A portal to the history, geology, geography, stories and more about
the Driftless region of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois.
It is very much under development

Farm in the Driftless Area - panoramio.jpgFarm in the Driftless Area - panoramio.jpg
The Driftless is a refuge for communities

Just as the coulees and valleys are a refuge for plants and animals, they are a place where small communities can thrive far from the madding crowd. Here are a few examples of such communities:

The Driftless is home to some unusual enterprises

The valleys and coulees also house some unusual businesses. We mean that in the nicest way, since residents value the wide range of experiences hidden away in the Driftless. Here are a sample:

  • The House on the Rock. One of the most eccentric places on the planet. Built on a bluff near Spring Green, the House of the Rock nearly hallucinogenic in its excess. Neil Gaiman (who lived in the northern Driftless for a while) used it as an example of a gateway between dimensions in American Gods.

  • American Players Theatre. World class plays presented outdoors, from Shakespeare to August Wilson. The unique hillside theater is a gem. Also near Spring Green.

  • Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue. Rock Springs is the unlikely home to lions and tigers.

European Settlement

European settlement changed the Driftless, from the explorers to the miners to the railroads to the farmers.

About The Driftless

The Driftless is a platform dedicated to celebrating the wonders of the Driftless region. It collects, compiles and links to books, articles and experts on all the things that make the Driftless so unique. If you have a story to tell or an interesting fact we can include, contact us.