Our Communities
Trempealeau County
An unglaciated area located in west central Wisconsin, Trempealeau County is home to quiet, quaint towns and villages. Whether you are thinking of spending your vacation in Trempealeau County or moving to the area, you’ll be greeted by the locals who are eager to share their little bit of paradise!
Whether it’s great golfing at one of the many 9 hole courses, scenic highlands or rural experiences, you’ll find it all here.
A great place to live, work and play!
Galesville, Wisconsin
In 1869, a Galesville minister published a small booklet titled “The Garden of Eden,” inspired by the rolling hills and rocky cliffs, spring-fed streams, fertile fields, thick forests, and natural beauty of the Galesville area. Nature has indeed given abundantly of herself in this coulee region of the Mississippi Valley. With an apple in his hand and cape flying in the wind, Rev. Van Slyke welcomes visitors to Galesville. The newly installed statue, designed and created by resident artist Elmer Petersen, highlights Galesville’s motto, the “Garden of Eden”. Van Slyke, an itinerant circuit rider, wrote a persuasive theory placing Galesville at the absolute center of the biblical Garden of Eden. His 1886 booklet includes many geographical points describing the fertile valleys, lush hillsides, plentiful fruit trees and the abundance of fresh water. The preacher loved Galesville so dearly he chose his final
resting place on the brow of the cliff overlooking the Garden of Eden. His tombstone is easily seen from Beaver Creek flowing below cemetery ridges.
The beautiful A. A. Arnold house was designed and built in 1874 by Alexander Arnold and Samuel Luce. The Farmstead is located behind Our Town IGA on Highway 53, North Main and Silver Creek Road. It is one of several buildings on the National Register of Historical Places in Galesville.
Tucked between beautiful Lake Marinuka and High Cliff, Galesville has sought to preserve the natural riches of the past.
In 1983, The Garden of Eden Preservation Society was formed to accomplish the task of restoring the A. A. Arnold Farmstead. The house features a three-story spiral staircase, with four windows overlooking the acreage, a rare ruby glass pane in the front door and furnishings of the 1920’s. The Farmstead is open to the public on Sundays, June 1 through the first Sunday in October, 
from 2-4 PM, other times by appointment. (608) 582-2626.
Another interesting place in Galesville is the Gale College Historic Site, which is located at 16563 South 12th Street. Founded in 1854 by Judge George Gale, the founder of Galesville. Currently, Old Main, Judge Gale’s gravesite, and some surrounding acreage, which is owned by the city, and leased to the Garden of Eden Preservation Society, Old Main is being developed in a Historical and Community Arts Center. Check this historic site out atwww.oldmain.org or call (608) 582-4412.
Lake Marinuka is truly one of the most attractive features that Galesville has to offer. Acres of water offer the sportsman, boaters, and those who just like beautiful scenery a wonderful place to enjoy. The Lake was given it’s name from the legend of Princess Marie Nounko, who was the granddaughter of the Great Chief Decorah. Princess Marie died in 1884 and 
is buried at Arctic Springs, which is located at the north end of the lake. With Beaver Creek flowing through the lake and spilling over the dam, it creates a perfect environment for many types of fish, such as bass, sunfish and crappies. During the winter months, Lake Marinuka is a popular spot for ice fishing. An ice skating rink, complete with warming house and lights for evening skating is another attraction the lake holds during these cold months.
Listed in the Register of Historic Places is the unique one-hundred year old bowstring bridge. You will want to stroll down the charming walkway through the picturesque McGilvray bottoms to the bridge. Whether you are a casual visitor or a vacationer, fisherman, hunter, passerby or potential resident, Galesville welcomes you with confidence that stay will be a pleasant one.
Trempealeau, Wisconsin
Travel down the glorious National Great River Road, on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River (Hwy 35) to some of the most colorful scenery in the Mississippi Valley. Trempealeau boasts all of the
greenery of spring, the blaze of autumn, and the undisturbed snowy slopes of winter.
Trempealeau, “Gateway to Perrot State Park” welcomes you to a family vacationland on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Trempealeau, which means “Mountain Soaking in Water” was the name given by the Native Americans and the French explorers to beautiful Trempealeau Mountain in the bay at scenic Perrot State Park. When the village was founded in 1851, it was called Reed’s Landing, but soon renamed after Trempealeau Mountain. The opening of river traffic in 1857 brought hope of expansion to the village with new people coming to the area and construction booming. You can view a variety of boats, barges and scenery from the observation tower of Lock and Dam 6, located close to 
downtown Trempealeau. Although the railroad was completed in 1871, Trempealeau did not retain its importance as a shipping point. Recently renovated, main street now features gas light style lamps and paver-style-walkways to augment the period architecture.
The village offers an Olympic-size swimming pool open to the public. Swimming and water sports are also available on the Mississippi River. The Main Street Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984.
Trempealeau offers several bicycling routes that will appeal to all types of riders. Seven days – Seven Trails – whether you ride them all on your first visit or ride them one at a time for multiple visits, you won’t be disappointed. The routes range from 10 to 40 miles long. Every day will be a new experience. There are box lunches, refreshments, picnic areas and bathroom facilities located along the routes. 
The Chamber of Commerce offers an annual Spring Bicycle Tour with a 10-mile fun ride and 25 or 50 mile tours. Trempealeau can also be your starting point to enjoy more than 100 miles of Western Wisconsin’s State Bicycle Trail corridor which includes the LaCrosse River, Elroy-Sparta and the “400” State Trails to the south. The Great River has never been explored in such a way, so close to nature and an easy to follow corridor.
Sponsored by the Trempealeau Lions Club, with the help of many local volunteers, is their Annual Catfish Days. Catfish Days is usually held the weekend after the 4th of July. Festivities begin Friday night, followed by a weekend of arts and crafts, flea market, fishing tournament, kids games, live music, dancing, kiddie parade, beer tent and plenty of B-B-Qued chicken, brats, hot dogs, and the famous catfish sandwich…supplied by local fishermen.
One of the best parades is held on Sunday which features 120 units of floats, clowns, bands, music, horses and much more. Sunday ends with a beautiful fireworks display on the river front, which can be viewed on the water or on the land.
– Courtesty of RuralExperiences.com
Jackson County
Jackson County is located west, central portion of the state on major U.S. Highway 94. Black River Falls, the county seat, is located an hour from La Crosse, Eau Claire or the Wisconsin Dells. It is only a couple hours from the Twin Cities, Madison, Mosinee or Spooner.
The Black River State Forest, miles of ATV trails, campgrounds, local lakes and parks offer the stage for a multitude of hobbies, interests and recreations. Lake Wazee, formerly a mine quarry, is considered the deepest, inland lake in Wisconsin. The clear visibility and various other attributes offer a unique diving experience along with many other ways to enjoy the scenic beauty of Jackson County.
Jackson County was formed in 1853 and is named in honor of President Andrew Jackson. Loggers were the first settlers and were drawn to the area for the white pine. When logging camps and sawmills closed, the area drew farmers for cranberries, sphagnum moss and strawberries. Similar to many parts of Wisconsin, there was an influx of Old World Immigrants, which has led to a culturally diverse population.
La Crosse County
Each year, La Crosse attractsmore than one millionvisitors, as people fromacross the globe are attractedby the natural beauty andrecreational opportunities offeredby the upper Mississippi Riverarea—not to mention the region’srich history, unique attractions andvariety of great shopping, diningand cultural offerings. Whetheryou’re stopping over for a shorttrip or looking for the perfectspot for an extended getaway,La Crosse is the ideal destinationfor you.
Ideally located between the tall, limestone bluffs and the mighty Mississippi River, La Crosse is in the heart of what is known as the “Driftless Region” – an area of Western Wisconsin and Southeastern Minnesota that was spared the flattening effects of the Ice Age glaciers that covered twothirds of North America. With its steep, hardwood-studded hills and deep valleys intact, the region’s rugged beauty is unequaled anywhere in the Midwest.
The geography of the La Crosse area has drawn travelers since early mammoth hunters were first attracted to the confluence of the three rivers: the Mississippi River, the Black River and the La Crosse River. According to Native American legend, big winds will not blow where three bodies of water meet… and to date, no tornado in recorded history has touched down here. In 1680, a band of French voyageurs led by Fr. Louis Hennepin were the first Europeans to stumble upon the gathering rivers; a later group of French fur traders witnessed the native Ho-Chunk people playing a game similar to their own game of lacrosse, and named the area Prairie La Crosse. The area became permanently settled by whites when in 1842 fur trader Nathan Myrick built a cabin on Barron Island, now the site of Pettibone
Park. The next year he moved across the channel and laid out what is now La Crosse—a town that would become the home of Wild West characters like Frank Powell (a.k.a. “White Beaver”) and his good friend “Buffalo Bill” Cody and would be called by Mark Twain “a choice town.” Many of the buildings Twain lauded as “architecturally fine enough to command respect in any city” are still here today, in a progression of styles from the early Victorian and Italianate, to the Chicago Commercial, Art Deco and Art Modern buildings of the midtwentieth century—all found along a short walk from Second Street to Fifth Avenue.
Whoever wrote the bit about “idle hands” wasn’t hanging out here. With an abundance of natural beauty, woods, water and wildlife, La Crosse offers much in the way of recreation. Skiing, golfing, hunting and fishing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, waterskiing or swimming – if you want to be active, we’re here to help. If you’re just looking for peace, quiet and relaxation, there’s plenty of that, too…but no one said it had to be boring.
– Courtesy of La Crosse Visitors Bureau
