Waupaca County, WI Real Estate

Waupaca County, Wisconsin

Waupaca County, Wisconsin is an amazing place. Its natural beauties and recreational opportunities abound, making it one of the best places in the state, if not in the country, to vacation, retire, or live and work.

Depending on who you talk with, the name Waupaca means sparkling waters, tomorrow, brave young hero or clear water. It may also have been named after an Indian chief “Wa-Puka,” whose name meant “watching.”

Waupaca County was once a Native American hunting and fishing paradise. The streams, rivers and lakes were alive with fish and the forests were abundant with game. Not much has changed.

When Europeans came to the area, they instituted their way of life. They felled the trees, laid out farms and built saw mills and towns. Waupaca has a history like that.

While the hunting, fishing, and gathering is still a major part of the life of the people in Waupaca, there’s more.  But first the basics.

Waupaca County, located near the center of the state, comprises a total of 765 square miles of which 14 square miles is water and 751 square miles is land. The population is about 52,000 people and the county seat is the city of Waupaca. Major roadways include U.S. highways 10 and 45, and Wisconsin highways 22, 49, 54 and others. There are a number of “rustic roads” for a scenic auto adventure, as well as county highways that provide safe travel cross the landscape.

Waupaca County Homes

Homes in Waupaca County include custom-built homes, reasonably-priced pre-owned homes, year-round vacation homes, condominiums and duplexes for sale. Choose from homes in the many small towns or a secluded home in the more undeveloped parts of the county. Condos are a great option because owners do not have to do maintenance.

This Wisconsin playground also has year-round and seasonal vacation homes for sale. Choose one to be your get-away-from-it-all retreat.

And don’t forget duplexes. They can help defray costs while providing a homey atmosphere to raise a family.

If you are thinking of starting a business or moving an existing business, Waupaca County has office and retail space for purchase, especially in the large cities of Waupaca and New London.

Things to See and Do in Waupaca County

The opportunities in Waupaca County for recreation and relaxation are almost endless. In winter one can snowmobile on more than 400 miles of trails. There’s ice fishing on the Chain ‘O Lakes, cross-country skiing on 200 km of trials, four miles of which are lighted (the most lighted trails in the state), the Wintervergnϋgen Pond Hockey Classic, and the Iola Winter Carnival.

At other times of the year, biking and hiking trails include the River Ridge Trail, Northwest Passage Bike Trail, the Tomorrow River State Trail and others. For hiking only, there’s the statewide Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Hartman Creek State Park is entirely in Waupaca County, which, in addition to a 300-foot beach and swimming area, offers fishing, biking, hiking, camping, a playground and an equestrian trail. Golf courses in Waupaca County include the Foxfire Golf Course, the Glacier Wood Golf Club and three others. In spring, the Gerold Opera House in Weyauwega hosts the Mardi Gras Bash.

Fine arts events in Waupaca County include performances by the Waupaca Community Choir and Civic Orchestra, the annual Waupaca Fine Arts Show, theater productions at the Waupaca Community Theater, and the Hidden Studios Art Tour.

For a little something different there’s a Strawberry Fest, the Lion’s Fly-in/Drive-in Breakfast held at the Waupaca Municipal Airport, a model train show, a Midwestern rodeo, a lighted boat parade in Clear Water Harbor, the Midwest’s largest old car show and swap meet, held in Iola, and Hometown Day on the Fourth of July in the city of Waupaca. Waupaca County also hosts a triathlon with over 1,000 participants and the Waupaca County Fair in Weyauwega.

The County of Waupaca has a number of quaint small towns for you to explore. For antiquing, bed and breakfasts, and shopping visit towns with names like Bear Creek, Embarrass, Helvetia, Larrabee, Little Wolf, Odgensburg and Scandinavia, among others. You can also explore some of the county’s ghost towns, including Granite City, Marble and Hatton.

If you get the impression Waupaca County is a great place to vacation, explore, or put down roots — you are correct. Plan to visit soon. Waupaca County welcomes you.