Park Falls’ rural vibe attracts year-round and seasonal residents
Park Falls is a rural city nestled in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Its peaceful atmosphere attracts year-round residents and people looking for a second home. You can fish on the Flambeau River or ride your ATV through the sprawling Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. When you’re done, you can return to your quiet home or grab dinner from one of the nearby restaurants. While seasonal residents are heading out by the fall, students are getting ready for class at highly rated Chequamegon schools.
Forests, rivers and lakes offer seemingly endless outdoor recreation
Park Falls is known for its recreation. “It’s northern, rural Wisconsin,” says KC LOCHNER, Realtor and co-owner of Re/Max New Horizons, who grew up in the area. “So, what attracts people is the hunting, the fishing...it’s quiet solitude in the Northwoods.” Some of the more popular destinations include:
- The Flambeau River, which runs through the city
- The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, which spans over 1.5 million acres
- Smith Lake, which has access to two canoe-in campsites
- Tuscobia State Trail, a 74-mile-long, multiuse trail that starts in Park Falls
Popular pastimes include ATV-riding, hiking, mountain-biking and, as Lochner says, hunting. Common game includes the ruffed grouse, which is so prevalent that Park Falls is locally called the “Ruffed Grouse Capital of the World.” While seasonal residents are normally gone by fall, year-round locals will spend the winter skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. “There’s a lot to do once you get out there and start exploring,” Lochner says. The city also has a community pool, ice rink and recreation complex with athletic fields and a track.
Homes cost less than seasonal destinations like Minocqua
Park Falls offers a wide range of housing, from early-1900s bungalows and Minimal Traditionals in the heart of the city to mid-20th-century split-levels and ranch-style homes. You can also find some newer construction, like contemporary cabins and ranch-style houses, on larger lots that overlook the rolling hills or the Flambeau River. Prices trend well below Minocqua, another popular location for seasonal residents. “We get a lot of people that are starting to look in Hayward and Minocqua, and they see what they can afford, and it gravitates them to Phillips or Park Falls,” Lochner says. The older properties typically cost between the low $100,000s and the high $200,000s, but homes built after 2000 can range from the low $300,000s to the mid-$600,000s. There is also plenty of undeveloped land, with prices starting at under $10,000 for a quarter of an acre.
Broadband and public utilities are widely accessible
Homes within city limits have access to public water and sewage. As you move farther out, you’re likely to find more properties relying on well water and septic systems. The entire region has reliable broadband, making remote work easy.
Many locals commute to work; roads are well-maintained in the winter
Cars are a must for Park Falls. The main thoroughfares are state routes 182 and 13, which intersect in the city. Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls is a major employer and a Critical Access Hospital, which Lochner says “is super fortunate for us because we are so remote.” Unless they work in the hospital, residents are likely commuting 20 miles to Phillips or 45 miles to Minocqua for work. “There’s a good chunk of people that live here year-round and commute an average of 45 minutes to work, depending on where they live,” Lochner says.
Winter weather is inevitable, with an average annual snowfall of over 5 feet, but the community is well-prepared. “I would say Price County, from my personal experience and talking to others, does a really good job with snow removal, making sure things are cleared and ready to go,” Lochner says. Residents stock up on essentials before larger storms, and people are rarely out of work or school for more than a couple of days.
Students attend highly rated Chequamegon schools
The highly rated Chequamegon School District serves the area. While the elementary and high school are in Park Falls, the middle school is in the nearby Glidden. The district partners with Northcentral Technical College to offer dual credit courses.
You can stay local for restaurants and groceries
There are plenty of local restaurants nearby. “For as rural as we are, we have a lot of really good bars, supper clubs and taverns,” Lochner says. Options include:
- Captain Nemo’s Pub & Grub, which has a game room and a juke box
- Park Falls Family Restaurant, which serves homestyle cooking
- Old Abe’s, a local coffee shop with pastries and breakfast food
- Beijing Restaurant, which serves Chinese food
Groceries are also easily accessible, with a Dollar General and Super One Foods in the city. Locals can also get fresh produce from the Park Falls Farmer’s Market on Wednesday afternoons from late May to mid-October. They save major shopping trips for their next trip to Wausau, about 100 miles, or two hours, away.
