We arrived in Bayfield on August 15 for our first visit. Bayfield is on the Bayfield Peninsula, at the end of which are the Apostle Islands.
The area is heavily forested. Logging has taken most of the original growth forests on the mainland and the islands. Brownstone blocks were quarried on one of the islands and used as far away as Buffalo NY. The main industry of the area is tourism. Now the islands are mainly owned by the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
The town has several old mansions, a few of which are bed and breakfasts.
Another mansion has been converted into Greunke’s Inn. It has a nightly fish boil, a spectacular event when diesel oil is put on the fire under the boiling 55 gal drum, causing the fish oil at the top of the boiling water water to boil over.
The old Bayfield County courthouse is repurposed as the visitor center and headquarters of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Those wishing to camp on the islands obtain their permits here, and a movie tells visitors of the history of the area – logging, farming and fishing.
The small downtown area is nicely decorated.
The ferry to Madeline Island runs frequently during the tourist season. It is large enough to carry semi trucks and motor homes. There is a state park on the island (not part of the Lakeshore) as well as a museum and tourist shops and accommodations for the visitors.
The municipal dock is nicely developed for pleasure boats and the ships for tours of the islands.
As we approached Bayfield I was impressed with the forest of masts of sailing ships. Madeline Island is on the horizon.
No comments:
Post a Comment