About Rock Falls
Hidden Beauty
Hidden just north of Merrill is the town of Rock Falls. When traveling north on State Highway 107 (once known as Grandfather Road) the towns entrance is welcomed by breathtaking views at the top of “Big Hill”. Here you can see the tops of trees lining the twisty highway that runs along the Wisconsin River valley. Each season of the year this view highlights natures true beauty from vivacious fall colors to the shimmering ice crystals in winter. The top of the hill is marked with the historical Father Menard monument that honors Pere Rene Menard who vanished in 1661.
Parks & Recreation
Moving further north into the town you will pass both the School Forest and Camp Newwood County Park. The School Forest is 764+ acers of interactive environmental learning that is owned by the Merrill Area School District. Camp New Wood is just on the other side of the highway and is 15.7 acers. The Park has available non-electric campsites, park equipment, restrooms and a public boat dock. The town is also home to much of the Bill Cross Wildlife Area that spans an amazing 1522 acres and contributes many popular outdoor activities like canoeing, snowmobiling, hiking, hunting and fishing. Tug Lake Recreation Area provides the quiet lake experience with a marked swimming area, boat dock and fishing. Additionally, there is a rentable shelter near playground equipment perfect for celebrations.
Natural Beauty
The town is a simple nature beauty accessible to all by numerous trails including the famous Ice Age Trail. The glaciers impacts can still be seen today as it connects the Bill Cross Wildlife Area to Camp New Wood and extends to the Grandfather Falls Dam that maintains a hydroelectric facility that is managed by Wisconsin Energies.
The history of Rock Falls is relatively brief with the establishment of the town in 1876. The name change from Skanawan to Rock Falls was influenced by the geography of the area in 1877. The Wisconsin River creates two main attractions in the area, Grandfather falls and Grandmother flowage that contribute to the construction of the Grandfather Dam. A portion of Rock Falls was sectioned off to establish the city of Tomahawk in 1898. The Town Hall property was established on July 26, 1946 and is still used today for all meetings and elections.
