Mondeaux renovations nearing completion, spring reopens

A multi-year effort to renovate and restore the Mondeaux Lodge and residence quarters is in its home stretch.

According to Mark Beuning, technical services staff officer with the USDA Forest Service, currently site work is underway at the facility with additional paving and driveway/parking areas being installed. Work crews are working on installing windows and renovating the bathroom and showers as well as installing gutters to help direct water away from the building.

“We expect the construction project to be completed this summer,” Beuning said, noting that the plan is to reopen the beach and park area later this summer as work crews move out.

The Mondeaux Dam Lodge has been closed since 2017 to accommodate repairs to the lodge, caretaker’s residence and garage. First built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938, the lodge is on the National Register of Historic Places. The forest worked with the State Historic Preservation Office to ensure that project designs would protect the historical integrity of the buildings while delivering sustainable repairs to be enjoyed by future generations.

The contractor completed much of the building exterior work last fall and has spent the months since restoring the lodge and residence interiors. Some finishing work on the structures as well as the grounds is ongoing.

“This is still an active construction site,” said Acting District Ranger Ann Dassow. “We understand the curiosity and desire to use the beach, but it’s important for everyone’s safety that visitors hold off for just a bit longer.”

According to Beuning, when the work is completed on the Lodge later this summer, the Forest Service will begin the process of finding a concessionaire to run the facility with the hope of having someone in place for a spring 2022 opening.

“We expect to advertise for a concessionaire later this summer and early fall.

Any prospective bidder will be able to walk through it then as opposed to now when it is under construction,” he said.

In addition to bringing the wiring and plumbing up to modern standards, Beuning noted that the lodge has been insulated and heating installed to allow the potential for a concessionaire to run it year-round. He said any operating schedule would be up to whoever secures the contract to run the facility.

There have been many challenges which have slowed the project down. The first step was securing the funding sources needed to get the work done and then undergo design work in 2018 and 2019 with the construction beginning in 2019. Even when construction began there were challenges especially with being able to acquire the proper windows to meet the historical nature of the building. Things became more challenging with COVID- 19 in 2020 as acquiring materials became more difficult for the contractor. As with any renovation project, there were also unforeseen things that came up on site that had not been addressed during the design process.

Beuning reported that the residence structure and garage at the site are also nearing completion.

The lodge area near the dam on the Mondeaux Flowage is not the only work being done to the important recreation area.

The glacial spring in the Mondeaux Dam Recreation Area on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is available to the public again with a new water outlet, open-sided shelter and accessible ramp. The forest expects to finish the multi-year renovation project at the recreation area this summer.

“Improving the spring access was an important piece of the overall project at Mondeaux,” said Mark Beuning, technical services staff officer for the forest. “Many people rely on this fresh, clean water source, and we’re happy that we were able to make it accessible to more users.”

The new open-sided shelter protects the water outlet and provides level access. Moving the outlet near the parking lot and adding a ramp also made it easier for everyone to use.

“We appreciate the patience of regular users through the renovation,” said Dassow, “and we look forward to new visitors coming by to take advantage of this improved local resource.”