About The River

Friday, September 5, 2014

On the Road Friday ~ Paradise Springs ~ Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit

We are on the road today to Paradise Springs, located in the Kettle Moraine State Forest of Wisconsin. Paradise Springs is a unique spot and has a lot of history. 

At one time a millionaire built a horse track, fishing hole, and elaborate spring house over Paradise Springs.

Bottled Spring Water
Since the late 1800's, people have enjoyed the pure spring water of Paradise Springs. Early owners called it Minnehaha and Eagle Rock Springs. The plant closed in the late 1960's. Spring water was pumped from the spring house and sold by various companies under the name of Natural Spring Water and Lullaby Baby Drinking Water.


Clear spring water, cool, clear and clean.


 Paradise Springs Resort and Hotel
A massive 2-story resort built of locally quarried Lannon stone (Wisconsin dolomite).
It had deluxe bedrooms with private, steam-heated tiled baths, a dining room, cocktail bar, and a roof garden with sundeck. An advertisement for the hotel described it as an "ideal vacation and honeymoon resort."


Fieldstone Spring House


 Paradise Springs is about 5 feet deep and maintains a temperature of about 47 degrees F. year around. Over 30,000 gallons of water flow from this spring each hour ~ that is 500 gallons each minute. Paradise Springs sits in a bowl-shaped depression where the water table reaches the surface. 


 Colorful fieldstone walls, a very elaborate spring house.


 In the early 1900's the owners at that time stocked the pond with trout. They also had a menagerie of animals which included peacocks, monkeys and pheasants.

  
Brook trout are the only  trout species native to the Kettle Moraine and are still found in cold spring water ponds and brooks. In October, the trout in this pond spawn (lay their eggs) near the spring house on the gravel bottom. When spawning, brook tout turn a vibrant pink color and are easier to spot.


 Atticus would toss acorns in the pond and the trout would come up to the surface. 


 This guy was busy smiling at us...and he is smiling at you too.
Wishing you a great weekend.


 Thank you for coming along with me to Paradise Springs.



12 comments:

  1. What a beautiful spot! I love the frog photo! What a great capture. xoxo

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  2. Sharon K
    Enjoyed going to Paradise Springs. I live in area, and did not know about this site.
    Wonderful pictures. Frog is adorable. Want to go back in October.

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  3. What a neat place. We'll have to get an exact location and make a road trip over there maybe year this fall...:)

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  4. Hi Carla, This is an interesting place and I enjoyed your photos. That smiling frog is cute as can be!
    Tell Atticus that we have a place nearby called Mark Of The Potter (you can look it up on facebook) that makes/sells pottery in an old mill. You can purchase trout food out of an old gumball machine to throw down below the deck to the trout in the river! It is lots of fun! Have a nice weekend.

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  5. I have hiked in the Kettle Moraine but have never been to this area. We used to go hiking when visiting my MIL in Wauwatosa, and when we lived in Oconomowoc for a short time. Thank you for taking us along with you,
    Meredith

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  6. What gorgeous pictures. That little toad/frog is so cute. Looks like it was a fun adventure.

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  7. Carla, I enjoyed coming along. What a beautiful place! Your frog picture is super! He would make a great greeting card....and a tote and....whatever. He really is smiling and he is the only good-looking frog I've ever seen. =)

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  8. Glad you took us with you , that was a great spot.

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  9. Beautiful springs!! Adorable frog!! I would have taken my jugs and filled them up!!

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  10. That water is so clear!! What a gorgeous place. Would love to stay at that resort.

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  11. Looks like a very special piece of God's creation - and a wonderful treat to spend some time there.

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  12. I love all that you share about Wisconsin!! I googled the location, this is near Milwaukee?

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High Fives from Wisconsin!