About the River Valley
Our beautiful River Valley community is distinctive in that we are comprised of four villages and 12 townships across four counties. We cover 296 geographic square miles in southwestern Wisconsin.
The River Valley communities are in the heart of the Driftless Area. The views are breathtaking with rolling hills and high bluffs that overlook the Wisconsin River Valley. It will sure delight all that choose to stop and take in the view.
The River Valley is home to a dynamic and talented art community. A host of artists, musicians and crafters who live and work in the River Valley create a unique cultural experience. The River Valley is fortunate to be the host to many artists’ events throughout the year including the Spring Green Arts and Crafts Fair in June and the Fall Art Tour in October. Each event draws visitors from all over the country.
Our community is fortunate to have many attractions including the UNESCO World Heritage site Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, American Players Theatre and House on the Rock. Each is unique and is a must for anyone who visits the area.
But what really makes the River Valley so special is the communities. Arena, Lone Rock, Plain and Spring Green are each, in themselves, diverse and distinctive. Each has their own identity but when you talk about the River Valley as a whole, the communities unite and become one. They stand together proudly and are dedicated to helping neighbors and welcoming visitors.
Whether you are visiting or moving to our River Valley community, we hope you feel welcome and find your experiences extraordinary and memorable.
Arena is an outdoorsman’s playground. It has two parks, West Park as pictured, has fishing, a dock pontoon boat, disc golf, dog park and shelter. Arena Community Park is on the other end of town and has two shelters, ball diamonds, horseshoe pits, sand volleyball court, playground, and walking path. Just after the Fourth of July holiday weekend, there is a large celebration, Mary Jones & Yolanda Peterson Memorial Fireworks. It runs the entire weekend with a parade and ball games, music and food stand.
Every day you can see people walking or biking around Arena and on the nice country roads just outside of town.
Arena is still a river town with the Wisconsin River just a mile north of town. The river has a boat landing with canoes and boats coming and going all summer. Helena lake is nearby and is a great spot for fishing, viewing eagles, or paddling around on your kayak. It is a great area for wildlife, weather viewing or hunting. Arena has an outdoor Archery Range to keep in practice. So come to Arena year-round to bike and fish hunt, swim, boat, hike, ride, and play.
Welcome to Lone Rock, the ‘Coldest in the Nation with the Warmest Heart.’ Incorporated in 1887, it is the gateway to Richland, Iowa, and Sauk counties, covering a terrain of about one square mile. It is home to just under 900 residents and sits on the Western edge of River Valley’s driftless terrain, and ideal place for family canoeing, kayaking, ATV, snowmobiling, fishing and tubing.
Lone Rock takes its name from an enormous sandstone outcrop that once stood high about the river’s edge and served as a visual landmark for ferry and riverboat commuters and local Indian tribes in the early 19th Century. It has a rich history that dates back to the Civil War, and has claimed the ‘coldest in the nation’ slogan when the village seen the temperature dip to a staggering -53 degrees below zero on January 30, 1951, deeming it the ‘coldest spot in the nation’ on that day.
Today, Lone Rock boasts a variety of annual events throughout the year, including the Cabin Fever Dance hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary (in March), the 4th of July Celebration (in July) and the Parade of Trees (in December) hosted by the Lone Rock Historical Society.
Plain sets itself apart from other communities in a non-traditional sense with its unique historic image and revival of the traditions, ambiance and appearance of its original Bavarian heritage. The Village’s genuinely welcoming atmosphere makes the community a special place to work, play and visit.
Those living in Plain take pleasure in peaceful coexistence, developing lifelong friendships and generously giving of their time, talent and monetary donations to enhance the community’s attributes. A robust, thriving community with an array of businesses that draws many to its charm, uniqueness and amenities. Visitors are very impressed that a Village of less than 800 has such a beautiful park with a large Pavilion and playground, Library, swimming pool, tennis courts, 9-hole golf course, public and private schools and a nationally recognized Cathedral style Catholic Church.
The charm of the Village along with these festivals attract thousands of visitors annually to enjoy excellent food, sights, sounds, and fun-filled activities that are unique to Plain. It’s no doubt that a visit to Plain will leave you in good spirits and memories in more ways than one.
Nestled in a broad bend of the Wisconsin River between towering verdant bluffs, the village of Spring Green offers visitors a unique travel experience. Our dining and drinking venues – many of them locally sourced - range from the traditional to the exotic. Cafes, pubs, riverside dining, casual fine dining in a century old schoolhouse, a speakeasy and a cabaret are just some of the offerings. Our robust retail establishments include a classic general store, a bookstore, a renown fabric and quilting store, stores providing hardware, home decorating, children’s and women’s clothing, and so much more.
Spring Green is famous for its cultural connections and vibrant arts scene. Frank Lloyd Wright’s hillside home of Taliesin, American Players Theatre, and House on the Rock are justly famous, but there are musical concerts, festivals, artisan workshops, and street fairs.
For the outdoors lovers, we offer river activities, hiking and biking trails, a nationally renown golf course, a swimming pool, tennis courts, pickleball courts and a skateboard park.
Join us throughout the year in celebrations. The Spring Green Arts and Crafts Fair is held the last full weekend in June every year. Artists from all over the country come to display their talent in the streets of downtown Spring Green. Our Chamber hosts many Country Christmas events from Thanksgiving through the second week in December. There is a Holiday Light parade, Breakfast with Santa, free activities for kids, bake sales, cookie walk, craft bazaar and Fireworks.
We look forward to seeing you here, and we’re confident you’ll come to love Spring Green as much as we do.