With 15,000 bodies of water in Wisconsin, you might be tempted to dismiss Spooner Lake as just another pretty face on the lake scene. Resist the urge; you don't want to miss this outstanding lake.

 

Located in Washburn County in the northwest corner of Wisconsin, Spooner Lake is a lake for all flavors of the season. Wintertime brings opportunities to go snowmobiling, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing across open fields, dog sledding on forest trails and ice fishing on the lake. Hint-since the depth of this lake is only 18 feet, the lake freezes quickly when the temperature drops.

Warmer weather finds lake residents boating, canoeing, fishing, and swimming. Other activities include skimming the water on skis, riding a bike around the lake, hiking local trails, horseback riding, golfing at the lake's edge or hanging out with a picnic basket and friends down by the water's edge. 

With nature all around, spotting wildlife can bring some surprising results as Carol Kord, longtime resident and owner-manager of LaConia Lodge found out. Looking out the front window of the lodge one afternoon, she saw a black bear in the middle of the lake paddling his way to the other shore. 

Ripe with the natural beauty of land and lake, the Spooner area is built on the juxtaposition of the railroad, tall timber and Native Americans, German and Irish settlers. 

Spooner Lake is a place to slow down, to feel a part of nature all around you, to breathe. No worries here, the tallest structures are the trees. No skyscrapers, no rush hour and no traffic jams; simply life in slowed-down mode.

Lake Views From Vacationer to Resident

"People come to Spooner Lake because it's tranquil, with lots of country atmosphere and still we're only 3-½ miles from the town," says Carol Kord.  Kord lives in the town of Spooner but spends her days running the lake lodge. 

The Kord family discovered Spooner Lake 19 years ago, seeking solace from the hustle and congestion of Chicago. At the time, her husband Gene worked in construction so they decided to buy a small home that needed a lot of work on five acres. Carol's father soon followed suit and bought property across from his daughter, and a few years later nearly the entire family called the Spooner area home. In 1998, they bought and remodeled the LaConia Lodge on Spooner Lake.

"We have a really nice clientele," says Kord. "We've had guests from Brazil, California and New Zealand."

Lake residents take pride in maintaining their serene lifestyle helped along by the homeowner's association. A number of merchants from Spooner opt to live here on the lake because of the close proximity to town.

Native Son

"In 1949, my dad built a cabin on Spooner Lake," says Morton Dahl, owner of Dahl's Home Store in Spooner. "After he died, I bought the homestead and made it a year-round home in 1981."

For this family one of the draws of the Spooner area is that the town is a mere couple of miles from lake life. This is especially convenient since most of the Dahl family (Mort, his wife Stephanie, their son Jordan, daughter Leslie and her husband Aaron Arf, and Stephanie's sister Nancy Nelson) work at Dahl's Home Store. "A lot of the businesses in town have been here for 75 or 100 years," says Aaron Arf, who is a third-generation local. In fact, Dahl's Home Store was started back in 1930 by Harry W. Dahl and has since expanded into a large part of downtown Spooner where they carry everything from gift items, to offering a full scale design service for your home and cabin.

Everyone who lives here or visits loves the combination of lake life and city amenities nearby. "About 2,500 people are year-round residents of the city. During the summer months, that number swells to 30,000 or 40,000 people," says Aaron.

According to Dahl, about 65 percent of the people who live on the lake are year-round residents. "A lot of the same people have lived here for years and years."

The west side of the lake sports a golf course that began operation back in the 1920s, and has only gotten better with age. Just in case you want to play a round, toss your clubs in the truck for your next visit to the lake.

About the lake, Dahl says the view from his home is spectacular with only two cabins on the opposite side and a stunning view of several islands in the middle of the lake. In addition, the shoreline adds interest with bays and inlets making the lake first-rate for  boating, fishing and other recreational activities.

But the best thing, he can walk out his front door, jump on a snowmobile and hit the trails for plenty of winter fun. "We are only 100 miles from the Upper Peninsula, and 50 miles south of Lake Superior," says Dahl.

If you're looking for a great getaway, think about making  Spooner your destination - with lake activities, fishing, shopping, authentic train rides and the Rodeo - there's something for everyone.

Longtime Resident and Business Owner

"Most people on the lake enjoy their privacy," says Steve Sundeen, president of T & T Tool in Spooner.

Lake living agrees with Sundeen who says there's nothing he likes better than coming home from work and just sitting on his deck looking out across the lake to the other shore. "I sit and watch the ripples in the water. I love the solitude."

Raised in Spooner, Sundeen says an opportunity that he couldn't pass up presented itself to him.

The family has a combination fishing and speed boat that sees lots of activity on the lake. We have a pontoon, hook it up to the boat, take some chairs, a cooler and go out to an island and set the chairs on the beach along with other families and enjoy an impromptu party," says Sundeen.

During the warm summer evenings, family members can often be found down by the shore playing the guitar, singing songs by the campfire and  roasting marshmallows on a long stick, while enjoying lots of s'mores.

Eats and Treats

Foxxy's Steak & Seafood House, Spooner, www.foxxysbarandgrill.com, 715-635-2399. Specialties include aged beef, BBQ pork ribs, baked salmon and stuffed shrimp.

Spooner Market and Grill, Spooner, www.spoonermarketandgrill.com, 715-635-6833. Opened in 2003, this husband and wife team make guests feel at home with appetizing home cooked meals in a friendly environment.  Jerseys Sports Bar and Grill in Spooner, www.jerseyssportsbar.com. The newest eat out and have fun spot. In the grill, there's smoke-free dining on homemade pizza, sandwiches, dinner specials, wraps, and salads. On Friday there is an all-you-can eat fish fry.

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Quick Clicks

City of Spooner

Dahl's Home Store

Spooner Area Chamber of Commerce

Washburn County Tourism Association

Downtown Spooner Business Group

Spooner Fish Hatchery Guided tours available April through September.

The Railroad Heritage Museum Extensive collection of railroad memorabilia and artifacts from a bygone era housed in the former Chicago & Northwestern Railway depot.

 

 

Ongoing Event Calendar for Spooner

Spooner Rodeo

July

Spooner puts on its party hat and opens its doors to town-folk and out-of-towners alike. The rodeo is the main event, but other activities include a Saturday afternoon equestrian parade, Rodeo Queen Coronation, live country music every night, and the popular Cowboy Sunday morning service held outdoors at the rodeo arena.  www.spoonerwisconsin.com/rodeo

 

 

 

 

 

Jack Pine Savage Days

August

This four-day festival features sports, an arts and craft fair, live bands and food booths and wraps up on Sunday with a Fireman's pancake breakfast. www.jackpinesavagedays.com

Follow the Fall Colors Trail

Enjoy the breathtaking fall color of the oaks, poplar and birch trees as they reflect their yellows, oranges, reds and browns in the 800 glacial lakes of Washburn County, Wisconsin. You can pick up a copy of the Washburn County highway map at the tourism information booth at 122 N.

River Street (Hwy 63) in Spooner. www.spoonerwi.com/scenic_drives.htm

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Spooner Lake at a Glance

Lake Size: 1,092 acres

Lake Depth: 18 feet

Elevation: 1,050 feet above sea level

Public Boat Access: west shore off Hwy. 53 and County Road A; south end off County Road A and Mann  Road .

Fish: Northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, walleye, crappie and smallmouth bass.

Weather: Average annual temperature is 42.4 degrees while the coldest month is January with temperatures down to 12 degrees. During the summer months (July through September) the sun shines two-thirds of the time.  Rainfall is 30 inches annually and the average snowfall is 47 inches.

 

 

By Margie Sims

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