Wisconsin Dells' Wonder Spot a Wonder No More

It's official. Part of my youth has disappeared. Part of the wonder, imagination and joy of my young life has gone the way of the bulldozer. It is being replaced by a road. There are (were) only 21 "mystery spots" across the country; how many roads are there?

According to a news article on Yahoo.com I read in February 2007: "In a wooded ravine tucked away from the water parks, restaurants and mega-resorts that dominate this tourist town, a piece of history is quietly dying. After more than half a century of wowing tourists (and causing probably more than a few cases of nausea), the Wonder Spot, a mysterious cabin where people can't stand up straight, water runs uphill and chairs balance on two legs, is no more."

Just about every year while I was growing up, my parents and I would drive the four or so hours up to the Wisconsin Dells for a few days of fun and frivolity. That was back in the days when the few waterparks that were there had a couple of water slides and a pool for bumper boats (rather than the small countries that make up the waterparks now; i.e. Noah's Art, et al). There were the yearly staples: the Wax Museum (now gone--another heart-breaker ... I can still smell the wax), walking the strip, playing ski ball at our favorite ski ball parlor (yes, there were actual ski ball parlors in the 1970s and 80s), eating at Paul Bunyan's (I wanted to go for breakfast while my parents were more the lunch or dinner fans) and Howie's. Then there were the places we went to occasionally but regularly. The Wonder Spot was one of these. It has now gone the way of Xanadu (the foam house of the future), the ski ball parlor and Fort Dells.

The funny thing is that I was just thinking about the Wonder Spot within the last few days. No joke! The Dells popped into my mind, and I remember thinking, "I hope the Wonder Spot is still open by the time my daughter is old enough to go. She'd like that." Well, so much for that dream. Maybe it wasn't a big dream, but it was a dream none the less. I will now only be able to point to a spot on a road and tell her, "Hey, something really cheesey and cool used to be right there. Now it's a place where cars look like they're running the wrong way."

The thing is, there are so few "simple" attractions left anymore. How many World's Largest Balls of Twine do you see anymore? And can we have a moment for the sad state of the Corn Palace in Mitchell, Iowa? With so many high-tech amusement parks and "extreme" everything now, the heart and soul of Americana is dying. Good old fashioned fun is being replaced with Nintendo Wii and other way too expensive video game systems. As far as technology is concerned, my words of wisdom have been the same for years: "Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Sometimes smaller, simple and "no-tech" is better. And when it comes to kids, it definitely is. We need to save room for imagination and non-intimidating pleasures. Watching water flow the opposite way it's supposed to and actually walking across a crazy slanted floor is something every child should do. It makes them laugh, and isn't that what it's all about?

Farewell, Wonder Spot, I knew you well. You brought much joy to me and my family. I'm glad my husband got to experience you a few years ago before you disappeared into kitschy memory.

The Wonder Spot is dead. Long live the Wonder Spot. 1952-2006.