_After growing up with a sculptor, I developed a maxim for how I would approach creative work: Do anything you want to do in life. Just don't expect anyone to pay you or respect you for it. -- _Josh Sawyer, sculptor
Surviving Wisconsin's cold winters means getting a little creative
_After growing up with a sculptor, I developed a maxim for how I would approach creative work: Do anything you want to do in life. Just don't expect anyone to pay you or respect you for it. -- _Josh Sawyer, sculptor
Surviving Wisconsin's cold winters means getting a little creative. Perhaps that's why Fort Atkinson residents have been so successful. Some of the most popular video games ever created came from the innovative mind of Josh Sawyer, including the recently released Pillars of Eternity. Sawyer spent his childhood roaming Fort Atkinson. Perhaps he was gathering inspiration for Icewind Dale? Architect Helmut "Mike" Ajango is another creative force from Fort Atkinson, responsible for the design of 175 of Southern Wisconsin's churches and sanctuaries.
The residents of this suburban city love the proximity to attractions, dining, and entertainment in other parts of the state paired with the wide-open feel of a less settled area. Fort Atkinson is close enough to big cities like Madison and Chicago that there is no chance of residents getting the small town blues. However, it is far enough from the traffic, crime, and tourists of those same spots so as to be a tight-knit community with all the benefits of a mid-western town.
It isn't terribly difficult to find a perfect home here, no matter what sort of apartment or house you need. Plan on a relatively simple application, if there is any application at all. Generally, you will have to put down a security deposit and the first month's rent.
There are several neighborhoods in Fort Atkinson, each a little different from the others. However, throughout the city, buildings date back to World War II or earlier, which gives historic flavor to the area.
The pork chop-shaped downtown of Fort Atkinson has the good fortune to have a natural southern border created by the Rock River. That means commuting is a lot more scenic, thanks to the long and winding Riverside Drive. Other large state roads cut through this neighborhood, including the north / south routes 26 and 12.
Rock River Park is a favorite for all sorts of events, and it makes for a quick escape from the city atmosphere for a picnic or a long afternoon of Frisbee. If you are looking for rental apartments, you will have good luck at one of the downtown complexes. Single-family rental homes in Fort Atkinson are also readily available, generally with one to three bedrooms.
The city's name is a little misleading, as there was never an actual fort by the name of Fort Atkinson. The original fort that the city is sort-of named for was actually called Fort Koshkonong, a major player in the Black Hawk War. Later, the town was christened Fort Atkinson after General Henry Atkinson, who led the American forces in that war. The Lake Koshkonong neighborhood is named for the original fort, and it features a large, shallow lake that invites fishing, swimming, and boating.
The Lake Koshkonong community is fairly rural, which is attractive enough to boost the real estate prices a bit. You have plenty of rental homes to choose from, depending on your living situation. Single-family houses tend to be small and medium sized, and there are quite a few townhouses for rent in this area.
Every Memorial Day weekend, the city of Fort Atkinson steps back in time at the Annual Fort Koshkonong Rendezvous. Residents enjoy living history exhibits showcasing life in the 1840s, along with authentic food from that period.
If live theater is your passion, you won't be disappointed. Fort Atkinson's Fireside Dinner Theatre hosts national performances while you enjoy a delicious meal. What could be better?
Summer activities include hiking and biking, and there is plenty of winter fun to be had. Skate, ski, and sled your way through the cold weather. You won't want spring to come!
