Lake Wissota State Park

Lake Wissota State Park

Chippewa Falls, WI

Reviewed July 25th, 2005

In any area, locals are quick to point out interesting trivia about their hometowns. Little tidbits of folklore that make it interesting. What it is that sets their geographic region apart from every other place on earth. This is usually the birth of urban (and rural) legends. In this case, however, it is quite the opposite and anyone within a 2 hour radius of Lake Wissota is eager to dispel a certain inaccuracy in the largest grossing movie of all time. It involves a certain scene in the movie Titanic where hunky young Jack is talking about how he grew up in Chippewa Falls and used to ice fish in Lake Wissota.

"Ha!" the locals chime in, "yeah right."

They then proceed to explain that Lake Wissota was just a tiny pond during the maiden voyage of the Titanic in 1912 - not suitable for ice fishing. It did not become the 6,300 acre lake it is today until 1917 when the Wisconsin Minnesota Power Company flooded it in order to help produce hydroelectric power.

"Ha! Stupid Hollywood liberals. What do they know" they'll complain while indiscreetly flaunting their historic knowledge - gleened by heresy from a co-worker long after making it's rounds on Internet messageboards.

The State Park which has sprung up in the spot where Jack didn't ice fish does contain modestly lavish facilities however. With auto-sensing lights, running water, and a surprising lack of strong odors, locals should maybe consider this as a bragging point the next time someone brings up Lake Wissota. A drinking fountain on the outside spouted clean, crisp water. The inside was amazingly un-parklike, containing plumbing, electricity, a electric hand-dryer and even.. get this.. tile! With all these amenities, the absense of soap seemed a bit bizarre.

RESTROOM RATING: 6
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