Merrimac Ferry
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Colsac I |
| Namesake | Columbia and Sauk counties |
| Builder | Dubuque, Iowa |
| Launched | 1924 |
| In service | 1933 |
| Out of service | 1963 |
| General characteristics | |
| Propulsion | Two diesel engines |
| Capacity | 15 vehicles |
| Name | Colsac II |
| Builder | Marinette Marine, Marinette, Wisconsin |
| Cost | $77,000 |
| Christened | April 6, 1963 |
| In service | April 15, 1963 |
| Out of service | November 4, 2002 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 100 tons |
| Length | 100 ft (30 m) o/a |
| Beam | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Propulsion | 1 × diesel engine |
| Capacity | 12 vehicles |
| Crew | 1 |
Colsac III, September 2014 | |
| Name | Colsac III |
| Builder | Basic Marine Inc., Escanaba, Michigan |
| Cost | $2.2 million |
| Yard number | 116 |
| In service | May 6, 2003 |
| Identification | Official number: 1138723 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 153 GT |
| Length | 105 ft (32 m) o/a |
| Propulsion | (2x)Cummins Diesel |
| Capacity |
|
Merrimac Ferry | |
| Location | Wisconsin Highway 113 at the Wisconsin River |
| Nearest city | Merrimac, Wisconsin |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000330 |
| Added to NRHP | December 31, 1974 |
The Merrimac Ferry is a cable ferry that crosses the Wisconsin River between Columbia and Sauk Counties in Wisconsin. Its western point is located near the village of Merrimac on State Highway 113 and United States Bicycle Route 30. The eastern point is located in Okee, Wisconsin.
The Merrimac Ferry is both a functional regional crossing and a tourist attraction. There are ice cream stands at queue areas on either side of the river. It is the state's only free ferry, as well as the only ferry left on the Wisconsin State Trunk Highway System.
The ferry is close to the head of Lake Wisconsin, as well as regional recreation areas, including Devil's Lake and Wisconsin Dells. Peak traffic coincides with the tourist season and weekend getaway schedules.