Wildman Adventure Resort: Where Couples Mix Things Up With High-Octane Dates

The Short Version: For couples who want a romantic getaway to connect with nature, Wildman Adventure Resort offers outdoor adventures in the Upper Midwest. The adventure offerings, which include whitewater rafting down a river filled with rapids or zip lining across an old-growth forest, vary to accommodate every type of couple. Wildman Adventure Guides allow couples to pick their ideal half-day excursions, and most couples can fit up to four activities into a weekend trip. Visitors can also choose their ideal lodging at the resort, ranging from deluxe cabins with a kitchen and a bathroom to a riverside tent camping site.

Many adventurous couples decide to shake up their routines with getaways that connect them with the great outdoors. Wildman Adventure Resort in Niagara, Wisconsin, caters to those who appreciate nature. Its activities include guided whitewater rafting, zip lining, and kayaking experiences.

Couples often decide to stay in one of the resort’s rustic cabins for a date weekend instead of sleeping at a tent campsite. Its cabins near the Peshtigo River Outpost are nestled in the woods close to the river. Its lodging options include electricity, heat, and access to shower facilities. They also have a fire pit and picnic table perfect for a late-night date with s’mores.

Wildman Adventure Resort offers couples a memorable experience in the great outdoors.

“In all of our lodging, you’re in the Northwoods and are a little disconnected,” said Jordan Bray, an Adventure Guide at the resort.

Couples can take a whitewater rafting expedition starting at one of Wildman Adventure Resort’s two outposts — Peshtigo River or Menominee River — that offer some of the best rapids in the Upper Midwest. The Peshtigo River has the most rapids, while the Menominee River is the longest.

Couples can also join up with each other in a group of four with a guide for an even more educational experience.

“Whitewater rafting is our most popular excursion, and we’ve been hosting folks for 32 summers,” Jordan told us. “Each trip is unique. You can get out of your comfort zone, and you can be right there, cheering each other on.”

After a high-adrenaline trip, visitors can book a more mellow adventure the next day, including a kayak tour on a lake. The resort also offers an exhilarating glide through the canopy in a multi-platform zipline experience.

“You could squeeze in up to four activities on a weekend trip. We have experiences with adrenaline, as well as relaxing activities. People enjoy mixing them up,” Jordan said.

Couples often take weekend or week-long trips to Wildman Adventure Resort during the summer. They can find plenty of lodging options, ranging from campsites to rustic cabins and higher-end retreats.

The Hideaway Cabin has its own bathroom with a shower and a fully-equipped kitchen. The cabin is also set up with satellite TV, a firepit, and a grill that allow couples to enjoy date nights and cook outdoors.

Jordan said that many couples choose to stay in the yurt, the resort’s most unique lodging. The yurt is a private 15-foot structure built on stilts above a babbling creek.

“It’s an awesome spot. Overall, it’s a different type of structure,” he told us. “There’s a skylight at the top, so you can gaze at the stars from inside. That’s popular among couples.”

Watch on

Those who prefer tent camping are in luck. They can set up a tent near the Peshtigo River, where they can access shower facilities and complimentary wifi.

Couples who choose to stay near the Menominee River Outpost will be situated next to the Bombers Golf Course, which first opened during Prohibition. Two deluxe cabins are available for rent, and they are perfect for couples who prefer a more urban experience, Jordan said. They can eat at the golf course’s restaurant and enjoy the same amenities as the Hideaway Cabin offers.

No matter how couples prefer to stay, Wildman Adventure Resort can accommodate them.
“Couples like us because we’re tucked away. They like to get away from it all and hang out on the beach or in the woods,” said Jordan.

Perhaps because of its name, couples may think that Wildman Adventure Resort caters to daredevil adventurers — but that isn’t true.

Couples can plan for half-day guided adventures kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding on a calm lake. They can spend several hours paddling through lily pads while keeping an eye out for wildlife like deer, bald eagles, and frogs.

“It’s a remote lake, and there’s only one house on it. The guides spend the first half giving you a tour of the plants and wildlife. The second half is up to the couples; you could sunbathe, swim, do yoga, suntan. Some couples just appreciate the opportunity to put their toes in the sand,” Jordan told us.

Wildman Adventure Resort also offers peaceful activities, including kayaking on a serene lake.

More adventurous opportunities include zip lining along the border of the Menominee River, moving across the full course from platform to platform.

Couples can choose other exciting adventures, including rock climbing and paintball. Wildman Adventure Resort has two options for rock climbing, one for those who’ve never climbed before and another for experienced climbers. Wildman’s Paintball Pursuit is an exciting paintball course set up in the middle of the woods. Artificial structures, trees, and bushes make the course more challenging — and fun.

Couples who want to shake up their same old date routines often turn to Wildman Adventure Resort for a dose of adrenaline, as well. It turns out that participating in high-octane, somewhat scary adventures can increase a couple’s attraction to one another.

So, a vacation or date weekend to Wildman Adventure Resort is a great way to shake off the malaise.

“Everything here is à la carte, so people can pick what they’re interested in. Couples can pick and choose, and we’ll build an itinerary,” Jordan said.

The Wildman Adventure Resort team said it appreciates the chance to take couples on the dates they want to take. Jordan said he enjoys seeing couples step out of their comfort zones to challenge themselves and each other.

He shared the story of one couple he took whitewater rafting. The woman was having fun but was nervous about a heart-pumping experience.

“I kept pushing her because I knew she was capable. She wanted to give up, but at the end of it, she hugged me, and told me she appreciated my encouragement,” said Jordan. “It’s cool to see people break out of their shells — and have their partners coaching them, too.”

Wildman Adventure Resort has been hosting rafting trips for over three decades, and the resort itself is growing in popularity. For years, guests have driven in from all over Wisconsin to participate in its activities.

However, many couples from other states around the Midwest, and even the East Coast, have been booking experiences.

As 2021 turns to spring and summer, Jordan and Wildman Adventure Resort team are excited to welcome guests who haven’t been able to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the resort’s offerings are safer than other entertainment options since they’re outdoors and only include a few people, which allows for proper social distancing.

Jordan said he appreciates the opportunity to share the woods and rivers he loves with visitors.

“It’s so rewarding to give people the opportunity to do something outside. We’ve all been cooped up, so it’s a cool thing to see,” he told us.