Underground Waupaca

WAUPACA – With winter weather making outdoor exercise difficult, the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King has opened their doors to get people moving safely during the cold season.
There are tunnels connecting the five buildings under the veteran’s home campus and they total just under a half mile from one end to the other and they offer a safer, warmer and ice-free way to walk in the winter. They are now open to the public and free to use.

How to access
Mary Dulske, the volunteer coordinator, said walkers will start at the Marden Recreation Center, which can be found by entering at Gate B and going all the way to the end.
The Marden Recreation Center faces Rainbow Lake and upon entering the building there is a kiosk on the left where walkers will need to enter information like name and phone number, the kiosk will then print out a sticker that will say visitor that is to be worn while using the tunnels.

The elevator is across from the kiosk, which will take you down to where the public access to the tunnels begins.

What’s down there?
Once down there walkers will see a café, United States Post Office and Community First Credit Union all of which are open to the public.
Other features include a small movie theater and bowling alley for residents to use.
There are restrooms, as well as coat racks as the tunnels tend to be warmer at most times.

Colleen Flaherty, communications director, said it is almost impossible to get lost, but the tunnels do not loop so walkers will just need to back track once they reach the length of the tunnel.
Dulske said there is art throughout the tunnels composed of different murals and art displays from people in the community as well as from residents in the veterans home.
There are also donated tapestries that hang in the tunnels that have the names from honor flights throughout the years.
Dulske said she is hoping to get more art work hung up in the tunnels going into the future.
Dulske said things like bicycling, skateboarding and roller skating are not allowed in the tunnels. Dogs are not allowed in the tunnels.
There is a motorized cart, or “tugger” as it’s nicknamed, that is used in the tunnels to transport residents. It is a small cart that can shuttle people from building to building and will need to be given leeway while walking.
The tunnels had been open before for recreational walking but they were closed in 2020 for the because of the Covid pandemic.
The hours that the tunnels are open are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and they are closed on Sundays and state holidays, the next being Jan. 19 for Martin Luther King Day.
More information can be found at their Facebook page at Veteran’s Home at King as well as their web site at www.wisvetshomes.com.