Prarie du Chien (La Crosse, Prairie du Chien, Patch Grove: motels, Home Depot, transfer)

[sarahrose]

We are looking at moving to this city, any info would be nice. Schools?? Grocery stores??

[DBQer]

I'd ask these questions on the Wisconsin forum. Its where Prairie du Chien is, and you'll probably get more responses there!

[WilliamPacker]

Quaint little town with a lot of recreational opportunities and great scenery right outside of your door. There is a couple of grocery stores and a newer wal-mart on the south end of town.

[QwertyFarmer]

PDC is less attractive than you may think. There is only 1 grocery store, Piggly Wiggly, and it is limited in what it sells, a bit small. There is a newer Super Wal-Mart with grocery options and a liquor license.

There are mostly roadside motels through the towns only main road for the high number of truckers, barge captains, and service professionals who need to stay on their way through. That may be your most obvious point about PDC, it is a town on the way to other real towns, not necessarily the place you are heading to.

We currently will drive to La Crosse for our major shopping, like certain light bulbs from Home Depot, and other items that are just not available in PDC.

List of items we have had to go to other towns to buy;
Light Bulbs
Wood for home projects
Arts and Craft supplies
Lawn Mower belt
Any decent ethnic food ingredients, Mexican, Asian, Italian
Pet Supplies/Food
Garden Supplies
Fresh Fish
Good cuts of meat, Pork chops, smoked bacon, Brats
and more

We make at least bi-monthly trips to other towns to collect items we are unable to get here. It is an overall very scenic town, right on the Mississippi River, a wonderful bridge to Iowa, and good roads to get to the other towns for shopping. The closest town of decent size will average you an hour drive or more depending on the direction you head.

There are many activities, but the diversity is very minimal. I would suggest a visit for a weekend maybe two if you are moving here. Good luck and hope this helps.

[dcisive]

You guys brought back a flashback for me discussing the Prairie Du Chein area. Back in 1977 (August) I and a friend camped out at the Wyalusing State Park prior to participating in a cross country race being put on in PDC. I was in the best shape of my life at age 24. I was not married but took the summer off to just enjoy. We had gone to attend several other cross country races throughout Wisconsin that Summer and this was the wrap up for the summer. We had camped that evening and were leaving heading East on Hwy 18 just prior to the Patch Grove intersection when a elderly man (in his late 70's) and disoriented accelerated his pickup truck with camping attachement out into the intersection in front of us at the very last possible second.

I was driving a fairly new Subaru 2 door sedan and plowed into the bed of the truck at 65mph sending his camping attachement over 500 yards down the road. The old man, his grandaughter and wife were uninjured. Couldn't say the same for me. I went into the windshield smashing my glasses and slicing up my forehead and head pretty badly breaking my leg as well. My friend, the passenger got out but suffered some compression fractures of his spine. The force had my knees destroy the dash of the car and the steering wheel was bent down and under. The shape I had been in was a huge help to be able to sustain this shock in the first place. I was nearly unconcious and bleeding to death. Passersby stopped to throw a tarp over me to keep the now rain off of me as they applied pressure to stem the bleeding.

Eventually the "rescue squad" from Patch Grove came and gently placed me on a large piece of wood in a station wagon and rushed me into Prairie Du Chein to their so called hospital. There I heard (couldn't see due to lot's of blood and cuts on my face) many doctors and nurse voices greatly concerned. They put an IV in each arm and called ahead to La Crosse as they were ill equipped to deal with a trauma patient (didn't have trauma centers back then). They rushed me and my buddy via ambulance up the river road to Gunderson Clinic (La Crosse Lutheran Hospital)which took an hour. All the way the attendant in the back with us tried to keep me awake as sleep would have meant my passing to the "other side".

They got me to the La Crosse Lutheran Hospital and unloaded me taking me into the emergency and immediately started to work on me. It took them over 6 hours to patch me up, and off to their ICU. I was in ICU for 2 days transferred to a room for observation and stayed there for 6 weeks until they could fly me (didn't want me in a car due to the bouncing and such) home to the Northern Suburbs of Chicago via O'Hare Airport. I healed pretty well, still have a nice scar on my forehead to remind me of that day.

I would like to bless and thank those in Prairie Du Chein and of course the wonderful medical care I received at the La Cross Lutheran Hospital as well. Also the sweet folks that rushed me on my way from the Patch Grove Rescue Squad, whom I sent a nice donation to afterwards for their efforts. I have always appreciated the folks of Wisconsin and to this day they will always remain in a special place in my heart. Sorry for the long story but wanted to share since you reminded me of one of the most pivitol days of my life.