5 things to do in Wisconsin Dells if you don't want to get wet
No one disputes that Wisconsin Dells is "The Waterpark Capital of the World."
But there are plenty of other attractions in the state's tourism magnet that don't require a swimsuit. There are historic venues, such as the studio where photographer H.H. Bennett produced photos that put Wisconsin Dells on the map after the Civil War. There are the Original Wisconsin Ducks, which use amphibious vehicles developed during World War II to provide access to stunning scenery.
But there's modernity at work, too, including a gaming center that taps into the role-playing video game mentality and a hands-on museum that gives people a chance to explore what it's like in space.
So if your skin is shriveling from being soaked all the time on your trip to the Dells, give these five venues a try.
It's likely that Wisconsin Dells wouldn't even be Wisconsin Dells if it weren't for Henry Hamilton Bennett. Injured while serving in the Union Army's 12th Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War, Bennett became a photographer. In 1865 he opened a studio in what would become Wisconsin Dells. The studio moved to its current location, 215 Broadway Ave., in 1875.
The H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum is now operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society, and it lays claim to being the oldest-known operating business in Wisconsin Dells, and the oldest still-operating photography studio in the U.S., according to the studio's website.
Bennett's photos helped make Wisconsin Dells a tourism mecca, and he's ranked among the best of American photographers. The studio showcases Bennett's original photos and equipment, and the museum features exhibits about Bennett's life, the Ho-Chunk Nation, Dells tourism and more.
More information: The museum is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Admission is $12 for adults and teens, $10 for seniors age 65 and older, $5 for children 5 through 12, and free for children 4 and younger. Learn more at hhbennettstudio.wisconsinhistory.org.
Wizard Quest is a 30,000-square-foot "fantasy-themed labyrinth," according to its website. Players, often in teams, wander through the three-story fantasy land, working on different quests to help various characters. It's like entering a life-sized role-playing video game.
The experience includes a variety of obstacles, which helps parents choose adventures best suited to their kids. Young children will enjoy easier quests, while older kids might revel in "puzzle-finding and riddle-solving," according to the website.
More information: Participants pay for two-hour blocks of playing time, and the goal is to solve as many quests as possible. Tickets reserved online cost $31.19 for players ages 10 and older and $23.91 for children ages 3 through 9. Wizard Quest is located at 400 Broadway Ave., and it is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. See wizardquest.com for more.
Tommy Bartlett is an iconic name in Wisconsin Dells, and the Tommy Bartlett Exploratory is part of his legacy.
A Chicago radio and television host, Bartlett started his famous water ski and boat shows in the Dells in 1953. In 1982, he opened Tommy Bartlett's Robot World, which featured "lovable robots like those popularized by film and TV of the era," according to the Exploratory's website. A year later, the Exploratory, with its hands-on science exhibits, was added to the endeavor.
Bartlett's ski show ended in 2020, after having entertained millions of people for nearly 70 years. The Exploratory evolved through the years, dropping the emphasis on robotics and focusing on space and scient. Ripley's Entertainment purchased the Exploratory and other Bartlett's venues earlier this year, and it aims to keep the venue open year-round.
The Exploratory offers people a chance to see a core module from the Russian space station MIR, explore a replica of a Mercury space capsule, lift a 5,000-pound car off the ground with a giant lever, and ride the High Wire Skycycle, a bicycle that balances on a cable strung 12 feet above the ground. xxx
More information: Located at 560 Wisconsin Dells Parkway North, the Exploratory costs $16.50 for adults, $13.50 for children ages 4 through 11, and $13.20 for people ages 65 and older. It's open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For more information, see tommybartlett.com.
The Wisconsin Dells Mountain Coaster offers the spirit of a long-lasting water slide, only participants don't get wet. Riders on the Mountain Coaster sit in vehicles that look like go-karts on rails. The ride twists and turns through the hilly woods east of Lake Delton.
The coaster is just over 3,800 feet long — almost 3/4 of a mile. The runs last from seven to 10 minutes, according to the Mountain Coaster website, and speeds can reach up to 27 mph.
More information: Wisconsin Dells Mountain Coaster is located at 111 Sauk County A South. It's open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. A single ride is $18.66 for visitors age 13 and up and $13.48 for children 12 and under. Three-ride packs are $41.48 and $31.11. For more details, visit wisconsindellsmountaincoaster.com.
If the towering water parks represent the modern brand of fun in Wisconsin Dells, the Original Wisconsin Dells are the old school. The amphibious Wisconsin Ducks have been giving tourists rides on land and water since 1946. The company used World War II surplus vehicles, dubbed "ducks" after the official DUKW designation. (D represented 1942, the year the truck was designed; U stood for utility vehicle; K meant the truck was all-wheel drive capable; and W meant there were two rear axels.)
The vehicles today give participants an hour-long ride encompassing scenic vistas from the Wisconsin River, Dell Creek, Lake Delton and Dells Scenic Park. Depending on the driver and where you sit in the vehicle, it's possible you might get a little wet when it splashes into the river. Riders also can get jostled about as the vehicles negotiate the trails and in the land and water transitions. xxx
More information: Online tickets cost $39.76 for adults and $19.75 for children ages 4 through 11. Children 3 and younger are free. The tours launch from 1890 Wisconsin Dells Parkway and are offered from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. For more information, visit to wisconsinducktours.com.
Keith Uhlig has been writing about Wisconsin, its people and all it has to offer since 2000. Raised in Colby, he loves wandering around the state. He can be reached at kuhlig@gannett.com, and is on Facebook, X and Threads.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: 5 things to do in Wisconsin Dells if you don't want to get wet
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