Rome has plenty of lakes and golf courses
The town of Rome is all about boating and golfing. The Adams County town is home to three lakes, each with its own homeowners associations — Lake Arrowhead, Lake Sherwood and Lake Camelot. Channels connect the lakes to each other and the larger Petenwell Lake on the western side of Rome. Lake Arrowhead includes two golf courses, while Sand Valley is a resort on the southern side of town with five more greens. Between the four lakes and seven golf courses, seasonal tourism is common, peaking in the summer months. Still, there is a steady full-time population and community in Rome. “You can be as busy as you want. They do water aerobics in the summertime every morning — just show up if you want at the outdoor pool,” says real estate agent Kendra Finco with Rome Realty. “They have card leagues; they have golf leagues.” Rome’s distance from major cities also adds to the quiet atmosphere, allowing locals to fully enjoy lakeside living. The town receives a 1 out of 10 Cap Index Crime Score, which is lower than the national average of 4.
Private beaches, ice fishing, tennis courts and golf courses in Rome
Rome locals spend a lot of their time at their association lakes. Each lake allows boating, fishing and swimming. Many of the associations are broken down into smaller subdivisions, which each have assigned private beaches. “When you live in the Lake Arrowhead association, it offers many amenities. They have two outdoor swimming pools,” Finco says, who has been a Lake Arrowhead resident since 2012. “There’s pickleball; there’s tennis courts. You have the lake, of course, and you can do boating, skiing and tubing.” In the winter, people still find ways to get outside, especially for ice fishing. “They sit there for hours on a sunny winter day in their ice shanty or out in the elements, just looking at that hole,” Finco says. Petenwell Lake is another man-made lake offering more boating and fishing. Lake Arrowhead also includes two 18-hole courses, and both are open to the public. Sand Valley’s five courses are also open to the public. Dyracuse Recreational Park offers 11 miles of multi-use trails and different motocross and ATV tracks.
Ranch-style homes and A-frame chalets along the lakes
The Lake Arrowhead Association is the largest of the three communities, serving about 2,000 members. Its members can live along the lake, the golf course or in more traditional subdivisions. The Lake Sherwood Property Owner Association and the Lake Camelot Property Owners Association mainly maintain their public beaches and lake water quality. Across all three associations and Rome, ranch-style homes, log cabins and A-frame chalets are common, ranging from $230,000 to $530,000. Homebuyers can live along any of the three lakes, as well as Petenwell Lake, enjoying private docks and views. Most homeowners reside in Rome year-round, though there is a steady summer population. Some people buy homes to rent to summer tourists.
Lakeside lodges with docks and upscale resort restaurants
Lake Sherwood Lodge overlooks the lake, with docks so people can boat up. It offers sandwiches and pizza, though locals also like their Friday fish fries. Avocados Mexican Grill serves tacos, fajitas and margarita flights. Hoozels on the Lakes offers American food and has an outdoor patio with live music. At Sand Valley, The Gallery is a more upscale Italian restaurant. Dollar General is in Rome for quick convenience stops. Walmart Supercenter is 12 miles away in Wisconsin Rapids, while Piggly Wiggly is 14 miles away in Nekoosa.
C-rated schools for Rome students
Rome falls under the School District of Nekoosa, where students start at Humke Elementary School for kindergarten through third grade. After, they continue to Alexander Middle School. Nekoosa High School offers dual credit courses through Mid-State Technical College. All three schools receive C ratings from Niche.
Summer waterski performances and year-round farmers markets
In the summers, the Shermalot Show Team Waterski Shows are every Wednesday and Saturday evening on Lake Arrowhead. Locals can sit on the beach to watch the shows. The Rome Farmers Market has indoor and outdoor seasons. The outdoor season is longer, at the Rome Town Center on Friday mornings from May to September. From December to April, it relocates to the town hall and is held once a month.
Getting around Rome by boat, AVT or car
The interconnected lakes mean locals can get around the town by boat. “Because Lake Arrowhead is a golf community, you can drive your golf carts around the roads that are 25 miles per hour,” Finco says. “Or you can get on your UVT or ATV and take off and drive it around like a little convertible buggy on main roads in that area.” Those traveling by car can take Wisconsin Route 13 to reach cities like Wisconsin Rapids, 14 miles north, for amenities such as Aspirus Wisconsin Rapids Hospital. Central Wisconsin Airport is a regional airport about 48 miles away in Mosinee, but more flights are available at Appleton International Airport, 82 miles away.
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Written By
Caroline Ernst
