Visit These Fascinating Resort Ruins In Wisconsin For An Adventure Into The Past

This place was once the playland of the rich and famous, a place where people sipped cocktails and watched racehorses near a bubbling artesian well. For the Milwaukee elite who roamed these grounds, Paradise Springs was just that - a paradise.

Today, it's a paradise lost, or depending on your perspective, a paradise found. Nature is slowly reclaiming the property, which is now a state park. You can stroll the grounds of Paradise Springs, see signs of the past and enjoy the new beauty that's here today.

Paradise Springs is located in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. It's near Eagle, about 49 miles west of Milwaukee.

The Paradise Springs Nature Trail will lead you through the property. It's an easy stroll and you'll pass the old horse track and shuffleboard courts. Eventually, you'll come across a large building.

This is what's left of the spring house, the most prominent ruin that remains. Water naturally bubbles from the earth and an ornate spring house once protected the spot. For a time there was a bottling plant that captured the water so it could be sold.

The bottling plant is long gone, as is a fancy hotel that was built in the 1940s. The property had several owners, including a multimillionaire salt mine owner and a prominent Milwaukee brewing executive. The tycoons are gone but the clear spring waters remain.

You'll encounter a small waterfall at the site.

You'll see signs of the resort, like steps, stone pillars, and slabs. You can still get a sense of why people were attracted to Paradise Springs, and see that as it's reclaimed by nature, it's more beautiful than ever.

Paradise Springs can become a little busy on nice weekend days – if you prefer a tranquil walk, come on a weekday or early in the morning. If you're interested in going back a little further into history, here are some ruins in Wisconsin you shouldn't miss.