Description: I’ll admit, I was a little hesitant to go on the Wild Thing Jet Boat. Personally, I thought that it would be a little lame, but it was a blast and a half. The company does a great job of combining the beauty of the Dells with the thrill of a racing boat.
You can either drive there or be bussed from the ticket-purchasing center, and we choose the bussing option (it just made life easier). Once you get to the landing spot, you must walk a little ways to get to the dock, but it well worth the walk! They snap your picture (it is the Dells, so they do have to make it corny somehow) and then load the boats. It doesn’t really matter where you sit; you will get wet. But the people on the outside get the most wet, as does the second row. Don’t let that little windshield make you think you aren’t getting wet!
The boats are really nice and sit about eight to a row, with seven rows back (I believe), and they have handlebars, life preservers, and all that stuff just in case. The tour guides really make the experience worthwhile, and ours was a blast. They do have a script, but they are helpful, insightful, and have a great sense of humor. You start the trip of going really fast, then the boat stops suddenly and you are drenched in water! Keep your eyes open during at least of these excursions, as it is pretty cool.
Basically, you start the trip off wet and are wet throughout the rest of the trip. You are on the Wisconsin River during the entire trip and some beautiful sights. You start off seeing the dam (okay, maybe not the most beautiful sight) and then travel 14 miles round trip to see some of the Dells’ most renowned natural sights. You will see Blackhawk’s Island and Chimney Rock, the rock with Blackhawk’s face in it. You get to visit Cold Cavern (I believe that’s the name) and see a ton of wildlife as well.
While all the scenic tour stuff is nice, the best part is the actual jet boat. They take some boats out two at a time and have a great time splashing each other and trying to swamp each other. The boats have 1,200 horse power, and you can really feel it. You do everything from full-throttle stops to 360-degree spins. It is an absolute blast.
I would strongly suggest the Wild Thing Jet Boats! It is a great time that mixes history and pleasure together. My only suggestion… wear your bathing suit!
Close