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  The
Colsac III ferry, which crosses the Wisconsin
River between Columbia and Sauk counties, is
Wisconsin's only free ferry. It shuttles traffic
on Wisconsin Hwy 113 between Okee on the east
bank of the river to Merrimac on the west bank.
Colsac III was commissioned in 2003 and is a
service that has been provided in this area for
more than a century.
 The
trip is free...the scenery superb! But the main
factor in its popularity is pure nostalgia! It
is now the only ferry remaining on the state
trunk highway network.
 Small snack stands line the road
on both approaches, dispensing soft drinks and
ice cream at a staggering rate. The
peak of the season comes in August when up to
1,200 vehicles a day create a line up of 50 or
more vehicles waiting their turn for the
ferry. No accurate counts exist to
determine the number of tourists, but estimates
are in the range of 150,000 to 200,000 -- not
bad for a village with less than 300 population.
The ferry is open for service 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, normally from April 15 thru
November 30. Call (608)246-3871 to check
availability.
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Welcome to Columbia County
