“Shanty Town”

First built in the early 1890s, this hidden village housed workers of a once busy quarry on the east bluff of the park. Quarries such as the one this village supported, were in fact, a major driver for the creation of a state park. In the early 1900s, the land was quickly being sold to anyone with a commercial interest.

“Unless the state buys the property several of the largest owners have signified their intention of selling to whomsoever will pay the most, without regard for what use the property is intended…. To preserve the region, the state must own it. There appears to be no alternative” – Baraboo Republic, July 25, 1906

Devil’s Lake State Park was established in 1911. It took another half-century before the quarries finally went silent. Today we must still work to balance various uses of the park while protecting the environment, it’s beauty and wildlife that drew us here in the first place.

We offer private tours of the hidden village through Devil’s Lake Adventure Hikes. Click here for more information.

Derrick Mayoleth

For nearly 2 decades the Skillet Creek blog has focused on 3 main goals; To inspire you to visit and explore the Devil’s Lake region, to help you get the most your visit by sharing tips, events, and other helpful information. Lastly to advocate for our environment & wildlife and talk about how we can keep our natural areas amazing now and into the future! That last goal can sometimes cause controversy, but it’s the only way we can accomplish the first two. – Derrick Mayoleth, Owner.