In 1857, Luther Stowell led a group of settlers from New York to the 80 acres they purchased by the Roche-A-Cri. Mr. Stowell's group plotted the town and named it after his hometown in New York. These New Yorkers began the settlement by building the first dam. This dam was created to run a gristmill to lure farmers to the area. It also created Roche-A-Cri Lake. The group produced the first building in 1857. This rooming house would be expanded into the Atcherson House Hotel.
When Juneau County split from Adams County, the county seat was no longer in the center. Stowell and other investors promised land and a building as an incentive to move the county seat to Friendship, and this political move ensured the village's success. By 1876, the town was home to various businesses, including four general stores, two blacksmiths, and multiple attorneys. The area did not have a jail, a bank, a doctor, or a saloon, though. The town was a quiet place for the rest of the 19th century.
Over the years, railroad fever would hit the area, and everyone would begin betting that the railroad would finally make it to Friendship. However, Friendship remained the only county seat in Wisconsin not to be on a railroad line. The town was able to continue to develop without a railroad.
Today, this beautiful village has a population of a little over 630. The headquarters of the Adams Columbia Electric Cooperative is in Friendship. They also have a modern fire department and village hall. This town also provides access to Roche-A-Cri State Park, Adams County Historical Society, Ship Rock Wayside, and Rabbit Rock Wayside Park.
Cranberry Blossom Festival – Every June in nearby Wisconsin Rapids, this four-day festival celebrates the cranberry. The celebration includes live music, arts and crafts, a carnival, a parade, cranberries, and much more.
Oktoberfest and Craft Market – Every September, the AL Ringling Brewing Company celebrates with the traditional Tapping of the Golden Keg. They also have local crafts, vendors, and live polka.
Henry Vilas Zoo Lights – The zoo decorates with holiday lights every December. Santa, carousel rides, food, and fun are scheduled for this event.
You can travel 253 miles to Indiana Dunes National Park to enjoy a day in the sun. This magnificent park hugs over 15 miles of the shore of Lake Michigan. With over 50 miles of hiking trails, a visitor can experience a variety of habitats such as dunes, prairies, rivers, wetlands, and forests. You can also enjoy swimming, biking, camping, fishing, boating, horseback riding, and historical sites.
A 315-mile drive gets you to Isle Royale National Park. This remote island cluster does not allow motorized vehicles to visit. Located in Lake Superior near the US/Canada border, this national park is a wilderness of forests, waterways, and lakes. You can find various adventures within the park. For example, backpacking, hiking, boating, paddling, and diving are available.
A visitor must drive 411 miles from Friendship to reach Voyageurs National Park. This 218,055-acre park is an oasis of cliffs, wetlands, rock ridges, streams, lakes, and forests. While in the park, you might want to take a guided tour, go camping, become a junior ranger, or go hiking.
Mill Bluff State Park near Camp Douglas has over 1,300 acres. This park is well known for its amazing view of picturesque rock formations. With a small trail system, the best hiking adventure is to the top of the bluff, where the view is spectacular.
Mirror Lake State Park is an excellent choice if you are interested in cliffs. The park's centerpiece is Mirror Lake which reflects the 50-foot surrounding cliffs. This 2,200-acre park offers a picnic area, campground, and wetlands.
The small 244-acre Rocky Arbor State Park is covered in pine trees and sandstone bluffs. The one-mile hiking trail is a small loop. The southern part of the trail takes you through various rock formations. Each end of this loop has stairs to take you to the upper loop.
One of the top landmarks in Wisconsin is Devil's Lake State Park. This park offers amazing views from the top of 500-foot bluffs.
Another significant landmark is Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's main home and studio. The site is a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Located near Blue Mounds, the Cave of the Mounds is a natural limestone cave. The cave length is 1,692, and it takes 45 minutes to an hour to walk.
One of the popular RV parks and campgrounds near Friendship is Doc's Bunkhouse Campground. It opens year-round and has various indoor and outdoor activities, including ATVing, fishing, and canoeing.
Another great stop is the Fremont Jellystone Park RV Campground. This campground is an excellent choice for families because they have a wide array of children's activities, including fishing, swimming, and miniature golf.
River's Edge Campground is another excellent choice. This site has both natural bodies of water and a swimming pool. You can also use their hiking trails, sports courts, and rental bikes.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Friendship, WI, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Friendship?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Friendship from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Friendship?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.