Rhinelander, Wisconsin: Home of the Hodag, the World's Most Committed Practical Joke

Welcome to Rhinelander, a Northwoods town of roughly 8,000 people, a couple hundred lakes, and one very persistent lie. It's the seat of Oneida County, and it's what happens when a prank works so well that nobody has the heart to stop. If you're planning a trip to Rhinelander, Wisconsin, pack a fishing rod, an appetite, and a willingness to be stared at by fiberglass reptiles.

The Hodag: A 130-Year-Old Prank With Better PR Than Most Governments

Let's start with the elephant in the room, which, according to the original 1893 newspaper reports, the Hodag sort of resembled. The articles claimed the hodag had "the head of a frog, the grinning face of a giant elephant," thick short legs with huge claws, a dinosaur's back, and a spear-tipped tail. It's less a creature than a committee's worst idea.

The man behind it was Eugene "Gene" Shepard. He was a well-known Wisconsin land surveyor, timber cruiser and prankster who rounded up a group of local people to capture the animal. The group reported that they needed dynamite to kill the beast, and a photograph of its charred remains was released to the media. Convenient! Nothing says "definitely real" like evidence that has been blown up.

Gene didn't stop there. Three years later, he claimed to have captured another Hodag, which he displayed at the Oneida County Fair for thousands to view. The "live" beast was, in fact, a wooden contraption, and they made its arms and legs move with wires and strings. It was the 1896 equivalent of a Muppet with a legal defense fund.

Shepard eventually admitted it was a hoax. Most towns would have taken the L and moved on. Rhinelander instead made the hodag the official symbol of the city, put it on the high school mascot roster, and gave it a radio station. WHDG, Hodag Country 96.7, takes its call sign from the creature.

The obsession continues. As recently as this year, Rhinelander, which has no shortage of Hodag statues, announced another one was joining the family. An Eau Claire sculptor was commissioned to build a metal Hodag incorporating parts donated by the community. Yes, the town is now crowdsourcing scrap metal for another monument to a guy's practical joke. The official Hodag lawn ornament, for the record, is a fiberglass sculpture that sits on the Chamber of Commerce grounds. Hodag-themed candy shops, gas station cowboy boots, and light pole banners fill in the gaps.

Hodag Heritage Festival and Hodag Country Fest: Two Ways to Party With a Fake Monster

Rhinelander doesn't just tolerate the hoax; it throws parties for it. In May, there's the Hodag Heritage Festival. The lineup includes a scavenger hunt, a Hodag art contest, a Hodag calling contest, guest speakers on cryptids and history, and a Hodag historical city bus tour, with free admission. Yes, a Hodag calling contest. Nobody knows what a Hodag sounds like, which means everyone wins.

Then, every July, comes the big one: the Hodag Country Festival. Since 1978, it has welcomed everyone from Darius Rucker and Eric Church to Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson. That's a town of 8,000 hosting a crowd several times its size, in tents, in July, with a straight face.

Lakes, One Supper Club, and a Grasshopper Nobody Asked You to Judge

Geography is where Rhinelander stops joking and starts flexing. The lakes are everywhere, and it isn't close. Boom Lake, a flowage on the Wisconsin River, sits just north of downtown and is great for boating and fishing. Prefer to stay dry? Bikers and hikers can explore the Holmboe Nature Preserve or the Washburn Lake Trail. Come winter, the area has hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails, which is how locals stay sane between October and May.

Then there's dinner. The Northwoods supper club is a sacred institution: wood paneling, a relish tray, a brandy Old Fashioned sweet enough to qualify as dessert, and a Friday fish fry that is basically a civic duty. The Al-Gen Dinner Club has been serving this exact experience for decades, and heaven help the waiter who suggests a "modern take" on the prime rib. Even the Hodag has taste: its favorite meal is said to be fried fish and potato pancakes. Honestly, relatable.

Should You Visit Rhinelander, Wisconsin?

Absolutely. Between the lakes, the trails, the festivals, and the aggressively cheerful monster worship, Rhinelander is a genuinely charming Northwoods getaway. Start at Pioneer Park Historical Complex, with its logging museum, schoolhouse, Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, and railroad museum. Then pose for a photo with the Chamber of Commerce Hodag, order an Old Fashioned, and try not to ask too many questions about the dynamite.

Just know that in summer, this sleepy little town gets borrowed by half the Midwest, and it comes back a little sunburned and smelling like fish. The locals have made peace with it. The Hodag, presumably, has not.

Think we were too nice? See the full roast of Rhinelander on RoastMyTown.com.