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Cedar Lodge & Settlement: Authentic Wisconsin Dells Getaway

Discover Cedar Lodge & Settlement, a truly unique waterfront resort nestled along the majestic Wisconsin River (Lower Dells) in the heart of Wisconsin Dells. We offer a distinctive alternative to the everyday, providing an authentic “throwback” experience reminiscent of the Dells’ natural origins, yet still conveniently close to all the Wisconsin Dells attractions.

Here, you’ll find diverse and inviting Wisconsin Dells lodging options. Choose from spacious lodge rooms, suites, and villas, all boasting breathtaking river views from their private balconies. For a truly memorable stay, settle into one of our charming, modern log cabins, tucked neatly into the serene woodlands – a perfect blend of rustic charm and contemporary comfort.

At Cedar Lodge, activities and amenities effortlessly blend a child’s need for fun with your desire for relaxation. Our magnificent setting along the sandy shores of the Wisconsin River is central to the experience. Many words describe Cedar Lodge: rustic, peaceful, friendly, scenic, welcoming, ideal, relaxing, all mixed with great fishing and waterpark fun for the whole family.

Prime Location & Unbeatable Wisconsin River Access

While located off the beaten path next to Lake Delton on the lower Wisconsin River, Cedar Lodge offers unparalleled access to nature. You’re just down the road from Lost Canyon and the stunning Lower Dells. This peaceful escape is perfect for families, couples, and nature enthusiasts seeking a tranquil retreat, yet you’re only a short drive from the bustling main strips and popular Wisconsin Dells attractions.

Our commitment to making your Wisconsin Dells vacation memorable is paramount. Head down to our expansive 400 ft. sandy beach, perfect for building sandcastles or simply soaking up the sun by the refreshing Wisconsin River. Toss a football on the riverside lawn, enjoy a picnic, or watch the children play on the playground. Make a splash in our outdoor heated swimming pool, then dry off on the river view sun deck. Anglers will love the opportunity to fish right off the dock, or you can rent a watercraft right next door to our resort.

A Top-Rated Experience for Every Guest

As a top-rated waterfront resort in Wisconsin Dells, Cedar Lodge is known for its clean, quiet, and welcoming atmosphere. We’re a #1 resort on TripAdvisor and a top choice for places to stay near Cascade Mountain. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family reunion, or a business retreat, Cedar Lodge is the ideal Wisconsin Dells destination.

Stay with us in the Summer and receive complimentary Noah’s Ark Waterpark passes, a favorite for families visiting the Dells. Explore nearby attractions like Lost Canyon or the breathtaking landscapes of the Lower Dells. From casting a line to building sandcastles, Cedar Lodge ensures every moment is memorable. Let our dedicated staff exceed your expectations and help you create unforgettable memories in the heart of Wisconsin Dells.

Again- Cedar Lodge is a waterfront resort located on the Wisconsin River (Lower Dells) in the Wisconsin Dells.   Cedar Lodge is a distinctive alternative to the everyday. Here, you’ll find spacious lodge rooms, suites and villas all with river views. Charming, modern log cabins tucked neatly into the woodlands. Activities and amenities capable of satisfying both a child’s need for fun and your desire for relaxation. All nestled in a magnificent setting along the sandy shores of the Wisconsin River. Many words have been used to describe the Cedar Lodge experience: rustic, pampered, friendly, scenic, welcoming, ideal mixed in with great fishing and waterpark fun for the whole family. Cedar Lodge is located off the beaten path next to Lake Delton on the lower Wisconsin river. We’re just down the road from Lost Canyon on the Lower Dells of the Wisconsin river.

Our staff is committed to making your stay memorable and we trust that every detail will exceed your expectations! The point of having a vacation is having fun. Of course, what’s fun can vary from person to person, age to age, and family to family. Here at Cedar Lodge we have you all covered. Head down to the 400 ft. of sandy beach, which is perfect for building sand castles, then dip into the refreshing waters of the Wisconsin River. Toss around a football on the riverside lawn while having a picnic and watching the children play on the playground. Make a splash in the outdoor heated swimming pool then drip dry on the river view sunning deck. Throw a line out and fish right off the dock or rent a watercraft available right next door to our resort.

Cedar Lodge: A Top-Rated Waterfront Resort in Wisconsin Dells

Cedar Lodge, nestled along the scenic Wisconsin River, offers a unique escape from the ordinary. As a premier Wisconsin Dells resort, we provide a variety of accommodations to suit your needs, including spacious lodge rooms, suites, and villas—all featuring stunning river views. For a cozy, rustic charm, choose one of our modern log cabins tucked into the serene woodlands. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family reunion, or a business retreat, Cedar Lodge is the ideal destination.

Located near Lake Delton and just minutes from Cascade Mountain, Cedar Lodge is a top-rated resort offering access to 400 feet of sandy beach and a private boat launch. Guests enjoy fishing on the Wisconsin River, lounging by the heated outdoor pool, and building sandcastles with the kids. Our peaceful setting is perfect for couples, families, and business groups alike, offering both relaxation and adventure.

Stay with us and receive complimentary Noah’s Ark Waterpark passes—a favorite for families visiting the Dells. Take a short trip to nearby attractions like Lost Canyon or explore the Lower Dells’ breathtaking landscapes. Whether you’re tossing a football on the riverside lawn, enjoying a picnic, or fishing off the dock, Cedar Lodge ensures every moment is memorable.

Known for its clean, quiet, and welcoming atmosphere, Cedar Lodge is a #1 resort on TripAdvisor and a top choice for places to stay near Cascade Mountain. Let our dedicated staff exceed your expectations and help you create unforgettable memories in the heart of Wisconsin Dells.

About The Wisconsin Dells

The Wisconsin Dells is a fascinating and unique destination with a rich history shaped by powerful natural forces and entrepreneurial spirit.

Description of the Wisconsin Dells Today

Today, Wisconsin Dells is widely known as the “Waterpark Capital of the World!” It boasts the largest concentration of indoor and outdoor waterparks, including America’s largest outdoor waterpark (Noah’s Ark), the country’s largest indoor/outdoor combination waterpark (The Wilderness Resort), and the state’s largest indoor waterpark (Kalahari Resorts & Conventions). This transformation has made the Dells a year-round travel destination, attracting millions of visitors annually.

Beyond the thrilling slides and wave pools, the Dells offers a diverse range of family entertainment. You’ll find numerous amusement parks, go-kart tracks, mini-golf courses, and a vibrant downtown area filled with eclectic gift boutiques, souvenir shops, and sweet treats. The dining scene is varied, from classic Wisconsin supper clubs to kid-friendly eateries and diverse ethnic options.

However, beneath this veneer of modern entertainment lies the area’s original and enduring charm: its stunning natural beauty. The “Dells” refers to a five-mile gorge on the Wisconsin River, famed for its magnificent Cambrian sandstone rock formations, towering cliffs (some over 100 feet high), and intricate tributary canyons. These geological wonders are best explored via boat tours, including traditional river cruises, exhilarating jet boats, and the iconic amphibious “Duck” tours that transition from land to water. Hiking trails also offer opportunities to experience the natural landscapes, such as Witches Gulch and Stand Rock.

A Look Back: The History of the Wisconsin Dells

The history of the Wisconsin Dells stretches back millions of years to the Cambrian Period, when the area was the sandy shore of an ancient sea. Over eons, sand compacted into rock. The most dramatic shaping of the Dells occurred much more recently, about 15,000 years ago, during the Last Glacial Period. While the Dells itself was part of the “Driftless Area” (bypassed by the main glaciers), the melting of the immense Glacial Lake Wisconsin, held back by an ice dam, unleashed a catastrophic flood. This torrent of water carved the deep, narrow gorges and unusual sandstone formations that define the Dells today, largely in a matter of days or weeks.

Long before European settlers arrived, the Dells was inhabited by Native American tribes, particularly the Ho-Chunk (formerly Winnebago) and Menominee nations, for thousands of years. Their history is woven into the land, with stories of the river’s formation and archaeological evidence like effigy mounds. Despite U.S. government removal policies in the 19th century, the Ho-Chunk people consistently returned to their ancestral lands, demonstrating their deep connection to the area.

The modern history of Wisconsin Dells as a tourist destination began in the mid-19th century.

Founding (1857): The city was originally founded as Kilbourn City in 1857 by Byron Kilbourn, a railroad president, who strategically established the town where the railroad bridge would cross the Wisconsin River.

 Early Tourism (1850s onwards): Almost immediately, the natural scenery began to attract visitors. In 1856, Leroy Gates started offering boat tours of the Dells using wooden rowboats, effectively launching the tourism industry.

 H.H. Bennett (Late 1800s): The renowned landscape photographer H.H. Bennett established his studio in the city in 1875. His iconic photos of the sandstone formations, including the famous “Stand Rock” jumping image, played a crucial role in popularizing the Dells as a scenic attraction.  

Name Change (1931): To more closely associate the city with its famous natural landscape, Kilbourn City officially changed its name to Wisconsin Dells in 1931. The term “Dells” comes from the French word “dalles,” referring to the flat, layered rock formations.

 Waterpark Era (1970s onwards): The tourism landscape began to shift dramatically in the 1970s with the opening of the first waterslides. The pioneering of indoor waterparks was a “game-changer,” transforming the Dells into a year-round destination and cementing its reputation as the “Waterpark Capital of the World!”    

Today, Wisconsin Dells continues to evolve, balancing its roots in natural beauty with its reputation as a leading family entertainment hub, drawing visitors from across the Midwest and beyond.

The Wisconsin Dells a brief history

Again, The Dells of the Wisconsin River also called the Wisconsin Dells is a 5 mile gorge on the Wisconsin River in southern Wisconsin in the United States noted for its scenic beauty, in particular for its unique sandstone rock formations and tributary canyons. The cliffs, some over 100 feet high, and side canyons are closed to the public to protect sensitive ecological features. The viewing of the rock formations by water is a popular tourist attraction in the area. The nearby city of Wisconsin Dells is the center of summer tourist activity, much of it in the form of the theme parks unrelated to the river features.

The cultural history of the area stretches back several thousand years, from early Paleo-Indian people to the more recent Native American peoples, such as Ho-Chunk, Sac, and Menominee, who left behind effigy and burial mounds, camps and village sites, garden beds, and rock art. The Dells were made famous in 1886 by the photographer H. H. Bennett, who took the first stop-action photo of his son jumping onto Stand Rock.

Wisconsin Dells was founded as Kilbourn City in 1857 by Byron Kilbourn, who is notable for also founding Kilbourntown, one of the three original towns at the confluence of the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic Rivers that joined to become Milwaukee. Before the establishment of Kilbourn City, the region around the dells of the Wisconsin River was primarily a lumbering area until 1851, when the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad was chartered with Kilbourn as its president. The railroad made plans to bridge the Wisconsin River near the river’s dells, and a boomtown named Newport sprang up at the expected site of the bridge in 1853. The population of this new city quickly swelled to over 2,000, but when the railroad finally came through the area in 1857 it took nearly everyone by surprise by crossing the river a mile upstream from the site of Newport. As a result, Newport was rapidly turned into a ghost town as the settlers flocked to the new city at the site of the railroad bridge, Kilbourn City. Gradually, tourism became a large part of Kilbourn City. To make it easier for tourists to identify Kilbourn City with the natural landscape it was famous for, the name of the city was changed to Wisconsin Dells.

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