OAHT 1608: Sugar Island
This Geocache WAS part of the Oconomowoc Area Historical Tour:
Sugar Island
Sugar Island is located on Lower Nemahbin Lake was so named because the Indian squaws would go to the island in the spring and collect maple sugar from the many trees located there. They would save the dregs to make venison sauerbraten. According to the legend, they would make 1000 pounds of maple sugar each season. It is still called Sugar Island, but the trees are gone.
During a sixty-four year period, residents attempted to convince the board to construct a 585 foot bridge to the island and have never been successful. The twenty-four property owners (at that time) offered to pay the $50,000 price tag in 1966, but were as unsuccessful as they had been before the board many times over the ensuing years, but town and state officials believed that it would cut off the natural flow and navigability of the lake and just cause a general nuisance.
Today there are 44 lot owners on Sugar Island and still launch boats to get to and from their properties.
Permission was granted to hide this cache by: Kelly VanBeek, DNR