Chetek, Wisconsin - Area Attractions

THE BIG SIX CHAIN OF LAKES

.
Chetek, the City of Lakes, is located in northwestern Wisconsin on the Big Six Chain of Lakes. These six lakes - Chetek, Prairie, Pokegama, Moose Ear, Ten Mile and Ojaski - cover 3,800 surface acres with the smallest, Moose Ear Lake, covering 33.6 surface acres. Lake Chetek, which appears to be the largest, covers just 683 surface acres, while Prairie Lake has 1,545 surface acres. Lake Chetek is the deepest lake, with a maximum depth of 22 feet.

The fish population in these lakes includes Northern Pike, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegills, Black Crappies, Pumpkinseeds, Perch, Bullheads, Rock Bass and White Suckers. Several hundred of these fish have been marked with $25, $50, $100 and $500 tags for Chetek's popular Fish-O-Rama program, which is now in its 12th year. This unique program provides cash rewards for those lucky enough to haul in one of these tagged fish.

MOOSE EAR LAKE
On the lower part of Moose Ear Creek, this lake has 33.6 surface acres with a maximum depth of just 6 feet, and has a warm water fish population. An intermittent stream from Couderay Lake and a spring feeder from a pond also supply water to the stream. A 150 acre wetland adjoining the stream near Moose Ear Lake provides habitat for muskrats and nesting puddle ducks.

LAKE CHETEK
With a maximum depth of 22 feet, Lake Chetek has a total of 683 surface acres. It is a recreational lake and is surrounded on most of its shoreline by permanent residences, summer homes, resorts, and the City of Chetek. The city operates a public swimming beach during the summer months and a large public boat landing is located near the city Airport on Lakeview Drive. Lake Chetek is also the site of the Hydroflites Water Ski Show Team's shows. These shows are held throughout the summer offshore from their property, which is adjacent to the boat landing on Lakeview Drive.

TEN MILE LAKE
This lake at the southernmost point of the Chain has a depth of 10 feet and an area of 393 surface acres. This lake is also a soft water drainage impoundment in the Chetek Lake Chain. Muskrats, nesting mallards and wood ducks abound in the 27 acres of lake edge wetlands.

OJASKI LAKE
Located in the Town of Chetek, Ojaski Lake (also known as Mud Lake) covers 567 surface acres and has a maximum depth of 15 feet. Pokegema Creek, which flows into Ojaski Lake from the north, provides a spawning area for Northern Pike and Walleye. Located in a farming area, the lake is surrounded by upland hardwoods, white pine and cultivated farmland. About three acres of marsh wetlands on the northeast shore provide habitat for muskrats, nesting mallards, teal and wood ducks.

POKEGEMA LAKE
With 494 surface acres and a maximum depth of 19 feet, Pokegama Lake is a very popular fishing lake. A soft water drainage lake in the Chetek Chain between Ojaski Lake and Lake Chetek, the immediate lakeshore vegetation is pine and hardwood with the exception of several marsh-edged bays. These marshes are home to many muskrats and puddle ducks. Keep your eyes peeled when cruising along the shorelines, as the lake is a popular watering hole for deer and other wildlife. Another sight becoming more common each year are Bald Eagles soaring above the lakes, catching fish to feed themselves and their young.

PRAIRIE LAKE
With a maximum depth of 16 feet, Prairie Lake is the largest lake in the Chetek Chain with 1,545 surface acres. A soft water drainage lake, the lake level is maintained by the water control structure on Lake Chetek, and the fish species consist of all those named previously. The lakeshore is predominantly upland hardwood and pine, and three acres of marsh edge along the lake provide habitat for muskrats, nesting puddle ducks and mergansers. Coot and Canada geese also visit the lake during spring and fall migratory periods. The haunting call of the loon can be heard also during the early and late migration times. The lake runs from the north side of Chetek northward, almost to Cameron and Highway 8. While much of the shoreline is developed with residential homes, cabins and resorts, there is still a large portion of the lake that remains wild, offering natural settings for fishing along the banks of the lake. It is in these waters that the famous floating island originated, moving from time to time to different locations.

CHETEK HYDROFLITES WATER SKI SHOW TEAM

.
At the State Waterski Competition held in Wisconsin Rapids on July 24, 2005, the Hydroflites won 7th place which qualifies them for their first performance at Nationals on August 13, 2005!

The Chetek Hydroflites Water Ski Show Team will be performing their sixteenth year on Lake Chetek. The team is made up of 85 skiing and nonskiing members.

The Hydroflites perform their weekly shows from their ski site on Lakeview Drive (one mile east of downtown Chetek). Performances are held Thursdays and Sundays at 6:30 p.m. preshow and 7:00 p.m. themed show.

The Ski Team has a fleet of powerful ski boats - one Ski Nautique, a Hydrodyne twin rig powered by two 150 hp Mercury motors, and a single Hydrodyne with a 150 hp Mercury motor.

Among the acts the skiers perform at the shows are pyramids, shoe and trick skiing, swivel skiing, barefoot acts, prefabricated pyramids, jump acts and 360 turn around the boat to name just a few. Members of the ski team perform without pay, and admission to all shows is free.

Throughout the summer, the ski team offer Learn to Ski sessions in which for a nominal fee, they will work with participants to teach them the basics about waterskiing. Generally by the end of the session, all participants are able to waterski a short distance. For dates and times, watch The Chetek Alert or ask a team member at a waterski show.

An offering is taken during the shows. Bleachers are available for seating at the shows, but those attending are also welcome to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Ample parking is available across the road from the show site. There are a limited number of handicap parking spaces available in the boat landing parking lot for those who need them.

For 2008 Show Dates Follow This Link To Their Web Site & Click on Schedule

Pre show to begin at 6:30 p.m. and the show at 7:00 p.m.

Chetek Museum-Pioneer Village Museum

.
The Chetek Museum is located in the same building as the Chetek Community Senior Center at 711 1st St. The museum houses a large collection of items from Chetek's history. It is operated by volunteers.

The Pioneer Village Museum The Pioneer Village Museum in Cameron celebrates its 46th year this year. It is located 1 1/2 miles west of Cameron, WI on County W (Museum Road). It has been described as one of the best-kept secrets of Barron County. It evolved as a project of the Barron County Historical Society. At that time a group of ladies from all parts of Barron County felt the need to preserve, advance, and disseminate knowledge of the history of Barron County. In March of 1960, after much research, with 23 members present, the by-laws were approved, the articles of incorporation were signed, and their work had begun.

In September 1961, a committee was appointed to look into the possibilities for a place to establish a museum. The school districts of Barron, Cameron, and Rice Lake offered to donate the Joliet School to the historical society. Through the efforts of Ralph Hill, County Clerk, and the County Board, the Joliet School was moved in 1964 to the Barron County Game Farm site, then a pheasant-raising operation. This site eventually became the permanent home of the Pioneer Village Museum. With the school in place, other donations soon followed and a pole building was constructed to house the growing number of articles.

Other buildings also began to appear on the site. In October 1967, the A.P. Hedin log house arrived. John David Hedin, then living in the East, drew the floor plan of the house showing where the furniture, door, and stariways were located. He also described the kind of furniture they had. So now the furniture from the crude handmade kitchen table, wash stand, and bunk beds upstaris, are as the Hedin family experienced it.

The Ebenezer Lutheran Church, which was located north of Poskin on the Rabbit Trail Road, was donated to the Society by its congregation. A fund drive was organized, and in March 1972, the church was moved to the museum grounds.

After much consideration, the board elected to expand the museum, and the concept of a pioneer street evolved. Then the search was on for older-type buildings that would be suitable for the museum. Over the space of the next few years, the dentist office, the log farmstead buildings, Soo Line depot, barbershop, general store, old sandstone-block jail, post office, doctor's office, meeting house, and other buildings appeared on main street of Pioneer Village.

Pioneer Street would not have been a reality without the generouse donations from many organizations and private individuals and the willing hands and hearts of the many volunteers. Their help played a part in other additions to the museum as well. Jerome Hall was a huge undertaking, taking two years to complete. This exhibition hall houses 40 large humidity-controlled showcases designed to preserve cloth, paper, parchment, and leather and contains hundreds of artifiacts from the past.

The Pioneer Village today consists of 40 buildings, some historic, and others for display, along with ample rest areas, modern rest-room facilites, an entertainment pavilion, plus a gift shop filled with numerous items, including hand-loomed rugs. The educational school tour program, established by the Historical Society, attracts 1600-1700 students and teachers each year. Several other groups arrange special tours as well. The beautiful Ebenezer Lutheran Church has hosted many wedding ceremonies over the years. The library has become a wonderful source for studying local history and researching genealogy.

The museum is now open Thursday-Sunday from 1-5 p.m. every week from June 1 through September 3 with a schedule of special events such as a Voyageurs Encampment, Bluegrass Festival, 50's days, and the very popular Heritage Days. General admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Children under 5 are admitted free. Groups of 25 or more are charged $5 per person.

For more information, please contact:
Chetek Area Chamber of Commerce Post Office Box 747 Chetek, Wisconsin 54728 (800) 317-1720 info@chetekwi.net	Chetek Resort Owners' Association Post Office Box 172 Chetek, WI 54728 (800) 431-0980