Hidden Valleys of Southwestern Wisconsin

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The Register of Deeds office offers help with
genealogy from 10-4 daily, and the dungeon is open
to tour by appointment. Finally, there is St. Gabriel’s
Catholic Church, located on 506 N. Beaumont Road. It
is the oldest church in Wisconsin and the first built by
Father Mazzuchelli. On the grounds is the tomb of Father
Galtier, founder of St. Paul, Minnesota.
Territorial Prison
The territorial jail is believed to have been
constructed in 1843, five years before Wisconsin became
a state. The jail was operational from that point on until
the present jail was erected in 1896.
The construction of the building itself is made of
Dolomitic stone quarried locally, with the walls being laid
two feet thick or more on all sides with the ceiling just
as thick. Originally the floors were of rocks and dirt but
recently, to make it easier for people to view the cells,
concrete was laid on the floor. The north cell block is covered with a heavy steel
ceiling.
Gays Mills
The Gays Mills area is the center of the largest and most concentrated apple
orchard area in the Tri-States. Mother’s Day Weekend is the date for the Annual
Spring Festival. For up-to-date information on the dates of full bloom, call one
of the orchards, or (608) 735-4810. The apple harvest starts with early apples
in August, and continues through mid-October. Some apple salesrooms are open
until Christmas. The Annual Gays Mills Apple Festival is the last full weekend in
September. The Pioneer Log Cabin Village and Museum of the Kickapoo are also
located in Gays Mills, Wisconsin.
Enjoy the Orchard Experience
From the junction of Highways 61 and 171 east of Gays Mills to 3 miles west
of Gays Mills are the famed orchards of southwestern Wisconsin. From August
through December of each year there is a different experience and a different
atmosphere for you to enjoy at each orchard. In addition to apples, strawberries
and cherries, some orchards grow grapes, plums, squash and pumpkins, plus other
Wisconsin and local products are displayed during the season.
Prairie Villa Rendezvous
It’s a new century at the natural crossroads formed by the Wisconsin and
Mississippi Rivers. The annual Prairie Villa Rendezvous in Prairie du Chien invites
men, women and their families from all walks of life to dress in their authentic
buckskins and calico dresses as they
recreate life as it was in the 1840s
when Prairie du Chien was the hub of
the Mississippi Valley fur trade.
Kickapoo Stump Dodger Campground
Website: www.ksdcampround.com
Email: info@ksdcampground.com
Open April 15th-October 16th
388 South Railroad Street
Office: 303 Main Street
Gays Mills, WI (608) 735-4929
FUN FOR ALL
Camping on the high ground next
to the Kickapoo river in Gays Mills.
Glamping, Biking, Canoe Rentals,
Swimming, Fishing, Playground.
Hwy. 35N, PO Box 37
Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
Toll-free Reservations
800-356-5850
Local 608-326-8404 Fax 608-326-0001
➢ Hospitality/Meeting Room
➢ Restaurant Adjacent
➢ Color Cable TV/Movies
➢ Heated Outdoor Pool
Free Hot Breakfast
Refrigerator/Microwaves
in all Rooms
Indoor Pool & Hot Tub
37502 U.S. 35 & 18 South
Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
Low Corporate Rate • Whirlpool Suites
Indoor Pool/Spa • Free Continental Breakfast
Free Wireless/WIFI
608-326-6082
website: www.bridgeportinn.com
e-mail: reservations@bridgeportinn.com
Hwy. 18/35 South
Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
Reservations (608) 326-8500
www.microtelinn.com
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Hidden Valleys