Rothschild Park has been an important community
gathering place from the beginning. “Pine Park,” as
it was first known, officially opened June 10, 1908, to
a crowd of around 2,100 who took the trolley line to
visit the park. The park featured landscaped paths
down to the water, surrounded by trees and plants
that were labeled, picnic tables to enjoy a meal away
from home, the modern wonders of electric lighting,
and even a baseball diamond to play some ball.
The centerpiece of Rothschild Park was the
handsome pavilion. The one built in 1908 was a
rustic structure, built with rough timbers and bark
sheeting. It featured a dance floor, kitchen and
dining room, and even had running water and
electric lighting. This building would burn down
in 1911, but would be quickly rebuilt with the
structure that remains today.
The completion of the dam at Rothschild in 1910
would greatly expand Lake Wausau right up to the
foot of the pavilion. An artificial island was created to
protect the park and create an attractive, sheltered
place for swimmers. A wooden roller coaster was
built in 1911 and a group of deer became a petting
zoo. In the winter, people would visit for ice skating
on the frozen lake or to watch ski jumpers defy
gravity on the ski jump built in 1926.
In 1938, the Village of Rothschild purchased the
pavilion and park from the Wausau Street
Railroad company, and continued to open it for
proms, parties, lots of roller-skating, and concerts
by well-known acts (such as Buddy Holly in 1953).
Starting in the late 1940s, it also served as an armory
for the area, providing a home for the 426th Infantry
of the National Guard to conduct training during the
Korean War.
By the 1990s, the pavilion was starting to show its
age. The heating, electrical, and restrooms were in
dire need of renovation and replacement, and in 1997
the decision was made to close the venue. Shortly
after the pavilion was closed, citizens of Rothschild
and the surrounding area began campaigning to
save the structure and raise money for its renovation.
Renovations were finished in 2009, which have
ensured that this historic structure will continue
to be beloved for generations to come.
