STATE & NATION TRAVEL · news
Wild Rose hatchery pairs salmon-season activities with an October 31 open house
By Staff Writer · Published October 13, 2026
Wisconsin DNR's free event combines fish games, casting practice and tours of the historic and modern hatchery, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Official announcement: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · October 13, 2026
Wisconsin DNR has set a free October 31 open house at Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery, with activities running from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event brings the fall salmon migration into a family program rather than requiring visitors to arrange a separate group tour.
The announced activities include casting practice, fish identification, a game based on salmon's upstream journey and fish-printing on tote bags. Visitors can explore the original 1908 hatchery on their own or join a tour of the modern operation.
The open house gives visitors a way to compare the hatchery's original operation with its modern fish-production facilities. DNR says the site raises several gamefish species, including trout, salmon, walleye, musky and lake sturgeon.
What Travelers Need to Know
Plan for October 31 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., not an evening Halloween event. The hatchery's visitor page says guided tours meet in the Education Center between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Check the event listing before departure or call 920-622-3527, extension 201, for arrangements not specified in the release.
For a visit on another date, the Education Center normally opens Thursday through Saturday in September and October and closes November through March. Organized groups of ten or more should contact the hatchery at least three weeks ahead. Picnic visitors must take their trash out with them.
About the Location
At N5871 State Road 22 in Wild Rose, Wisconsin, the hatchery combines a historic village with working cool- and cold-water production facilities. Its Education Center has two large aquariums and interpretive activities, and an observation room offers a view into trout and salmon production.
The original hatchery dates to 1908. DNR describes Wild Rose's trout and salmon production as supporting Lake Michigan stocking. A visit can connect the fish in the aquariums with the work that supplies Wisconsin waters.