NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN - Wisconsin - page 430

in a linguistically bastardized way for manitous, the spirits that according to the Ojibwa
populate the region. Set on a minor chain of 10 lakes and assorted wetlands (totaling 4,265
acres), the area is a tourism center in summer, and the other economic base is cranberries.
The cranberry marshes near Alder and Little Trout Lakes outside of town are some of the
highest-producing bogs in the nation. Free one-hour tours are available at 10am Friday the
first week of July through the second week of October; meet at the Manitowish Waters
Community Center (Airport Rd., a mile south of Hwy. W, 715/543-8400). No reservations
needed and the juice provided is luscious.
The Manitowish River Trail is a 20-mile novice-level canoe trip from the U.S. 51
bridge in Manitowish Waters into the wild Turtle-Flambeau Flowage. Rustic campsites (no
water) are found on the way.
On Statehouse Lake is the North Lakeland Discovery Center (a mile north of U.S. 51
on Hwy. W, 715/543-2085, www.discoverycenter.net ), a nonprofit ecology center with lots
of trails and a wonderful array of programs and events throughout the year.
Also south of town, off Powell Road, the Powell Marsh Wildlife Refuge contains nat-
ive grains and grasses luring one of the only groups of sharp-tailed grouse in northern Wis-
consin.
But people really know little Manitowish Waters as the local hideout of John Dillinger.
Little Bohemia Lodge (142 U.S. 51 S, 715/543-8800, dinner daily year-round, lunch Fri.-
Sun. seasonally, $11-23)—a.k.a., “The Hideout”—is where Dillinger, Babyface Nelson,
and two others blazed their way out of an FBI raid in 1934, killing two mobsters, an FBI
agent,andalocalconstable,andcatchingnationalattention.Bulletholesandassortedgang-
sterdetritusarestillvisible,andthelodgeisstillinoperation.(Incidentally,Dillingerwasn't
the inspiration for .30/.30 Road in town—it was the Northland's obsession with hunting.)
An excellent lodging option with an equally fabulous dining room, Voss' Birchwood
Lodge (south on U.S. 51, 715/543-8441, www.vossbl.com , from $85 daily) has been in the
samefamilysince1910.Thestately,rusticmainlodgehasalarge,warmfireplace,andthere
are also large guest cottages. It's not luxurious, keep in mind.
If that weren't enough fine dining, the newest is the outstanding Smokey's (Hwys. K
andW,715/543-2220,dinnerTues.-Sun.,from$10)withfabuloussteaks,seafood,andpas-
tas.
The Pea Patch is a saloon/motel/and so on, good for Saturday's Peanut Day: Throw the
shells on the floor.
The Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce (U.S. 51 N, 715/543-8488,
www.manitowishwaters.org ) is staffed by great folks.