Dells area info

[Rex]

Hi everyone,
I hope I'm not boring you with my post, but I thought I'd offer my expertise.
I live in the Wisconsin Dells area, and while I am not an expert on ALL attractions, I do have quite alot of knowledge on the various sites, restaurants and motels. Especially the restaurants (I like to eat lol) from the money concious to the "high-end" restaurants I can give you a fair and unbiased opinion of most.
The motels/hotels I do know comes from hearsay, both from people who have stayed at them and the locals.(employees of them)
I will also try and keep everyone informed of the various events upcoming at the dells. We just had our annual "Snowflake" festival last weekend.
I have been to most of the attractions in the dells, about every other yea,r friends come up and I'll play tourist for a couple of days. I'll try and keep current on the prices also. They have gotten alot stricter on "freebies" in the last few years, so don't ask me to get you free passes. even when I accompany my friends, I have to show an ID for each in the party, and then only the ones from the Dells , get a reduced price or a free pass.
there are other options that remain open tho, The Chamber offers a booklet with alot of discount coupons (buy one get one free..etc.) It is only available in advance, you have to call ahead and they will send it to you, can't pick it up when you get here. I will get that info in the near future and post it here for you.
Skiers...and snow tubers, Cascade Mountain and Christmas mountain has thier reduced or free days coming up soon. I will post the dates and deals as soon as I find them out.
The dells is changing, alot of the old school has been replaced and the dells is finally open to new businesses. Word on the street is that we will soon be starting work on a "Six Flags" it's just a rumor right now, but I will keep you posted.
In the next year there will be a flux of new restaurants coming in, this year they begin work on a new Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse, and a few other national chain restaurants. This year we saw the addition of a new "UNO, bar and grille, Quiznos subs, Applebees, Ihop, Starbucks. We also boast the largest McDonalds in Wisconsin, a beautiful building with an interior the likes I have never seen in a McDonalds.
I personally am boycotting the two McDonalds in the Dells, Lake Delton area. While they are still one of the best fast food chains, they refuse to have "the dollar menu". Thier prices are about 20 cents above and beyond other McDonalds. Call me old fashioned , but if all the other McDonalds can offer the dollar menu, so can these. It's just plain old fashioned greed.
Well I've rambled on enough, feel free to post and ask me any questions about the Dells you have. If I don't know I will find out for you to the best of my ability.
Have a good Day
Rex

P.S. I will try and keep a running commentary of the road conditions, best route to take, road construction..etc

[Kris10]

Rex, thank you for the Dells insider info! The "Six Flags" rumor is really interesting, considering Six Flags in Gurnee, IL is installing a water park to attract Dells visitors. Why shouldn't the Dells respond by courting Six Flags? I'm sure Wisconsin visitors wouldn't mind a Six Flags that is accessible without tolls!

[Rex]

The reason that Great America built in Gurnee,Ill. in the first place was because of the greed of the heirarchy of the dells at the time. Great Americas choice was to build in the Dells first.
I don't know it for a fact, but it is common knowledge that great America had already purchased the land (about 4 miles outside of the dells towards briggsville, former site of "church of God") They were met by such stiff resistance and decided not to fight it, but rather build it between Chicago, Milwaukee and the Dells...hence Gurnee

Too late the Dells realized the error of thier ways, altho this is referred to as "the Dells" most all of your newer and thriving businesses are actually in Lake Delton. While the new guard has taken over the Dells area, Wisconsin Dells has a long uphill battle to recover. Point in fact The Boat trips, upper and lower Dells, once a main attraction it is but a secondary attraction. While they still do a brisk summer business, looking at thier fleet it looks old and outdated.

Mount Olympus(formerly big chief go-carts) is expanding again!!! This year the open a New roller coaster that will surely rank as one of the Top in America if not the world.

All of your Newer Indoor Waterparks are in Lake Delton as is Noahs ark. Lake Delton has made the necessary adjustments to accomidate business and not stifle competition.

Lol another rant I see...

Take care
Rex

[keith]

Originally Posted by Rex

Hi everyone.......We also boast the largest McDonalds in Wisconsin, a beautiful building with an interior the likes I have never seen in a McDonalds.
I personally am boycotting the two McDonalds in the Dells, Lake Delton area. While they are still one of the best fast food chains, they refuse to have "the dollar menu". Thier prices are about 20 cents above and beyond other McDonalds. Call me old fashioned , but if all the other McDonalds can offer the dollar menu, so can these. It's just plain old fashioned greed..... Have a good Day
Rex......

Rex - I like your thinking about Micky D's. You're right! I can't see where there costs would be any higher than the "cow" McD's in Black River Falls, or the McD's with the great Lake Michigan map between Manitowoc and Two Rivers. I'll do likewise and stay away till you say they're not taking advantage of tourists with already stretched pocketbooks.

Besides that you mention other chains coming in. I like Paul Bunyan - a real Wisconsin attraction, and I like the diner on the corner across from the fire station downtown, and - of course - the Hwy 12 Internet Cafe! I'm always leaving cards for theBubbler there when I'm in town.

Thanks for the tips.

Regards,
Keith

PLEASE NOTE - THIS TOPIC OUGHT TO BE IN THE APPROPRIATE 'COUNTY' FORUM...BUT LAKE DELTON IS IN SAUK COUNTY AND WISCONSIN DELLS IS IN COLUMBIA COUNTY. Besides that, EVERYONE is interested in the Dells, right!?

[Rex]

Now if we can get a few others maybe McDonalds will be forced to have the dollar menu.
I know the places you mentioned very well. Friends of mine, Steve and Tammy, own and operate :The Internet Cafe". When The wife and I ran the store, I spent many an afternoon online there, can't beat thier T-1 lines. Usually a double depth charge (4 shots exspresso topped with coffee) would give me the kick I needed to go the long hours.
Dennys (the diner across from the fire station) has, in my opinion, the best and most reasonably priced breakfasts in the area. they make an excellent omelette and are not stingy with thier portions. Of course both places have a uniquie ambiance about them. Dennys has the offbeat posters and hanging on thier walls, and The cafe is adorned with catchy offbeat plaques.
Paul Bunyons buffet style breakfasts are a main attraction in the Dells it seems. I eat there about once a year, I would more often but #1 I am not a big breakfast eater #2 I can't go scrambled eggs when I do eat breakfast. #3 I usually fight the crowds all summer, and they aren't open in the winter.

There are a few more gems in the Dells eatery scene, but I'll get to those eventually.

Rex

P.S. No relation

[keith]

Originally Posted by Rex

....Dennys (the diner across from the fire station) has, in my opinion, the best and most reasonably priced breakfasts in the area. they make an excellent omelette and are not stingy with thier portions. ..... Dennys has the offbeat posters and hanging on thier walls, and The cafe is adorned with catchy offbeat plaques.....
Rex

Thanks for the insights, Rex. We're looking forward to more!

That's right - the place is Denny's, but not to be confused with the chain, this is an old fashioned diner.

There are a couple of Denny's in town, both good to eat at, one with a classic Rock 'n Roll motif.

Regards,
Keith

[keith]

Chili Cookoff this Saturday with LeRoy Butler!

http://www.thebubbler.com/modules.ph...rder=0&thold=0

Hope we get to meet some folks from the area.

Rex, stop by to get your press pass.

Regards,
Keith