Ho Chunk Hotel Casino

Ho Chunk Hotel Casino

Ho Chunk Hotel Casino

Learn the interesting history of Wisconsin Dells, a city best known for its waterparks. The waterparks may draw current crowds but the area has always been popular and is chock full of history and natural beauty.

The Name Wisconsin Dells

The Wisconsin Dells is nestled against the Wisconsin River, making it an important part of the Great Lakes region during early days of exploration and trading. French explorers in the 1700’s referred to the area as Dalles, which more commonly was referred to as the Dells by locals, a name still used today. But there was a period when the area was called Kilbourn city.

The railroad arrived in 1857 and the new village that cropped up was called Kilbourn City in honor of the railroad’s president, but the locals and visitors apparently never felt he deserved this honor and they continued to refer to the area as the Dells. Finally in 1931 the name was officially changed to Wisconsin Dells.