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La Crosse County campgrounds improve on their start from last summer

Published

3 days ago

June 9, 2025

Summer vacation season has just started, but already revenue from camping and outdoor activity at La Crosse County parks is ahead of last year’s pace.

County park officials tell the La Crosse County Board that revenue at Goose Island, south of La Crosse, is up 25 per cent from the level in early June of 2024. They’re hoping to avoid a repeat of the record flooding during early summer a year ago, when Goose Island had to shut down its campground around the 4th of July holiday. About 125,000 campers stayed at Goose Island, and at the Veterans Memorial Park near West Salem during 2024.

The County Board heard reports on visitation to county parks, and revenue projections.

The county has several improvements planned for the county-run parks and camping areas this year. County facilities director Ryan Westpfahl reported to the county board on Monday that upgrades are planned at the pond in Veterans Memorial Park.

Toilet and tree replacements are also in the works at the two county parks. However, other projects adding up to $5 million may need more funding. That would include paving gravel roads at the county parks, and upgrading playgrounds and shelters.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.