Parks History

Otter Lake Park

Welcome to Chippewa County’s Otter Lake Park and Campground! The land around Otter Lake was first presented for Tax Deed purchase in 1930.  Between 1930 and 1939, both the campground parcel and the adjacent parcel became property of Chippewa County.  In 1956, the Day Park area of the park was also purchased as a Tax Deeded land.
 
Although acquired in the 1930’s, development of the area was delayed for nearly 30 years. In 1969, the 673-acre lake was formed by a dam constructed by Chippewa County at Otter Creek.

The present structure was built at the site of a previous dam believed to be owned by Northwestern Lumber Company during Wisconsin’s peak logging era. The original all-wood dam, thought to have been constructed in the mid-1800’s, consisted of one large gate that filled the basin with enough water to flush white pine logs down the Yellow and Chippewa rivers to a sawmill in Chippewa Falls. The old wooden dam washed out sometime between 1868 and 1870 and the dam was not rebuilt until footings were dug for the present structure. 

Discussions and a proposal to build the dam as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project originally began in 1938. The proposal was voted down in 1939 but the conversation resurfaced in 1957 through the efforts of the Stanley-Boyd and Cadott-Thorp Rod and Gun Clubs. An application to build the dam was submitted to the Public Service Commission of WI in 1964 and clearing of brush to form the lake bottom began in 1968. This included a crew employed through the Green Thumb Program, a subsidiary of the National Farmers Union that administered funds for beautification projects while providing work for low-income retired farmers in rural areas. 

     

The dam was completed in 1969 and, in 1970, Chippewa County applied to the Wisconsin DNR for these lands to be designated as “special use”. Park construction began in 1970 and was completed in August, 1974. Today, the County owns 400 acres north of Otter Lake and the park occupies 80 acres situated on the northern shore. The dam underwent a major update in 1994 with additional upgrades in 2011. The gates are still manually opened and closed throughout the year to adjust the water level of the lake. Filled with Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye, Otter Lake is known as one of the best fishing lakes in Chippewa County making this campground an excellent choice for serious anglers and pan-fishing families alike!  
 
Photo Galleries

Aerial Photos

Otter Lake 1970-1974

Otter Lake 2019

Otter Lake 2023-2024