Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wilderness Walk
South on WIS 27 is the family-specialty
Wilderness Walk
(WIS 27, 715/634-2893,
www.wildernesswalkhaywardwi.com
,
10am-4:30pm daily mid-May-Labor Day, $13
adults), a 35-acre wildlife menagerie and petting zoo.
The Hideout
Long a Hayward Lakes area fave,
The Hideout,
17 miles southeast of Hayward, was the
lair of “Scarface” Al Capone. Shockingly, in 2009, it was auctioned to a local bank, and its
immediate history remains up in the air.
Hopefully, it'll return as a tourist attraction (and restaurant). The northern lakes of Wis-
consin were rife with Windy City wiseguys in the 1920s and 1930s, and this is likely the
best extant example of their sanctuaries. Situated within 400 acres of pines, the fieldstone
buildings and their interiors were incredible works of art. The main lodge features a hand-
hewn, 100-ton stone fireplace. A wooden spiral staircase was crafted in Chicago and trans-
ported here. The dining room and bar were built in what was likely the most ornate garage
ever constructed in the lakes region of the state. Also still intact are the machine-gun tur-
ret manned by thug bodyguards, a bunkhouse, and an eerie “jail.” There's even a doghouse
built for Capone's German shepherds.
Cable Natural History Museum
The
Cable Natural History Museum
(43570 Kavanaugh St., 715/798-3999,
www.cablemuseum.org
,
10am-4pm Tues.-Sat., $5) is a couple of blocks east of U.S. 63,
with mostly wildlife exhibits and some summer lectures. Of special interest is a permanent
exhibit on the eastern timber wolf.
Haywardisn'tthehedonistic,piano-poundingsaloontownitoncewas,buttherearealways
a couple of joints around that have sporadic live music in summer. I adore the
Moccasin
Bar
(15820 U.S. 63, 715/634-4211) at the corner of WIS 27 and U.S. 63, where even an
outsider can chew the fat with local jokesters and see the world-record muskie, a five-foot,
67-pounder; all the beers on tap are made in Wisky, too. It'll pay $100,000 for a world-re-
cord muskie. (So locals say, though it's got to be a joke.)
HaywardalsobillsitselfasarivalforBoulderJunction'sclaimof“MuskieCapitalofthe
World.” (A world record was caught here, which facilitates bragging rights.) The muskie is
