Between Milwaukee And Green Bay Is A Once-Thriving Quarry That's Now A Water Park With Trails And A Beach

If you traveled back in time to the early 20th century, you'd find natural marshland in Wisconsin's Sheboygan Valley. The soil was peat-rich and tamarack trees towered overhead. That remained the case until 1911, when the marsh was drained and a limestone quarry was established in the area. European immigrants worked at the quarry and lived in cabins nearby. By the 1920s, limestone was no longer in high demand, and the quarry was eventually shut down. It has since been re-flooded, and today, it's home to Sheboygan Quarry Beach & Waterpark, an outdoor destination for summertime fun.

It's hard to imagine that Sheboygan Quarry Beach & Waterpark was once an industrial site. The beach lies on a pretty, 8-acre lake within Jaycee Quarry Park. The golden sand beckons visitors to relax in lounge chairs, enjoy picnics, and wade into the water for a refreshing dip. The star of the show is the inflatable waterpark. Described as a floating obstacle course, it sits just offshore and welcomes both kids and kids at heart to explore, climb, bounce, and splash the day away. Visitors can also paddle on the lake and hike on the surrounding trails.

The inflatable waterpark at Sheboygan Quarry consists of ladders, slides, and platforms for jumping into the water. "A MUST when in Sheboygan if you have kids or teens or you are active adults looking for something fun and different," a past visitor wrote on Tripadvisor. Life jackets are provided with each session, and visitors can enhance their experience with a pair of grip socks for $3. Participants must be at least 6 years old and 45 inches tall to enter.

If you want to discover more of the lake, you can rent paddle boards and kayaks on site, or explore on foot by hiking the surrounding trails. The Quarry Loop Trail spans 1.9 miles and travels along the perimeter of the lake, per Trail Forks. The trail offers ethereal views of the lake and a vantage point of the waterpark at a distance. It also passes by a disc golf course, which has 22 holes and is free to use. Also nearby is the Evergreen Park Circle Road Loop, a short, multi-use trail in neighboring Evergreen Park. Hikers have many routes to choose from in the area, including the Ice Age Trail, a historic trail with unique features that passes right through Sheboygan County. 

You'll find Sheboygan Quarry Beach & Waterpark in the town of Sheboygan, nicknamed the "Malibu of The Midwest." It's nearly equidistant between Milwaukee and Green Bay, a vibrant bayside city famous for its entertainment. The park is staffed with trained beach monitors and the water is shallow, making it suitable for small children. A concession stand is located on site and visitors are allowed to bring their own refreshments, but glass, alcohol, and grilling are prohibited. There are also beach umbrellas for rent, as well as restrooms and showers.