Waupaca residents and tourists spend their time outside on the lakes
In Waupaca, life is connected to the water. “Our thing is our chain of lakes,” says Kathy LeClair, the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce’s vice president of operations and a 25-year Waupaca resident. “It’s 22 interconnected lakes and they’re crystal clear.” The lakes sit just outside the city, offering spots for swimming, boating and dining. “During the summer months, we have a lot of people coming here to vacation and spend time on the lakes kayaking, boating and swimming,” LeClair says. “They do tours of the lake on a paddlewheel boat.” The rest of Waupaca has more lakes and streams lined with parks, local restaurants and events to support its local population and tourism brought in by the chain.
Interconnected lakes, public beaches, winter sledding and golfing
The chain of lakes is popular with tourists for fishing, boating and swimming, and major bodies of water in the chain include Long Lake, Columbia Lake and Rainbow Lake. The double-decker paddleboat launches from Taylor Lake and offers public and private tours. South Park Beach is a public sandy shore along Shadow Lake in the city. Lifeguards watch over swimmers from Memorial Day weekend to late August. Brainard’s Bridge Park overlooks the Waupaca River, where its trail crosses the water and connects to those at Swan Park. This green space has baseball diamonds, batting cages, basketball courts, a playground and a splashpad. In the winter, Swan Park’s hill is a popular sledding spot. Waupaca Country Club’s 9-hole course is private and only open to members. Down by the chain of lakes, Hartman Creek State Park offers more boating and swimming spots, but also has mountain biking and horseback riding trails.
Waupaca's single-family homes and lakefront properties
Waupaca’s homes include historic Nationals alongside Colonial Revivals and ranch-style homes. Sidewalks pass narrow driveways with detached garages sitting at the end of them. Trees line the streets and add touches of color. New Traditionals are more common on the outskirts of the city, where there are more newer developments. Most homes range from $180,000 to $330,000, but the New Traditionals can sell as high as $470,000. Most lakefront homes within city limits overlook Mirror and Shadow lakes, with Mirror Lake having more private docks. These properties are slower to come on the market, but two recent sales cost around $430,000 and $540,000. “There are a lot of vacation rentals right on the lakes, and a lot of people even rent theirs out for the short-term stays,” LeClair says about the homes around the chain of lakes.
Downtown cafes, local diners and waterfront restaurants in Waupaca
Little Fat Gretchen’s is a downtown café with big glass windows letting in plenty of natural light. Along with the burgers and salads, it also has a glass case with baked goods. Rose Garden Family Restaurant is an American diner with breakfast, burgers and chicken dinners. “There’s Clear Water Harbor, and that’s right on the water, and that’s where the paddlewheel boat goes from,” LeClair says about the Taylor Lake restaurant. It also serves American fare, with plenty of burgers, sandwiches and seafood options. Piggly Wiggly, Aldi and Pick ‘N Save are all located off Fulton Street in Waupaca.
Waupaca's public school district includes a science charter
Waupaca Learning Center Elementary School serves kindergarten through fourth grade students, while fifth through eighth grade students head to Waupaca Middle School. As a charter offered by the district, Chain Exploration Center is an alternative kindergarten through eighth grade option free for residents to attend, though they must apply first. The school focuses on STEM, art and agriculture and implements collaborative and project-based learning. All three schools receive B-plus ratings from Niche. B-rated Waupaca High School offers dual enrollment courses through the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Fox Valley Technical College-Waupaca Regional Center, which is located in the city.
The 60-year arts festival and concerts at the beach in the summer
The Waupaca Farmers Market runs from May to late October on Saturday mornings and afternoons in downtown Waupaca. South Park hosts the Summer Nights Concert Series, where different bands play and local food vendors offer plenty to eat. For over 60 years, the Waupaca Fine Arts Festival has celebrated the city’s arts scene. Every April, there are performances from the Waupaca Community Chorus and Civic Orchestra and the Waupaca Community Theatre and the Children’s Theatre. The Waupaca Art Show highlights local artists of various media.
Healthcare and industry just down the street in Waupaca
Waupaca has most of what its residents and tourists need. ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca is on the southern side of town. With three plants in the area, Waupaca Foundry is a major employer for the city, bringing an industrial feel to its eastern side. Others commute to bigger cities, like Appleton , about 40 miles east, connected to Waupaca via U.S. Route 10. Waupaca Municipal Airport mainly supports training and private flights, but locals and tourists can fly out of Appleton International Airport, about 38 miles away.
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Written By
Caroline Ernst
