Elmwood, Wisconsin

Just north of Plum City, Elmwood came to life in the 1870's. Lumber-milling was the major industry with giant hardwoods and elm trees covering the land around Norwegian Hill. Many logging camps and mills sprung up in the area and the first saw mill was located on scenic Cady Creek. Essential to the lumber industry success was the nearby deep and swift-moving Eau Galle River.

As a testament to this logging heritage, stands a log house built by Otis Hutchins in 1870. It's located across the street from today's Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Public Street.

Some 100 years later, in the 1970's, several well-documented and substantiated UFO sightings drew worldwide attention to the Elmwood coulee. Media reporters soon dubbed the town "the UFO capital of the world." Elmwood locals decided to have some fun with this. So now Elmwood residents and guests celebrate "UFO Days" annually during the last week of July. UFO activities include: street dances, sidewalk and thrift sales, softball, volleyball and horseshoe tournaments, ball games for the children, a medallion hunt, a queen's coronation, beer and food tents featuring the famous "UFO Burgers," a grand parade and a "cow-chip throwing" contest at the conclusion of the festivities. Call 715/639-4132 for details.

Other tourism attractions are: Apple Orchards, snowmobiling, antique shopping, trout fishing (with the "opener" in May), the Farmer's Market in August and September, the historic horse-pulling contest in September, cross-country-skiing, hiking, camping, cycling, tubing, ice-skating, nearby ice-fishing, ice-cream socials and hunting.