There's A Quirky Windmill Park Hiding Right Here In Wisconsin And You'll Want To Plan Your Visit
By Ben Jones|Published March 29, 2022
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
In Baldwin, Wisconsin, there’s a little park that will take you to Holland. Windmill Park is anchored by an impressive old-school windmill. It’s a quirky attraction that draws visitors and it’s one of the most-photographed places of the area. But why does this little town have a big windmill? Read on to find out.
Baldwin is located in western Wisconsin and it’s a good day trip destination. It’s about 50 minutes from Eau Claire or a 40-minute drive from the Twin Cities.
The windmill is located in the heart of Baldwin, a village in St. Croix County with fewer than 4,000 people. It was founded in 1871 and was first known as Clarksville, after the railroad depot here. It was later named Baldwin, after a railroad manager who was responsible for bringing the tracks to town.
Along Highway 63, the village has a little two-acre park called Windmill Park. It’s a tranquil little park that has picnic tables and playground equipment. On the north edge of the park there’s a winding creek called Baldwin Creek.
The park is anchored by a picture-perfect Dutch windmill. It was constructed in 1987 by local volunteers - Baldwin's Dutch Ethnic Women's Group championed the cause and was supported by the local Chamber of Commerce and others. The windmill has been a fixture of the village since and it’s maintained by the village.
The windmill’s blade can bee seen slowly turning in the summer but this windmill is not pumping water or providing any power – it’s purely decorative and the blades are powered by a small motor.
The windmill will forever be part of the village and in the summer it hosts a community festival called Baldwin Windmill Days. Join the fun or just relax in the park on a quiet day.
There’s no fee to enter the park and it’s a nice spot for a picnic. Learn more about Baldwin on the city’s website. There’s no end to the attractions you can discover in Wisconsin. Here’s a road trip that will take you to some of the state’s best roadside attractions.
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