LAKEWOOD, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The sights and sounds of the season fill the air, as snowmobilers take to the trails in the Northwoods.
By many accounts, when it comes to snow, it’s been a slow season in northern Oconto County, but with the trails recently open, business leaders are welcoming the traffic.
At the trailhead parking lot of the Nicolet State Trail in Lakewood, snowmobilers depart for a day of fun. Derek Soletske has the view from the Mighty Fine Sport Shop next door.
“Now it’s booming. The last two weekends, now that we got this nice amount of snow, the snowmobilers are finally getting a chance to come up here. They’re not having to travel like they did before.”
The snowmobile trails in northern Oconto County opened on February 5th. Business leaders say the Lakewood area counts on winter tourism, and the dollars spent in town.
Just down the road at the Pour Haus Bar and Grill, Co-Owner Andy Lovell tells FOX 11 he’s noticed the difference.
“There’s been a greater influx of people up here, that’s for sure. It’s really helping the economy I feel, and without it, it’s kind of whatever you get in the winter time.”
He says the bar and restaurant are popular stops for snowmobilers.
“They come in, they grab some food, and that helps too. With the riders up here, the sledders, it’s just fun. It really is. It’s a fun time.”
Lovell says snowmobiling season can stretch into March. Soletske says more winter weather is in the forecast.
“This entire week, we’re supposed to be getting scattered snow, so that’s wonderful. A little bit of snow each day will really help. The trails were starting to melt, so this little bit of snow that we’re getting is really going to help.”
Tourism officials say only the trails in the northern section of Oconto County are open, and because of the warm weather, those trails in the southern part are closed.
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