Rockland Town offers a rural atmosphere close to Green Bay
On the outskirts of the Green Bay metro area, the town of Rockland brings a rural feel to Packers country. Rockland started as a cheese factory town, though Scray’s Cheese is the only one still open. Today, most of the area is farmland and undeveloped land. The openness gives its 1,700 residents more room than in Green Bay or De Pere . “We have some residential estates where we’ve got parcels of homes that are 5 to 10 acres, so people have a lot of space between their homes,” Koenig says. While Green Bay’s riverfront is still very industrial, Rockland’s waterfront along the Fox River is entirely private. The town also sits on the Niagara Escarpment, a high limestone cliff that runs from eastern Wisconsin to Niagara Falls, adding some high ground to the flat Green Bay terrain. “We have some higher elevation to the eastern side of our town and some beautiful vistas from there all the way down to the river,” Koenig says. Local students can attend highly rated schools, and the town also has a Cap Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Recent builds on multi-acre properties make up Rockland's inventory
New Traditionals, Colonial Revivals and contemporary builds make up most of Rockland’s housing stock. Most properties offer between 5 and 10 acres, including spacious front yards and long driveways. Farms and cornfields are common, especially on the eastern side, and plenty of vacant lots are available for custom builds. Riverfront properties can cost up a million, but most homes range from $600,000 to $900,000, which is more expensive than some nearby areas. Green Bay’s median housing price is about $310,000, while De Pere’s is $420,000.
Students attend either De Pere or Wrightstown's public schools
Most Rockland students will head to the Unified School District of De Pere. Susie C. Altmayer Elementary School and Foxview Intermediate School both receive an A rating from Niche. De Pere Middle School and De Pere High School both receive an A-minus. High school students can partake in various activities, like clubs for robotics, forensics, coding and rock climbing. The southwest corner of Rockland is zoned for A-rated Wrightstown School District. However, Wisconsin offers school choice, so students can apply to attend either school zone.
Hiking the Fox River Trail and golfing at Hilly Haven's public green
The Fox River Trail runs through the center of the community, heading north into Green Bay and south to Greenleaf . “It’s a paved trail, so there’s bike traffic and running traffic. There are just people walking around, getting some exercise and getting their dogs out,” Koenig says. Hilly Haven Golf Course is south of the community, offering an 18-hole course and golf simulators that are open to the public. It also has hiking and biking trails. Locals can also rent cross-country skis and snowshoes during Green Bay’s snowy winters. Because Rockland’s riverfront is private, only those living along the river can access the river. “We don’t have any boat landings or anything like that in town,” Koenig says. “They would either launch from the other side, which would be the town of Lawrence , or they would launch up or downstream.”
Taking Wisconsin Route 32 to De Pere and downtown Green Bay
Wisconsin Route 32 runs through the center of Rockland, linking it with De Pere, 6 miles away, and Downtown Green Bay, 11 miles away. In addition to the private riverfront landscape, Rockland doesn’t have its own river crossing. If residents need to cross the river, they’ll have to go south to Wrightstown 's bridge or north to De Pere’s. Because traffic can be heavy at De Pere’s bridge, some residents choose to stay on this side of the river. Green Bay ER and Hospital is on this side of the river, 10 miles away in Bellevue . Prevea West De Pere Health Center is on the other side of the Fox, 9 miles away in West De Pere. Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport is about 13 miles away.
Local bars, Wisconsin cheese and nearby wineries around Rockland
Rockland has one dining spot: Just Stop In Bar and Grill, whose menu offers sandwiches and seafood. Scray Cheese Shoppe is attached to the factory, where visitors can taste locally produced Wisconsin cheese and dairy products. Just south of the community, WINEaLOT Wine Pub has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating with live music on Saturday evenings. West De Pere has the closest grocery options. Festival Foods is 7 miles away, and Walmart is 9 miles away. However, those looking to stay east of the river can also head to Bellevue for Costco, Target and Pick ‘N Save, all about 10 miles from Rockland.
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Written By
Caroline Ernst
