is only permitted via boat (which is very popular), however, as they are closed to the public to protect them.

French explorers originally named the area in the modern era, though HoChuck and Menominee Native American tribes had previously occupied the region, with the Ho-Chuck calling it “Nįįš hakiisųc,” which translates as “rocks close together.”

By 1856, the city that is now known as Wisconsin Dells was founded by the Wisconsin Hydraulic Company, dubbing the new settlement Kilbourn City in honor of a railroad magnate. Shortly after its founding, tourism became an important element of the region, when a businessman named Leroy Gates began to give boat tours of the Wisconsin dell formations to travelers.

• Leroy Gates, who pioneered boat tours in the region, later expanded his operations by moving beyond wooden boats and christening two steamers, the Dell Queen and the Modocawanda, in 1873.
• Gates also launched a photography studio, but later sold it to H. H. Bennett in 1865. Bennett took to regularly photographing the famed sandstone formations of the dells and began distributing them throughout the U.S., including putting them in passenger train cars north of Chicago. His efforts are seen as being a turning point in the history of Wisconsin Dells, as the photos helped to bring greater attention to the region and led to a larger tourism boom.
• The Kilbourn Dam was erected in 1909 for the purpose of generating hydroelectric power. Still in operation today, the dam separated the dells into two regions, called the Upper Dells and Lower Dells.
• Kilbourn City, the region’s original name, changed to simply Kilborn in 1895, and then finally Wisconsin Dells in 1931 to firmly connect the town with the natural features it was most known for.
• In 1946 the famed Duck Tours of Wisconsin Dells began, named for the WWII-era Duck vehicles that can travel on land or water. These Duck Tours would drive tourists right up to the Wisconsin River and then ease the craft into the water so visitors could see the marvelous dells! The tours continue to this day.
• In the early 1950s the Wisconsin Dells Wonder Spot opened, which used optical illusions found in “gravity hills” to make water appear to flow backwards, people appear to stand at odd angles, and chairs to balance on two legs. It was one of many such spots popular with tourists throughout the country. The property was sold in 2006, however, closing the Wonder Spot.

For decades, travelers had already loved Wisconsin Dells for splendid views and outdoor activities. With the area already firmly connected to waterways in the public’s mind due to the dells themselves and the popular Duck Tours, it’s no surprise that businesses would look to capitalize on this aquatic association.

In the 1970s, the first major waterslide of the area opened in Wisconsin Dells, with more examples emerging in the ensuing years. By 1989, the Polynesian Water Park Resort put a roof over their facility, the first in the area to do so, creating an indoor space for visitors so they could enjoy the aquatic fun all year long.

This was a key turning point in Wisconsin Dells history, as it showed just how viable the waterpark industry could be in the area. Since then, numerous other parks have emerged and made a name for themselves, including the following:

• Noah’s Ark Waterpark – With its status as America’s biggest outdoor waterpark, Noah’s Ark is one of the largest draws in Wisconsin Dells. On its 70-acre campus, it offers waterslides, raft rides, wave pools, a water coaster, and much more!
• Wilderness Resort Waterpark – Another prominent tourist spot in Wisconsin Dells, Wilderness Resort lays claim to being the biggest combination indoor/outdoor waterpark in the U.S., and it also features the biggest indoor wave pool in the state and a 180-foot body slide.
• Kalahari Resort Waterparks – Holding the title of Wisconsin’s biggest indoor waterpark, this resort has plenty of features to keep the whole family occupied, including an uphill water rollercoaster waterslide, a family raft ride, an indoor wave pool, a 250-foot slide, and much more.
• Olympus Water & Theme Park – Travelers love visiting Mt. Olympus to check out its rotating waterslide, the country’s first, as well as its Icarus Waterslide, the tallest in America!
• Land of Natura – As Wisconsin Dells’s first natural theme park and waterpark, Land of Natura offers some unique attractions. Examples include its many interconnected inflatable pathways, the world’s largest naturally filtered manmade lake, and much more.

All told, the region features more than 200 waterslides for visitors to enjoy, and the waterparks themselves tally more per capita than in any other city on the planet. Truly they have had a major impact on the history of Wisconsin Dells, as well as its future!

• Approximately 16 million gallons of water are used in the Wisconsin Dells waterparks
• Annually, about 4–5 million people visit Wisconsin Dells
• Tourism is said to support more than 12,000 jobs in the area
• Tourism also brings in $31 million for state taxes and $45 million for local taxes
• Summer is unsurprisingly the biggest season for tourism, with 40% of spending occurring during the summer months

Birchcliff Resort is a family-friendly campground in Wisconsin Dells that will give you a quiet home base you can stay at while you visit the many waterparks in the area and learn about Wisconsin Dells history. Best yet, we have plenty of activities of our own like a petting zoo, sports and games areas, a pool, and much more!

Book your stay with us today so you can enjoy all Wisconsin Dells has to offer!