Fox River lock tender house could become hostel

LITTLE CHUTE (AP) - Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway officials intend to transform some historic lock tender houses into unique overnight rentals along the Fox River.

"It will be a very different experience (for) people as they're biking or kayaking through, or boating through. (They) will have the ability to stop at one of these and spend the night," Candice Mortara, parkway board president, told The Post-Crescent of Appleton.

The first hostel parkway project could take place this year at the Cedar Lock along Wisconsin 96, just west of downtown Little Chute, in collaboration with the Fox River Navigational System Authority and Friends of the Fox .

Harlan Kiesow, chief executive officer of the authority, said the proposal involves "kind of an upgraded hostel situation" that might appeal to boaters, paddlers or bicyclists for overnight stays.

"We are gearing up to rehab the lock house at the Cedars Lock to turn it into a unique overnight experience - with potential lock tender-for-a-day options for guests," Mortara said.

The lock tender houses for rent - modeled after the C&O canal houses that are rented along the East Coast - have undergone exterior renovation, but need interior remodeling. Those improvements must be approved by the state Historical Society because the houses are listed on the National Historic Register.

"We hope to have eight altogether - four on the lower Fox, two on the upper Fox and two on the lower Wisconsin (River)," Mortara said. Local contractors might help demolish and rebuild the interiors of the homes.

Kiesow said providing increased public access to riverfront land around the locks makes sense as long as the uses are compatible. Prime examples are the Fox Cities Trestle-State Friendship Trail that goes along an FRNSA levee and over the Menasha lock-navigation canal, which provides a viewing platform for recreational boating between Lake Winnebago and Little Lake Butte des Morts.

The Little Chute Heritage Parkway Trail opened in June and additional trails are possible for the five Kaukauna locks, Kiesow said.

"We're looking at trying to promote public use because it's been closed off for so many years," he said.

Restoration of the Fox River locks system is continuing this spring with work on three additional Kaukauna locks under a $3.2 million contract awarded to Boldt Construction in December.

Meanwhile, Little Chute officials are pursuing design work on a new pedestrian and light duty lift bridge to replace the inoperable Mill Street lift bridge. Kiesow said the locks will be restored by mid-2014, but the bridge probably won't be done until late 2014 or early 2015.

Plans call for the locks system to be open in the spring of 2015 up to the Rapide Croche lock and dam in Wrightstown. Kiesow said funding is available to complete all of the lock restoration work but additional funds will be needed for a boat transfer station at Rapide Croche.