MEDFORD – The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is accepting applications for a concession operator to provide restaurant and recreation rental services at the historic Mondeaux Dam Lodge in Taylor County near Medford.
Located along the shoreline of the 411-acre Mondeaux Flowage, the lodge serves as the centerpiece of the Mondeaux Dam Recreation Area and typically operates from mid-May through early September.
The concession permit includes restaurant service at the lodge, operation and maintenance of the Mondeaux Day Use Area’s swimming beach and picnic grounds, and commercial recreation rental services, such as boat rentals.
Prospective applicants are invited to an open house at the lodge at 10 a.m. Monday, November 2, 2026. Visitors can tour the lodge and recreation area and meet with Forest Service staff to ask questions about the opportunity.
Applications must be received by close of business Friday, December 11, 2026. Application requirements are available on SAM.gov. For additional information, contact recreation manager Karen Katz at 715-362-1381 or Karen.Katz@usda.gov.
The recreation area’s history dates to the late 1930s, when the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the dam to create the flowage and expand public recreation opportunities on the national forest.
Today, the area draws visitors for fishing, hiking, camping, paddling, winter sports, nature viewing and special events. With lakeside views and direct access to trails, the lodge remains a gathering place for generations of visitors.
Photo Credit: U.S. Forest Service
Published on: Oct 31, 2026 at 12:18 pm