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Your Invitation to Visit


Benton and the surrounding areas are filled with interesting things to see and do, and you have an open invitation to visit! The area is steeped in history and fascinating architecture. There are a number of museums both in and around Benton that offer a look into the past. Artisans have set up shop in some of the nearby towns, where there are many boutiques, gift shops, and antique stores to peruse.

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, this area is for you! The Mississippi River cuts through nearby Dubuque, Iowa, and Galena, Illinois, and offers boating, fishing, and various other water sports. There are a number of excellent golf courses in the surrounding area, from our local nine-hole course right up to 18-hole championship courses. Wildlife is abundant, and this part of the state is a paradise both for hunters and for those who simply enjoy seeing animals in their natural habitat. Snowmobiling, ice fishing, and skiing are among the winter sports enjoyed in the area.

We invite you to experience the splendor of all four seasons here in beautiful Southwestern Wisconsin and to visit points of interest all though the region. Come as often as you like, stay as long as you want – you’re always welcome.

There is always an open invitation to visit Benton and the surrounding area. See what the region has to offer in terms of beauty, business opportunities, and a family-oriented, slower-paced way of life.

Come by yourself, or bring your entire family. Experience a number of events and festivities that Benton organizations sponsor. Check our calendar of upcoming events–and don’t forget our Labor Day weekend celebration.

Labor Day Weekend


Benton is the place to be on Labor Day weekend. The town virtually overflows with people, as families and friends return home for a weekend full of good times and Labor Day traditions.

The weekend typically kicks off with Saturday’s Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament at Cole Acres. The town’s museums, filled with historical and educational memorabilia, are all open; the Fever River Puppeteers perform; and the Alumni Banquet is held in the evening.

Labor Day wouldn’t be Labor Day without Benton’s parade, the best parade in the tri-state area. Following the parade there are inflatables for the kids, music, games, and a craft fair in the park, along with the fire department cooking up lunch. Also enjoy the duck races at Horseshoe Bend and Benton’s famous pasty dinner – nothing says “Benton” like pasty! (For those of you who’ve never heard of the Cornish dish, pasty is savory layers of delicious meat and potatoes that have found a comfortable home inside a pie crust.) Labor Day’s park activities close with the firemen’s raffle at 5 p.m.


Sunday’s activities are capped off in the evening by the annual BCDC Street Dance, a dance drawing a crowd of between 1,200-1,500 revelers. Benton’s old classmates and friends, as well as huge numbers of people from neighboring communities, look forward to “raising the roof” at the annual dance. (Dance-goers must be 21 to enter – there are absolutely no exceptions to the rule.)

What to See and Do

Where to Eat

Residents of Southwest Wisconsin and visitors to the area are fortunate to have a large selection of restaurants and eating establishments that serve excellent food at affordable prices. The following is a list of dining places in and around Benton.

Right Here in Town . . .

62 E. Main Street - (608)732-9574

Serving up homemade pizza, specialty burgers, sandwiches, and more. Lunch specials Monday through Friday as well as “Game Day” food and drink specials for Badger and Packer games. Kitchen Hours:  11 a.m -9 p.m Tuesday thru Thursday, 11 a.m.- 10 p.m Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Free delivery within a 3 mile radius including Leadmine & New Diggings on Friday & Saturday evenings from 5 p.m-9 p.m.  Bar Hours:  11 a.m. to close Tuesday thru Sunday (closed Monday). 46 Main Street — (608)759-4000

Serving down-home fun with the local bluegrass favorite, Fever River String Band, fiddling out the tunes on Thursday nights and the year long count down to St. Patty’s day, this is a true “Irish” bar. Hours: 4 p.m. to close Monday thru Saturday (closed Sunday). 51 E. Main — (608)759-3942

Check out the daily specials in addition to pizza, sandwiches, and hot bread sticks. Fresh breakfast pastries and cinnamon rolls available every morning. Hours: Monday thru Friday 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. 119 Main Street — (608)759-6281

On the Outskirts of Benton . . .

Try Anton’s famous Macho Burger or have a sandwich, something from the grill, or 2 for $1.00 tacos on Thursday night. (And leave room for Donna’s delicious homemade desserts or ice-cream treats.) Hours: Thursday thru Sunday 12 noon to close. 26320 Cty. Hwy. W in New Diggings — 965.3174

Located west of Benton at the intersection of Highways 11 and 80, serving up food from the grill or from the fryer. Summer hours: Wednesday to Sunday 4 to close (closed Monday and Tuesday during the summer). Winter hours: Tuesday to Sunday 4 to close (closed Monday during the winter). 1895 Hwy. 80 S — (608)744-8498

Nestled in a grove of pines, a full menu awaits you at Hideaway Acres. While you wait for your dinner, enjoy Hideaway’s delicious salad bar, including your choice of hot soups. Hours: Sunday, Monday, and Thursday 5 to 9 p.m; Friday and Saturday 5 to10 p.m. (closed Tuesday and Wednesday) 4825 Bennett Road in Leadmine — (608)759-4410

Hours: Monday 2 p.m. to 2 a.m; Tuesday thru Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. 5389 Cty. Rd. I / in Leadmine — 759-6631

Located a few miles from town, through the small, rural settlement of Jenkynsville on Cty. H. The supper club serves a full dinner menu, complete with daily specials. Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 4:30 to 10:00 p.m; Sunday 4 to 9 p.m. (bar opens at 4 each day). Closed Monday. 27569 Hwy. 81 (rural Cuba City) — (608)762-5406

Benton residents Bob and Cheryl Johnson own and operate Steve’s Pizza in Cuba City. The restaurant serves a large selection of handmade Italian-style pizzas and sandwiches. Order in or carry out. Delivery available to selected locations. Hours: Friday and Saturday 4 to 11 P.M.; Sunday, Monday, and Thursday 4 to 10 (closed Tuesday and Wednesday) 205 N. Main, Cuba City — (608)744-3773

 

Where to Stay

There are a number of excellent lodging accommodations within a short drive of Benton. Whether you’re looking for something sublime or something more modest–or something in between–you’ll find it right here in the area.

In Benton, WI

In Shullsburg, WI

  • Badger Motel, 269 WI Hwy 11, Shullsburg – Phone: (608)965-3556
  • Lead Region Lodging, 250 W Water Street, Shullsburg – Phone: (608)482-4433
  • Risken-Lee Holiday House, 211 W Water Street, Shullsburg – Phone: (608)482-3369
  • Water Street Place Historic Inn, 202 W Water Street, Shullburg - Phone: (608) 965-3228 - Website here

In Other Nearby Towns

Benton is close to many other excellent lodging accommodations in neighboring Platteville, Wisconsin; Galena, Illinois; and Dubuque, Iowa. Links to those towns’ chambers of commerce, as well as other useful links, have been provided below: