Fort Dells a Forgotten Roadside Attraction

Opened in 1959 Fort Dells was inspired by Disneylands frontier land. Finally closed in 1985 due to the newer water parks opening and decline in business.

[@goodtimestodd]

Fort Dells used to have a rotated viewing tower and it was a cool place to see.

[@jwideen1]

Not totally gone behind McDonald's there's still the cave, there's a wagon, the abandoned channels the boat was in and an old safe! look for other urbex photos and videos

[@kayleen9110]

Used to be one of the best places to go in the Dells.

[@Nikademus1969]

Fort Dells was much bigger than just the space occupied by McDonald's and Walgreens...all the stores along that way (Starbucks, Ihop, etc.) were built on the land Fort Dells stood on.

[@ericmiller3708]

I went to Fort Dells twice in the early '80s. It was a lot of fun...along with all the the other no longer operating attractions that used to be in the Dells. The early 1980s were definitely the peak of Wisconsin Dells.

[@thebriantrevorshow7124]

Been there several times. Always wondered how it is now. WoW has time flys by. Thanks for posting

[@georgekinsey4132]

Thanks for posting! I'm from St. Louis. My family visited Fort Dells when I was 3 (1969) and 9 (1975). I like the sign paying homage to the attraction. It's very retro, has an of-the-time look.

[@elleryparsons2433]

I Miss Fort Dells God Blessed the Fort🫡🫡🫡🫡👍👍👍.

[@ekbalamgarcia2624]

I went to Fort Dells once, my sister and I had a blast. I had no idea that it closed in 85. The last times I went through the Dells was probably the last year it was open. Great video with all those old stills!

[@carloshathcock5333]

Corporate commercialism ruins everything unique.

[@elleryparsons2433]

I will Always Remember the Fort God Blesed it.😢

[@spritezero79]

The engine is at tumbavati animal park up the street. You can ride it around the park feeding animals.

[@hollydooley8178]

I've been up at Wisconsin Dells...once when a baby (so don't remember that time.) Went back a few years ago with a guy I was seeing. Lots of stuff to see and do. Didn't have much extra cash, so we weren't really able to do much except site see. That McDonald's in the video is AWESOME. Love their decor.

[@drivewaytv4400]

Holly Dooley the dells were nice. Great weather and sites especially since coming from 97 degree Tx

[@thedrytortuga7421]

I'm 61 (born '62) and originally from Minneapolis. My Pa and I vacationed in the Dells every year, circa 1965-1974. As a child, I vividly remember witnessing the shoot-out between Sheriff Bart (?) and his pistol-toting opponent, who was of course shot (fake) dead in the street. Every kid in attendance was given an honorary deputy badge. The best ride was the Mine Tour, where they pretended to take you, via a mine elevator, a thousand feet underground and showed you minerals and rare rocks cemented into the passageway (illuminated by UV/black light so they glowed iridescent). The Ford Model T track was a great ride too, and the Haunted House was a classic. It's a farging shame experiences like this no longer exist! I also remember the very first water slide ever built in the Dells. It was a trench dug into the GROUND on a hillside, lined with blue plastic and had 3 turns. Giant slides and mini-bike tracks were it's main competition.