Bancroft
Campground
Vista Royalle Campground
Having grown up in Almond, Mark has known about the Vista Royalle Campground most of his life. It is a wonderfully maintained campground. The main office building has a store, laundry, and bathrooms and the grounds include a man-made lake with fun floating toys (think Ninja Warrior for some!), mini-golf, snack shop, and trails everywhere to walk, run, or bike. The office staff was always very accommodating and helpful. During a storm with very high winds, they invited anyone who needed shelter to come hunker down in the main building. Our site was one of the very spacious sites along an expanse of grass. There are certainly many more sites available but we booked rather late and this is what they had available. It really worked out just fine. They sponsor parties and other festivities in their "party building" and guests can also rent out the building. They were also expanding their mini-golf course when we were there.
Things to see
Almond Lion's Club Tater Toot
Yes, you read that correctly. Tater Toot. This is Mark's hometown, Almond, WI. Every summer, during the last Friday and Saturday of July, the Toot happens and has been happening since the mid-1960s. There are typically bands both Friday and Saturday nights and also Saturday afternoons (Mark played that slot a couple of times recently). Get some baked potatoes, deep fried cheese curds, bakery items that the local churches sell, and definitely take in the Saturday main BBQ dinner which starts around noon. The Lion's Club hosts the main beer tent.
We also must mention one of the main attractions. The Greg Swan Memorial Classic Car Show, which has been going on for 20+ years. This is named after Mark's brother, Greg, who owned and operated Swan Oil Company for several years. Greg died of a heart attack in his mid 50s. Greg was an integral part of the Almond community his entire life. The car show regularly draws upwards of 100 cars and trucks from the very old (Model A Ford era) to the very new (practically off the show floor Corvettes and Mustangs).
Food
Two Lakes Supper Club
This is one of the finest, most delicious, old-school , family-ownen supper clubs you'll ever find. Located just a few miles outside Almond, WI. It is closed for a good chunk of the winter so check their website for details. The pizzas are fantastic and the "Drunken Chicken" is a must-have. Like many locals, Mark and his mom worked at Two Lakes.
To make a long story short ...
The house that built me (part 2)
When we moved from Portage IN (see part 1 of this story in the "Lake Village IN" page) to Almond WI, I was 9. That was 1973. Greg and dad had gone up to get the farm going while mom and I stayed in Portage until that house sold. Mom and I ended up coming about Christmas 1973.
We had milk cows, pigs, chickens, all the things you'd expect. Old tractors and machinery. Buzz saws powered by a fly-wheel on an old Case tractor. A HUGE barn with ropes to swing on. So much of two young kids to play with!
In a little over a year, Feb 25 1975, dad died. Mom, Greg, and I stayed in the farmhouse for just a few months while a house was being built on a 5 acre piece that mom carved off the 140+ acres of the farm.
The pic of the farm yard doesn't actually show the house. The house had gradually deteriorated over the years and had caved in. Mom and I went out there when it was caving in and it was sad to see it in that shape. When we were there, it was a huge 13 room farmhouse. So many places for Greg and me to play! Now, it is just a pile of dirt.
The class of 1982 rides again!
Yes, I know it is 2023. Our 40th class reunion should have been last year. However, Brian, Sandy, Audrey, Mary (and probably a few more I'm forgetting) decided that we NEED to have an actual reunion. The weekend of the annual Tater Toot is a pretty good choice since quite a few people, that no longer live around here, come back to see family and friends. The Two Lakes restaurant was the destination, just outside Almond. As the event date got closer, I continued to be excited at how many had committed to coming! There are many I haven't seen in decades.
Our class was small. My fading memory says we had 39 graduate. Based on the picture we took (talk about herding cats!), 17 classmate showed up and most with their spouses! Quite a crew! Even though we are all still quite young, we have lost a few over the years. All the more important to reconnect with those that are still here!
Three of our teachers showed up; Gerald Miller (phys. ed., driving instructor, football coach), Robert Rohde (7th grade, basketball coach), Harry Porfilio (English, social studies, play director, High Quiz Bowl coach). There were a few others that wanted to come but circumstances got in the way. I have very fond memories of all three of these teachers and many others I had in Almond. It was fun to reminisce about all of them. I have to admit I got a little misty when I finally had a chance to tell Mr. Porfilio how much he meant to me. It only took 41 years.
A funny thing happened when we were eating. The Tri-County class of 1983 (a neighboring school district and always a local rivalry) was also having their 40th reunion. They had brought a poster board of Junior Prom pics on one side and the Almond Junior Prom on the other! Granted, it wasn't OUR Junior Prom, but we knew everyone in the pics! Some of us were even in those pics! Super fun.
Some of the classmates showed up at Tater Toot the next day, where I was playing music in the afternoon. That meant a lot to me! Thank you!