There was a time when Clifton was a boom town – a place with a mission: mine limestone. The Western Lime and Cement Company was based on this rocky bluff, operating a busy limestone quarry operation that grew into a small city. The lime kilns have been cold and quiet for decades and Clifton’s residents are long gone. But every autumn, a fire of a different sort lights up the ghost town here, as trees explode in dramatic shades of orange, red, and gold. It’s the perfect destination for an autumn day trip. There are nine other ghost towns worth seeing after this one!
You can find what’s left in Clifton in High Cliff State Park, a park located just south of the Fox Cities. The park is located along the scenic shore of Lake Winnebago.
foxcities.org
When you arrive at the park, you’ll want to get out of your car at one of the lower parking lots to walk to the ruins of Clifton. Hike along the bluff to see the old limestone kilns – they were used to superheat limestone that was taken from the rocky ledge that runs through the park. The resulting powder was used for construction and agricultural purposes.
Tripadvisor / Marty
Eventually, Clifton changed its name to High Cliff. Workers came from far away for employment here. The town had a general store, a company office, and a post office.
Tripadvisor / AndrewFromMadison
Head to the top of the bluff (you may want to drive) to see some spectacular views. In the 1800s, people danced the night away in a pavilion here and kids took delight in a steam-powered merry-go-round.
Tripadvisor / Nikki T
The attractions are just a memory but the view is as beautiful as it was a century ago.
Google/ Benjamin Busse
There are miles of trails to explore – and you can walk the area that once was the center of the town. You’ll have to use a bit of your imagination. Aside from the old general store and the kiln ruins, the site is largely being reclaimed by nature.
foxcities.org
High Cliff State Park is open year-round, although it’s hard to top the beauty of the park in the fall. Interested in discovering more Wisconsin autumn beauty? Here are 11 wonderful ways to spend a fall day.
foxcities.org
Tripadvisor / Marty
Tripadvisor / AndrewFromMadison
Tripadvisor / Nikki T
Google/ Benjamin Busse
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Address: High Cliff State Park, N7630 State Park Rd, Sherwood, WI 54169, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Ghost Towns and Fall Activities in Wisconsin September 26, 2022 Will Suphan What are some other ghost towns in Wisconsin? Wisconsin has a great many ghost towns to discover and explore! There’s the old lead mining town of Sinipee in Grant County near Sinipee creek on the Mississippi river that fell due to an outbreak of malaria. Helena in Iowa county was another lead mining town, and this one was abandoned since the railroad was built elsewhere. Pendarvis was built around a mine of lead, zinc, and tin and reached a population of 4000 until the mines ran dry. Most of the ghost towns in Wisconsin seem to be based around various sorts of mining like so many others across the nation. What Fall festivals can be enjoyed in Wisconsin? Wisconsin certainly has no shortage of fall festivals! The Union Grove Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest at the Racine County Fairgrounds in October brings people to build catapults and various other contraptions to hurl pumpkins as far as possible! It has music, a carnival, hayrides, and more! The Warrens Cranberry Festival in Warrens, Wisconsin has every kind of cranberry food you can imagine, and includes a parade and art fair. Then there’s the Menomonee Falls Cheery Cherry Fall Fair where there are arts and crafts, lots of cherry delicacies, and you can sample cherry wine. What are the best places to see fall foliage in Wisconsin? If you’re looking for gorgeous views of fall foliage, Wisconsin will not disappoint. Several beautiful scenes await such as Holy Hill in Hubertus, where an old basilica sits atop a 1300-ft hill and is absolutely surrounded by rust and golden colored trees. You can climb to the top of the tower for an unbelievable view. Lapham Peak in Delafield has a 45-foot observation tower in Waukesha County and you can see miles of trees in every direction. To be down among the trees, Grant Park in Milwaukee is perfect! With hiking trails that lead through a ravine over foot bridges and little stone paths, not to mention sandy beaches, it would be hard to find a lovelier view of autumn trees.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Ghost Towns and Fall Activities in Wisconsin
September 26, 2022
Will Suphan
What are some other ghost towns in Wisconsin? Wisconsin has a great many ghost towns to discover and explore! There’s the old lead mining town of Sinipee in Grant County near Sinipee creek on the Mississippi river that fell due to an outbreak of malaria. Helena in Iowa county was another lead mining town, and this one was abandoned since the railroad was built elsewhere. Pendarvis was built around a mine of lead, zinc, and tin and reached a population of 4000 until the mines ran dry. Most of the ghost towns in Wisconsin seem to be based around various sorts of mining like so many others across the nation. What Fall festivals can be enjoyed in Wisconsin? Wisconsin certainly has no shortage of fall festivals! The Union Grove Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest at the Racine County Fairgrounds in October brings people to build catapults and various other contraptions to hurl pumpkins as far as possible! It has music, a carnival, hayrides, and more! The Warrens Cranberry Festival in Warrens, Wisconsin has every kind of cranberry food you can imagine, and includes a parade and art fair. Then there’s the Menomonee Falls Cheery Cherry Fall Fair where there are arts and crafts, lots of cherry delicacies, and you can sample cherry wine. What are the best places to see fall foliage in Wisconsin? If you’re looking for gorgeous views of fall foliage, Wisconsin will not disappoint. Several beautiful scenes await such as Holy Hill in Hubertus, where an old basilica sits atop a 1300-ft hill and is absolutely surrounded by rust and golden colored trees. You can climb to the top of the tower for an unbelievable view. Lapham Peak in Delafield has a 45-foot observation tower in Waukesha County and you can see miles of trees in every direction. To be down among the trees, Grant Park in Milwaukee is perfect! With hiking trails that lead through a ravine over foot bridges and little stone paths, not to mention sandy beaches, it would be hard to find a lovelier view of autumn trees.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Wisconsin has a great many ghost towns to discover and explore! There’s the old lead mining town of Sinipee in Grant County near Sinipee creek on the Mississippi river that fell due to an outbreak of malaria. Helena in Iowa county was another lead mining town, and this one was abandoned since the railroad was built elsewhere. Pendarvis was built around a mine of lead, zinc, and tin and reached a population of 4000 until the mines ran dry. Most of the ghost towns in Wisconsin seem to be based around various sorts of mining like so many others across the nation.
What Fall festivals can be enjoyed in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin certainly has no shortage of fall festivals! The Union Grove Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest at the Racine County Fairgrounds in October brings people to build catapults and various other contraptions to hurl pumpkins as far as possible! It has music, a carnival, hayrides, and more! The Warrens Cranberry Festival in Warrens, Wisconsin has every kind of cranberry food you can imagine, and includes a parade and art fair. Then there’s the Menomonee Falls Cheery Cherry Fall Fair where there are arts and crafts, lots of cherry delicacies, and you can sample cherry wine.
What are the best places to see fall foliage in Wisconsin?
If you’re looking for gorgeous views of fall foliage, Wisconsin will not disappoint. Several beautiful scenes await such as Holy Hill in Hubertus, where an old basilica sits atop a 1300-ft hill and is absolutely surrounded by rust and golden colored trees. You can climb to the top of the tower for an unbelievable view. Lapham Peak in Delafield has a 45-foot observation tower in Waukesha County and you can see miles of trees in every direction. To be down among the trees, Grant Park in Milwaukee is perfect! With hiking trails that lead through a ravine over foot bridges and little stone paths, not to mention sandy beaches, it would be hard to find a lovelier view of autumn trees.
