All Attractions

Monticello Veterans Memorial In Honor of Monticello Veterans of all Wars Dedication was held on Memorial Day May 27, 2013 at the New Memorial with a reception at Barnaby’s Monticello House on Main Street.

Wisconsin State Park New Glarus Wisconsin http://dnr.state.wi.us New Glarus Woods State Park covers approximately 431 acres and is set in the rolling hills of Green County between New Glarus, Wisconsin — American’s Little Switzerland — and Monticello, Wisconsin. The park is maintained by the Wisconsin DNR and is open year round for camping and other activities. The park offers 6 hiking trails covering just over 7 miles and ranging in length from .2 to 4.2 miles. The park also offers easy access to the Sugar River State Trail, a 23 mile bike trail connecting the cities of New Glarus, Monticello, Albany and Brodhead. Trail passes are required for the Sugar River Trail and are available at the Depot in New Glarus. Trails in New Glarus Woods State Park include: The Basswood Nature Trail = .4 mile The Chattermark Trail = .4 mile The Great Oak Trail = .2 mile The Havenridge Nature Trail = 4.2 miles The Walnut Trail = .5 mile The Sugar River Trail Spur = 1.6 miles. Park Amenities Include: 18 drive-in campsites 14 walk-in campsites 6 group campsites Parking Shelter Picnic Area Restrooms Water Fountain Recycling Station Children’s Play Area Nature Trails Sugar River Trail Spur Amphitheatre Seasonal Hunting Handicapped Accessible Want to help support the park? Friends of New Glarus Woods State Park, is a not for profit organization that works to help improve park offerings and all donations are tax deductible.

State Recreation Trail http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/sugarriver/ As an adventurer on the Sugar River Trail you will pass through remnants of prairie habitat and venture into the welcome shade of many wooded areas. You will encounter riparian habitat and rolling farmland. Along the way, you could bump into a wide variety of wildlife including deer, foxes, skunks, bobcats, otters, beavers, turtles, snakes, squirrels, chipmunks and even mink. In addition, it is possible to see just about every species of bird that can be found in Wisconsin along this trail. A portion of the Sugar River Trail (from Bump Road to Exeter Crossing Road) is also part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Along this part of the trail you will encounter terrain features laid down by the powerful glaciers that once covered Wisconsin. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail now has over 500 miles of trail open to the public. Both trails have been designated National Recreation Trails by the National Park Service. Headquarters for the Sugar River State Trail is located in the historic New Glarus Train depot near the intersection of Railroad Street and Fifth Avenue (you can see it from Highway 69 as you come through the village). You may also get information about the trail at the Ranger Station in New Glarus Woods State Park. All bikers (16 and over) are required to purchase a daily or season state trail user permit. Bikers on the trail are reminded that the limestone screenings on the bed of the trail are subject to damage from a number of sources including heavy rain. Bikes should be kept under control at all times and a distance of at least two bike lengths should be maintained between cyclists. Warn others before passing and be sure wear protective clothing i.e. helmets, pant-leg clips, reflective clothing for night, etc. The 23 mile trail leads from New Glarus south through Monticello, east to Albany and then heads southeast to Brodhead. Riders heading out from New Glarus can check out the New Glarus Woods State Park where trail goers can bike, hike, picnic or even camp. Another favorite stop along the way is the Clarence Covered Bridge located between Albany and Brodhead. Local campgrounds in the vicinity of the trail include Crazy Horse Campgrounds in Brodhead and Sweet Minnihaha in Albany. For more information on fun things to do in Wisconsin check out Moon Handbook on Wisconsin, which features information about trips along the Sugar River Trail.

A Tribute to Green County Men Who Died in Vietnam Between 1959-1975 Next time you’re traveling through Green County, Wisconsin on Highway69, why not take a few moments to stop in Monticello and visit the Green County Vietnam War Memorial .The memorial is located near the banks of the Little Sugar River just off highway 69 near downtown Monticello (look for the American and POW/MIA flags flying together on the east side of the highway). At the foot of the flag pole, you’ll find a modest stone monument. You’re now at the edge of Monticello’s scenic Community Park which offers a pleasant environment for reflection or just a good old-fashioned stretch. Officially dedicated July 12, 1987, the monument honors the ultimate sacrifice of Green County men in Vietnam and serves as a testament to the price paid by communities, large and small, across America during that era. You can follow the path from the monument a short way to nearby Montesian Gardens which you really should try to visit at least once in each of the four seasons. Across the street from the Vietnam Memorial, you’ll find Lake Montesian and an artesian spring where you can fill up your water bottle with the good stuff for free. The Nicholas Gerber memorial is also across the street and provides a glimpse into local cheese-making history.   The full text on the Green County Vietnam War Memorial reads… GREEN COUNTY VIET NAM WAR MEMORIAL DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THESE GREEN COUNTY MEN WHO DIED IN VIET NAM 1959-1975 RONALD SCHMIDT DAVID W. TIMM MARVIN C. PEDERSON KRIS BLUMER KENNETH L. KELLER JOHN C. KREBS JR. ROGER L. RITSCHARD DEDICATED JULY 12, 1987 SPONSORED BY WISCONSIN VIETNAM VETERANS CHAPTER III Editor’s note: The use of the name Viet Nam (with a space) on the monument is related to the country’s actual name in the Vietnamese language i.e. Viet Nam. Vietnam is an English translation.

Community Gardens Located in Community Park in Monticello Wisconsin For travelers on Highway 69 in Green County, Montesian Gardens in Monticello offers a delightful opportunity to exit the vehicle and take a stroll through a tranquil garden setting. Located within easy walking distance of historic downtown Monticello, the gardens provide a delightful array of color for the senses throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Montesian Gardens is a community garden project located on the north side of the village. Accessible through the Village Park, past the Green County Viet-Nam Veterans Memorial, the gardens grace a meandering brick walkway. The flowers in the gardens are thoughtfully chosen by their caretakers to bloom from spring until frost. Picnic tables, benches and a memorial gazebo allow visitors to stop, rest and relax in this beautiful setting. Montesian Gardens is also the site of weddings. Montesian Gardens features a number of places to rest and enjoy the view including a gazebo and a variety of benches and tables with umbrellas. Thirty minutes in the gardens can be a rejuvenating experience when you are on a long drive and you can find just about anything related to your travel needs right in Monticello. Much care and attention is put into maintaining Montesian Gardens and this care is punctuated by the many plaques identifying plantings made in memory of people from the Monticello community. The Gardens are maintained by members of the Monticello Garden Club which meets regularly throughout the Spring and Summer months. Montesian Gardens provides colorful sites and plantings of interest throughout spring, summer, and fall. Be sure to visit Monticello in the early spring to see the 100 plus blooming crab-apple trees which line the entrance to Monticello, between Lake Montesian and Montesian Gardens A path meanders through the gardens from north to south. As you cross the footbridge and exit the park on the southern end, the path will lead you past the baseball field to Green County’s Viet Nam War Memorial. There is a parking lot by the memorial and Lake Montesian is just across the street from that.