original wisconsin ducks tour

Original Wisconsin Ducks®

Additional Information

1890 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

(608) 254-8751

March - November

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Original Wisconsin Ducks

Review Highlights

“ We've since gotten married and have a 6 year old so we were excited to bring him to the Dells and on the Ducks. ” in 42 reviews

“ Our tour guide this time was in a rush to get back and take another load out so he didn't let the kids drive. ” in 34 reviews

“ Lol At the end of the tour before reaching land again, the driver allowed the kids the option to ride the boat!! ” in 33 reviews

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1890 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy

Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

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Wild Wisco Waters Canoe & Kayak Outfitters

Brian M. said "If you are ever in the area 40 minutes from Wisconsin Dells, I highly recommend use these folks to help you book a kayak trip for the day. Beautiful river and lots to see in the way of birds on their habitat. You will not go wrong…" read more

in Boating, Rafting/kayaking, Beach Equipment Rentals

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About the Business

Tour company, providing an entertaining and historical tour of the scenic Dells area. …

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168 reviews

Brighton was our duck guide and he allowed my son and his cousin to ride up in the front with him. Brighton went out of his way to make them both feel special. My son came back from the tour and said it was a 5 out of 5. He wants to be Brighton's homie! He will make a remarkable nurse. Good luck at UW Madison! Thank you for making lasting memories for our family.

Good place to spend a couple of hours in Wisconsin Dells. They start off on land and then go into the water. Our tour guide, Logan, was entertaining and funny.

See all photos from Kelly T. for Original Wisconsin Ducks

My family's first experience in a Duck Tour. Boat driving on land then in floating in water. That was cool. However our boat sounded like it was going to die while in the water, So scary! Well, our boat did break down once out of water. We had to wait 15- 20 minutes in the scorching heat, while getting ate up by mosquitoes for a new boat to come rescue us. Once the new boat arrived the tour continued. Great scenery. The driver cracked jokes about football & politics the who time. For the money, we won't do it again.

See all photos from Amy S. for Original Wisconsin Ducks

I've been on duck tours in many cities, and generally the land portion goes through town and gives a bit of history/tourism along the way, and then a trip into the water. This one is more about the nature of the area, with views of animals. We saw deer, turkeys, a raccoon and other animals natural to the area, and then went in the water where we got a good perspective on the interesting sandstone and rock formations over time. The driver/host Logan was humorous as well as effective in sharing information. The ride felt safe and comfortable throughout. At a cost of just under $40 per person, it ended up being a good value and a nice way to spend an afternoon.

My significant other, dog, and I came here for a relaxing activity. We walked up to the Tickets area to purchase our tickets. Each ticket was $36.30 with the sales tax already included. Our total for two people was $72.60. It wasn't too bad. Luckily, my dog was free! Before we boarded the boat, our photograph was taken. That was a pleasant way to start things off and gain excitement for what was to come. After that, we walked to the line to board the Wisconsin Duck. We were able to board fast and only waited what seemed to be five minutes. During the ride on this amphibious vehicle, we drove through miles of scenic wilderness trails, the Wisconsin river, and Lake Delton. To explore both a river and a lake on the same tour was definitely exciting! On the Wisconsin River, we were able to see dells, which is what Wisconsin Dells is named after! That's enough of a reason for you to pack a bag and go as soon as possible in my opinion. Our tour guide was friendly and seemed to have plenty of experience. He also had a great vibe. He offered a guidebook and post cards towards the end of the ride for $5.00. I ended up purchasing them. I gave him $20.00, so he had a $15.00 tip for the warm hospitality he provided. I definitely recommend that you buy these items if they're offered to you on your tour. It was nice to take some history home with me. After we hopped off the boat, we walked towards the Photo Gallery. This was where they sold us our photograph that was taken before we boarded the Duck. I ended up purchasing the package that included six photographs and a keychain for $20.00. It was worth the price in my opinion! After I purchased the package, we went inside the PX Store. They had a good selection of items that were organized nicely. I ended up purchasing a Ducks Logo Keychain for $2.99 and a Ducks Scenic Tee for $19.99 for myself. I purchased items for my significant other as well, which helped our total exceed a certain amount that granted us a free tote bag. The prices weren't bad here at all. Overall, this was an awesome place to visit! I feel like it's a necessity for anyone visiting the Dells, as you will most likely learn a lot of history during your tour. I highly recommend it and I'm almost positive I'll be back! Date of visit: May/07/2023

See all photos from Chad M. for Original Wisconsin Ducks

Loving the ducks is maybe part nostalgia for me - my family used to visit every time we came to the Dells when I was a kid. So I knew we had to make a stop when visiting with my daughter this spring. Thankfully - nature holds up! I think the tour guide might even have some of the same corny jokes as he did 20+ years ago! Make sure to buy tickets online so you can snag a discount. I think we got 20% off.

View of our boat from the back.

This is pretty much a must do for any trip to the Dells, and any adult who grew up in the Midwest probably has fond memories of it as well. We were in a big friend group doing stuff further north in Wisconsin, but the Ducks were a must visit on the way home. There are no reservations since they're so busy - you just buy a ticket at the window, then go around back to get your obligatory tourist photo taken and queue up. There is a bit of confusion since the line also goes past the concessions window, and people weren't sure if the line was for food or the tour. We went on a busy Sunday around noon and had to wait about 20 minutes to get on a boat. The tour itself was fun, and the kids in our group had a blast. Even with the heat wave we were cool in the duck's shade and parts of the tour are in the valleys where the sun doesn't get too as much. Our guide Travis was knowledgeable and dropped all the classic jokes and puns. For all the kitschiness found in the Dells, the Ducks let you get back to nature a bit and actually learn something besides how to drive a go kart or how many water slides you can go down in a day. There's a reason there's always a line here.

Rode with Kevin on the Guadalcanal and had a blast! Funny narration, knowledgeable answers to questions, and even got to drive the boat!

I've been to the Dells multiple times before but I never have ridden the ducks since I was a kid so of course I had to bring my own kids and give this tour another whirl. What a unique and fun thing to do. The drivers are fun, the views are nice, and it just makes a great, family-friendly experience to wrap up a day at the water parks. Tour time was adequate for my kids to not lose excitement and the scenery was varied enough to hold our interest. You drove through woods, rivers, and lakes. They really showed off the capabilities of the vehicles and the driver had fun with it. Classic, iconic, and can't be missed. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

See all photos from Garrett Z. for Original Wisconsin Ducks

We took a Ducks boat tour this week, 2 adults and a 6 year old kid. It was a cool tour, we enjoyed it. The dells are very pretty, and this was a great way to see them. This was a great scenic tour!

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The tour on the Wisconsin Ducks winds through beautiful scenery of the Wisconsin Dells. You will pass through narrow canyon walls of beautiful sandstone formations produced from the floodwaters of glacial lakes. You will travel the curves of Roller Coaster Hill and through Red Bird Gorge. It is a one hour, 8 1/2 mile tour that includes two land and two water entries in the Wisconsin River and Lake Delton. Your awesome guide will explain all the historical facts of the area especially when you pass through areas of where Indian tribes once lived.

Rates are posted on the Wisconsin Ducks web site: Children five years and under are free Group rates are available. Tours are offered from late spring to early fall. They usually run from 8 am to 7 pm. There are restrooms, a snack bar, and a picnic area as well. New to the facility is a PX store, which sells gifts and souvenirs. The Original ducks has 60 drivers experienced drivers and 110 other staff members.

They are located at 1890 Wisconsin Dells Parkway (across from Mt. Olympus) and can be reached at 608-254-8751 or at www.wisconsinducktours.com

Map Location

Check out the website at Ducks for more information.

Original Wisconsin Ducks to Wisconsin Dells Attractions

Original Wisconsin Ducks to Wisconsin Dells

Take a guided Duck ride of the Lower Dells aboard a Original World War II-era Dells Army Duck! The Ducks have been one of Wisconsin Dells’ most popular Wisconsin Dells attraction for 70+ years , and they provide a sightseeing experience unlike any other. Discover sandstone rock formations that are over 14,000 years old such as Grotto Island, the Twin Ink Stands, Sugar Bowl, and Lone Rock. Two Splash Downs into Sasquatch Lake and use the Duck’s six-wheel drive capabilities to traverse Dell Creek. Our 55 minute, land-and-water Duck rides has been the most unique and original way to experience the Wisconsin Dells for over 70 years.

The Dells were created at the end of the last glacial period from the flood waters of the Wisconsin River ripping through soft sandstone that was once the floor of a prehistoric sea. The raging river managed to carve the gorges, caves, rocky islands and towering cliffs which would come to be admired for centuries. Visitors have been coming to the Wisconsin Dells to take-in the natural wonders for generations, and a guided boat tour aboard one of our amphibious Ducks provides an experience your family won’t soon forget!

During the summer months, Dells Army Ducks depart every 30 minutes daily for a 55 minute duck boat tour . All duck boat tours are guided through the Lower Dells of the Wisconsin River, exposing you up close to one-of-a-kind rock formations. Visit our Photo Gallery to see historic photos and tour images. It’s fun, entertaining and a must-do when visiting Wisconsin Dells!

Waivers are required for this tour. For faster service: complete waivers before arriving.

608-254-6080

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Pick Two Attractions for Only $105.99

Bigfoot Ziplines, Dells Army Ducks and Wildthing Jet Boats for Only $135.99

Group Tours

Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Call us today 608-254-5555!

Boat Upgrade Special

Add an additional Wisconsin Dells boat tour to any purchase. ADULTS: $24.99 - CHILD: (Ages 4-11) $18.99

PT109 – No Longer Available

Our PT109 boat is no longer available

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Day Out: For 70 years, Ducks have been a Dells family tradition

For many visitors to the Dells, riding the Original Wisconsin Ducks is a family tradition. More than 300,000 people take the classic land-and-water tour every year.

For one Dells family, however, the tradition extends beyond riding. Over the past 50 years, three generations of the family have worked as tour guides and driven the amphibious vehicles on tours of the Wisconsin River, Lake Delton and the surrounding woodlands.

Larry Hudack was the first, driving a Duck as a 27-year-old in 1965. His son, Bob, followed in his footsteps as a college student in 1977. Bob's daughter, Laura Salonek, completed the trifecta as an 18- and 19-year-old in 2003 and 2004.

"It was a dream job," Bob Hudack said. "It was kind of a status symbol, being a Duck driver in the Dells. ... They're fun to drive. What a great job — outside, in the water — you couldn't ask for anything more."

The Hudacks were among the more than 350 Duck drivers who gathered in the Dells in June as part of the outfit's 70th anniversary celebration. Dan Gavinski, general manager of the Ducks, said the company identified 670 drivers dating back to the Ducks' first season in 1946 and were able to contact 575.

General Motors created the six-cylinder vehicles to transport troops and supplies during World War II. Officially called a DUKW (D for 1942, U for amphibious utility vehicle, K for front-wheel drive and W for twin, rear-driving axles), more than 2,000 saw action — including during D-Day — before being retired, which meant leaving many overseas in sheds or driving them off cliffs to sink.

Veteran Bob Unger acquired one of the survivors through an Army surplus sale and took it to the Dells with Milwaukee businessman Melvin Flath to give tours of the Lower Wisconsin River and Lake Delton in August 1946.

Unger left the Dells with his Duck after that year, but Flath continued giving tours and expanded the fleet to 37 Ducks. The company changed hands a few times over the ensuing decades, but by 1956 it became known as the Original Wisconsin Ducks and by the late '60s the vehicles were donning their classic green-and-white paint scheme. Today there are 92 Ducks in the fleet, according to Gavinski.

Fifteen of those have been painted in retro color schemes this year to commemorate the various decades the Ducks have operated.

And while the drivers and color schemes have changed over the years, the tour itself — aside from rerouting the land portion to include more trail and less highway in the '90s — isn't much different. Drivers are free to throw in their own personality and bits of humor, however.

"Each decade it appears as though some of the jokes the drivers give has changed with the time," said Gavinski, who started at the Ducks as a parking lot attendant at age 14, working his way up to driver at age 18 and general manager in 1989. "It makes for a lot of fun and it makes for something different every time people ride the tour again."

"At first it took a while to learn how to be yourself, because you get a lot of stories of the history of the Dells and the different rock formations on the river, and of course you put a little humor into it along the way, and you had to be yourself on that," Larry Hudack said.

Salonek said the experience helped her develop confidence.

"It's intimidating at first, but I kind of saw it as a challenge, and when I knew that my father and grandfather drove, I wanted to be able to follow in their footsteps," she said. "Our job was to entertain for an hour. I started out a very shy person, and becoming a driver really brought me out of my shell."

Despite having lived in Wisconsin most of my life and having traveled to the Dells countless times, I didn't take my first Duck ride until last year. Entertaining would certainly be one adjective to describe it.

As a solo traveler, I had the "honor" of sitting shotgun next to Tanner Walch, our college-age driver who worked a series of buttons, levers and pedals like the Wizard of Oz, except I could see it all.

I think the 20 other passengers were jealous of my prime, front-seat view, until we rocketed up and down a narrow hill, our driver working the double-clutch manual transmission and the school-bus-size steering wheel like a mad man while I braced myself on the Duck's dashboard and wondered if it could actually handle a top speed of 50 miles per hour.

We were nowhere close to that, but the 7-ton behemoth creaked, groaned and sputtered its way up the hills while Walch continued his sing-songy script about the Dells and the Ducks, laced heavily with dad jokes.

And then we reached the water.

In my head I knew the amphibious vehicle would float, but there was still a moment of holding my breath as Walch worked the levers and the vehicle splashed into the river. We bobbed and floated along the water, cruising along at a much more leisurely top speed of 11 knots.

Of course the Duck could handle such a journey. It survived World War II, after all.

Our 8.5-mile, one-hour tour included an up-close look at the beautiful sandstone rock formations along the Wisconsin River that first drew visitors to the area, plus a cruise along Lake Delton and its wooded shoreline. A special treat was Fern Dell, a cool, fern-lined canyon that boasts 27 species of the green plant.

We also puttered past the spot where Lake Delton breached its banks 2008, pouring into the Wisconsin River 800 feet away and destroying a section of County Highway A and several homes in its wake. Within a couple of hours, the 600 million-gallon lake had completely drained.

Citizens and business banded together to restore the lake, which was refilled by the following year. But evidence of the breach was still apparent in the downed trees and washed out beach on the river's east bank and the new pavement and embankment on its west.

The Ducks and other Dells tourist operations bounced back and continue to draw multiple generations of families. The squeals of delight from kids in the back as we rocketed down Suicide Hill were evidence enough of the tour's timeless appeal.

"Especially now, we see a lot of grandparents bringing their grandchildren to experience it," Gavinski said.

Both Bob and Larry Hudack agreed seeing families enjoying the trip was one of their favorite parts of driving.

"There were a lot of families. In those days, families were much bigger, and sometimes families would come with four to five children and they really, really enjoyed it. You could see it on their faces," Larry Hudack said.

"The kids groups are always fun," Bob Hudack said. "I enjoyed those a lot. The kids always want to go fast and they want to get wet — what more can you ask for?"

All three still ride the Ducks occasionally, even Salonek, who now lives in Minnesota.

"Whenever anyone comes to town, what do they want to do? They ride the Ducks. And it's always neat to tell them I did that for as summer job," Bob Hudack said.

"It is still one of the best things in the Dells to do," Larry Hudack said.

More information: While the Ducks have covered canopies, they are still open to the elements and prone to mild splashing when entering the river. Dress appropriately for the weather.

Tours are offered from mid-March through mid-November (weather permitting). Summer tours depart every few minutes between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.; spring and fall hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours cost $26.70 for adults, $13.35 for children ages 4 to 11 and free for kids age 3 and under. Discounts are available for purchasing two or more tours with Ducks affiliates, including the Dells Boat Tours, the Ghost Boat and Jet Boat Adventures.

For more, call (608) 254-8751 or see wisconsinducktours.com .

Getting there: The Duck Dock is at 1890 Wisconsin Dells Parkway, Wisconsin Dells, about 120 miles northwest of Milwaukee via I-94 and Highways 13 and 12.

Day Out features day trips within a two-hour drive of the Milwaukee area.

For more Wisconsin day trips and travel ideas, see wisconsintrails.com .

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Original Wisconsin Ducks

Description

Explore both land and water on the amazing amphibious Original Wisconsin Ducks tour! You will squeeze through the narrow passes of Red Bird gorge, splash down into Lake Delton and see the beautiful rock formations of the Wisconsin River. Throughout the ride, our extensively trained Wisconsin Dells duck drivers will teach you Wisconsin history and have you rolling in the aisles. If you have not done the Ducks, you have not done the Dells!

Save on Original Wisconsin Ducks tour tickets in Wisconsin Dells when you purchase from Passport To Savings. Ticket quantities purchased for each attraction must be similar in order to increase discount percentage.

Purchase Tickets In Person or Order Online and start saving today! Due to our online processing schedule, if you purchase tickets online you must place your online order at least three days prior to your arrival date.

2024 Dates and Hours of Operation

Mid-March – April 26 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

April 27 – May 24 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

May 25 – Sept. 1 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 2 – Oct. 20 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Oct. 21 – Mid-November 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Dates and hours subject to change.

www.wisconsinducktours.com

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Sunset Dinner Cruise Tickets

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Featuring a delicious surf and turf entrée, magnificent scenery, with live music and a romantic shorelanding through torchlit Witches Gulch. This trip takes 2.25 hours. Special dietary requests can be made by calling 608.254.8555 .

20 or more?

[email protected] 608.254.8555

Operating Season

Daily mid may - early september.

Weather permitting

Memorial day-Early September

Scheduled times vary depending on date. Please arrive 15-20 minutes before your scheduled time

Attractions

Original Wisconsin Ducks®

Wisconsin Dells’ classic duck tour — the only one in non-stop operation since 1946! Climb aboard these amphibious WWII vehicles for the ultimate in fun and adventure on land and water! Don’t fall for decoys; ride the Original!

Jet Boat Adventures

This 50-minute thrill ride on the Wisconsin River will get your heart racing, with plenty of awesome power stops, slides, and splashy spin outs. Enjoy the scenic beauty of the Dells at full throttle.

Sunset Dinner Cruise

A wonderful combination of beautiful scenery, live entertainment and fine food. Relax and enjoy an evening among the stunning scenery of the Upper Dells, plus a romantic, torch lit stroll through the passages of Witches Gulch.

Adare-Go-Carts

Experience over 150 interactive exhibits – virtual realty, music, robotics, magic, puzzles, holograms and scientific wonders, including the original Russian Space Station MIR and an exact replica of NASA’s Mercury space capsule.

Tommy Bartlett Exploratory

Join the after-dark boat ride up river, en-route to an on-foot expedition to explore the haunted passages of Cold Water Canyon. Don’t be afraid of the dark — be afraid of what’s in it.

Noah’s Ark Waterpark

A premier Wisconsin Dells attraction, offering the largest variety of water activities in the country! 49 waterslides, four kid’s waterplay areas, two wave pools, two endless rivers, America’s first looping waterslide, and more!

Check out our ducks in action on land, on water, and everywhere in between, get helpful tour tips, view informative, exciting and fun videos from our riders and staff, and share your own Original Wisconsin Ducks ® videos for a chance to be featured on this page!

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SEND IN YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS by clicking here!  We’ll review your submission, and if we decide to feature your photo or video, it will appear on this page and in our social media postings! Thanks for your enthusiasm!