OCONTO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – In much of the Northwoods, it’s been cold, but little snow has fallen.
Snowmobile trails remain closed, and business owners are holding their breath.
It was quiet conditions Wednesday morning on the section of the Nicolet State Trail north of Mountain. It’s a similar scene just up the road in Lakewood. It’s the third week of January, and the snowmobile trails in Oconto County are still closed, and many businesses like the Pour Haus Bar and Grill are feeling the impact.
How much snowmobile traffic are you missing?
“Very considerable. That’s all I can really say. It’s affecting everybody up here,” said Andy Lovell, Pour Haus Bar and Grill Co-Owner.
Lovell tells FOX 11 having a business across from the snowmobile trailhead typically is a good thing. But on Wednesday the parking lot was empty.
“I would say a majority of them are struggling. It’s never fun to sit these December, January months with no visitors,” said Samantha Boucher, Oconto County Tourism Manager.
Boucher tells FOX 11 direct visitor spending in Oconto County grew nearly four and a half percent in recent years. She says people staying in vacation homes, and those coming to ice fish on area lakes help the winter economy. She says silent sports like cross country skiing are popular too.
“The Lakewood Cross Country Ski Trails are doing well. They are maintaining what they can with the little amount of snow that they got. So there’s still action over there that you can still enjoy. It’s not the best perfect conditions for cross country skiers, but they’re open.”.
In the meantime, many people are hoping for some wintry weather.
“We need a six-inch snow storm for sure, and not just powdery. We need that heavy wet stuff,” said Boucher.
“The best thing that could happen here, would be a ton of snow, as much as I don’t like shoveling,” said Lovell.
Officials say there are about 440 miles of snowmobile trails in Oconto County. The routes in the northern part of the county opened last season on December 20, 2019.
