Neillsville, Wisconsin

Neillsville, the Clark County Seat, was platted for James O’Neill in 1855. It is situated along the wide O’Neil Creek which was the site of lumbering operations in the early days of Wisconsin. Today, dairy farms dot the landscape. There is a wide range of styles of dairy farming. At one farm, cows are grazed; at another, they are housed in free-stall barns with state-of-the-art milking parlors. Many Amish and Mennonite families own farms in the area. During the summer and early fall, a farmers market is held on Saturday mornings at Sniteman Town Square Park.

There are two year-round sites to visit in Neillsville. One is the WCCN Pavilion and Gift Shop. Central Wisconsin Broadcasting, Inc. bought the former Wisconsin Pavilion displayed at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair and reassembled it in Neillsville. Another year-round site is Wisconsin’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the Highground located just 3½ miles west of Neillsville on U.S. Highway 10.

The past is evident throughout Neillsville in the many beautifully restored homes of yesteryear. Other well-known attractions include the 1897 Jail Museum, listed on the Register of Historic Places and Tuft’s Museum/Mansion and Carriage House. In the summertime visitors can relax at any of five parks, all well suited for family picnics. The Listeman Arboretum is a series of nature trails along the Black River. Fish abound in nearby lakes and rivers and deer and small game inhabit the 132,844 acres of Clark County Forest. The county park system is equipped with numerous campsites, swimming beaches, picnic shelters, boat landings and a wide range of amenities. There are summer ATV trails, hiking trails, horseback trails, mountain bike trails and off-road motorcycle trails in Clark County. In the wintertime, one can enjoy cross-country ski trails near Rock Dam, downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and snowmobiling.

The Clark County Fair, held every August at the Fairgrounds, provides enjoyment with numerous 4-H exhibits, the 4-H and FFA Livestock Show and Sale, the midway, grandstand shows, and a rodeo. Other annual activities in Neillsville include Neillsville Heritage Days and the Winter Carnival. The Neillsville area offers several motels, fine eating establishments, a golf course, tennis court, and an airport.