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South Lake Road Inside Devil’s Lake State Park Faces Abandonment by Town of Merrimac
A public road that runs entirely within the boundaries of Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin may soon be abandoned by the township responsible for its upkeep.
The Town of Merrimac has initiated the formal legal process under Wisconsin Statute 82.10 to discontinue a section of South Lake Road, the portion that falls within Merrimac Township. A public hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Read Public Notice
What Is South Lake Road?
South Lake Road begins at Highway 113, which forms the eastern boundary of Devil’s Lake State Park. From there it runs west along the south shore of the lake, then turns north along the west side of the park toward Baraboo. The section in question, the part the Town of Merrimac wants to abandon, sits within Merrimac Township. Where the road crosses into Sumpter Township, responsibility shifts to a different jurisdiction.
The road runs entirely within Devil’s Lake State Park land, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
What Abandonment Actually Means
This is not a road closure. Abandonment under Wisconsin law means the town walks away from the road entirely. No more maintenance, no more repairs, no more liability. The town simply removes itself from responsibility.
When a town road is abandoned, care and liability shift to the landowners whose property borders it. In this case, that is Devil’s Lake State Park and the Wisconsin DNR. What the DNR would do with an important, yet “abandoned” road running through state park land is an open question this public notice does not answer.
What We’ve Observed
On January 20th, we reported on selective tree cutting the Town of Merrimac conducted along South Lake Road. The sellable timber was removed. The remaining brush along the roadsides has not been cleared.
The Town Plan Commission recommended discontinuance in January 2026. The Town Board approved Resolution 2026-01 at its February 4, 2026 meeting, formally starting the abandonment process.
How the Process Works
The formal discontinuance process under Wis. Stat. 82.10 requires a public hearing no sooner than 40 days after the resolution is introduced. That hearing is set for April 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Merrimac Town Hall.
There is one meaningful check built into the law. If a written objection is filed by any landowner whose property directly borders the road, or by one-third or more of landowners within 2,650 feet of it, the town board would need a two-thirds majority vote to proceed rather than a simple majority.
How to Participate
The public hearing is open to all interested parties. Written comment can also be submitted in advance.
Merrimac Town Hall S6911 State Highway 113 Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Written comments: Town of Merrimac, PO Box 115, Merrimac, WI 53561 Email: tnadmin@tds.net
The resolution and a map are available at www.townofmerrimac.net or at the Clerk’s office at S6911 State Road 113, Merrimac.
A Note on Reporting
We reached out to the Town of Merrimac for comment. As of the time of this post, we have not received a reply. We will update this page if that changes.
Source: Town of Merrimac Class III Notice of Public Hearing, Resolution 2026-01, filed February 2026. Geographic details confirmed via Sauk County township maps.
Thank you, as always, to our readers for helping us keep you informed!
For nearly 30 years, 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 out of 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.
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This is an interesting situation—abandoning the road might sound minor, but it really shifts responsibility in a big way. With Wisconsin land like this, especially inside a state park, access and maintenance decisions can have long-term impacts on tourism, safety, and how people actually use the area. Definitely one worth paying attention to as it develops.