Auburndale WisconsinATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Auburndale, Wisconsin.
1. Moondancer Winery
LOCAL WINE TASTING EXPERIENCE
Moondancer Winery offers visitors a charming wine tasting experience in the heart of Auburndale. Guests can sample locally produced wines made from Wisconsin fruits while enjoying the peaceful rural setting. The winery provides tours of their production facilities where visitors can learn about the winemaking process from grape to bottle.
2. Family Village Pool
COMMUNITY SWIMMING DESTINATION
Family Village Pool is a popular recreational facility for residents and visitors in Auburndale during the summer months. The well-maintained pool features swimming lanes, a shallow area for children, and comfortable lounging spaces around the perimeter. Families appreciate the clean facilities, friendly lifeguards, and affordable admission prices that make it an ideal place to cool off on hot Wisconsin days.
3. North Wood County Historical Society
LOCAL HISTORY PRESERVATION
The North Wood County Historical Society preserves and showcases the rich heritage of Wood County, including Auburndale and surrounding communities. Housed in a historic mansion, the museum features exhibits with artifacts, photographs, and documents that tell the story of the area's development. Visitors can explore multiple rooms filled with period furnishings and displays about local industries, prominent citizens, and everyday life from bygone eras.
4. Wildwood Zoo
NATIVE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Wildwood Zoo is a beloved attraction featuring native North American wildlife in naturalistic habitats near Auburndale. Visitors can observe bears, bison, wolves, and numerous other species while walking along accessible pathways through the 60-acre facility. The zoo offers educational programs, special events throughout the year, and a children's area with domestic animals that can be petted and fed.
5. Joe & Bernadine Weber's Nature Park
PEACEFUL WOODLAND RETREAT
Joe & Bernadine Weber's Nature Park offers visitors a serene natural escape with walking trails winding through diverse ecosystems near the Auburndale area. The well-maintained pathways lead through woodlands, wetlands, and meadows where native plants and wildlife flourish in protected habitats. Nature enthusiasts appreciate the bird watching opportunities, seasonal wildflower displays, and educational signage that enhances the outdoor experience.
6. Jurustic Park
WHIMSICAL METAL SCULPTURES
Jurustic Park is an extraordinary outdoor art installation featuring hundreds of fantastical metal creatures created by local artist Clyde Wynia near the Auburndale area. These imaginative sculptures, crafted from discarded farm equipment and scrap metal, represent the artist's vision of prehistoric creatures that once inhabited the local marshland. Visitors can meet the friendly artist who often provides entertaining tours filled with stories about his creative process and the inspiration behind his unique metal menagerie.
7. Wisconsin River
SCENIC WATERWAY ADVENTURES
The Wisconsin River flows through the region, offering numerous recreational opportunities for visitors to the Auburndale area. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and boating along this historic waterway that once served as a vital transportation route for the lumber industry. Scenic overlooks and riverside parks provide perfect spots for picnicking, wildlife watching, and photography throughout the changing seasons.
8. Rudolph Grotto Gardens
SPIRITUAL GARDEN SANCTUARY
Rudolph Grotto Gardens offers visitors a peaceful spiritual retreat with beautifully landscaped grounds featuring religious shrines and intricate stonework near the Auburndale area. Created by Father Philip Wagner beginning in 1919, the site includes the Wonder Cave, a hand-built underground passageway with 26 shrines depicting biblical scenes. Pilgrims and tourists alike appreciate the tranquil atmosphere, colorful flower gardens, and unique religious art that make this a distinctive cultural landmark.
9. Powers Bluff County Park
FOUR-SEASON OUTDOOR RECREATION
Powers Bluff County Park features diverse recreational opportunities on a prominent glacial moraine that rises 300 feet above the surrounding landscape near the Auburndale area. Winter enthusiasts enjoy the downhill ski slopes, snowboarding runs, and tubing hills, while summer visitors can explore hiking trails that showcase native plants and panoramic views. The park also preserves Native American history as a former ceremonial site for the Potawatomi tribe, with educational displays about the cultural significance of this natural landmark.
10. Auburndale Farmers Market
LOCAL PRODUCE SHOWCASE
The Auburndale Farmers Market brings together local growers and artisans offering fresh produce, homemade goods, and handcrafted items during the growing season. Visitors can browse stalls filled with seasonal vegetables, fruits, baked goods, preserves, and unique crafts while chatting with the producers who created them. The friendly atmosphere includes occasional live music, cooking demonstrations, and community activities that showcase the agricultural heritage of the region.
11. South Wood County Historical Museum
REGIONAL HERITAGE CENTER
The South Wood County Historical Museum preserves the cultural legacy of the region, including the Auburndale area, within a magnificent former mansion built by a lumber baron. Exhibits showcase the development of the paper industry, logging history, Native American artifacts, and the everyday lives of pioneers who settled the area. Visitors can explore multiple floors of period rooms, view thousands of historical photographs, and examine documents that tell the story of central Wisconsin's development.
12. McMillan Marsh Wildlife Area
WETLAND BIRDING PARADISE
McMillan Marsh Wildlife Area protects over 6,500 acres of diverse habitats including wetlands, grasslands, and forests near the Auburndale area. Birdwatchers can observe numerous species of waterfowl, sandhill cranes, and migratory birds that use this important stopover on their seasonal journeys. Visitors can explore designated hiking trails, photography blinds, and observation points while enjoying activities such as wildlife watching, hunting, and nature study throughout the changing seasons.
13. Auburndale Historical Society
COMMUNITY HERITAGE PRESERVATION
The Auburndale Historical Society maintains collections of artifacts, photographs, and documents that chronicle the development of this small Wisconsin community. Visitors can learn about the agricultural traditions, railroad history, and pioneering families that shaped the character of Auburndale through the years. Special exhibits and community events throughout the year highlight different aspects of local heritage while connecting current residents with their shared past.
14. Veterans Memorial Park
PATRIOTIC COMMUNITY TRIBUTE
Veterans Memorial Park honors the service and sacrifice of military personnel from the region, including those from Auburndale and surrounding communities. The beautifully maintained grounds feature monuments, memorial plaques, and landscaped areas dedicated to veterans from different conflicts throughout American history. Visitors can reflect on the commitment of local service members while enjoying the peaceful riverside setting that provides a dignified space for remembrance and gratitude.
15. Auburndale Community Trail
SCENIC LOCAL PATHWAY
The Auburndale Community Trail offers residents and visitors a pleasant route for walking, jogging, and biking through natural areas within the village. The well-maintained pathway winds through wooded sections, open fields, and alongside local landmarks, providing opportunities to observe native plants and wildlife. Benches placed at intervals allow trail users to rest and enjoy the changing seasonal landscapes that showcase the natural beauty of central Wisconsin.