ABATE Acres
ABATE Acres is 80 Acres of beautiful land owned by ABATE of Wisconsin just outside of Greenwood, WI. The land was intended on being a permanent home for our Annual Summer Hummer biker rally but it has turned into a place where members enjoy camping all summer long. The land purchase, improvements, and maintenance are all paid for through donations of time and talents. Hupy & Abraham, S.C. has been an amazing sponsor of the land and its development by offering several sizeable fundraising matches over the years. Those matches to our volunteers fundraising efforts and member donations have helped form ABATE Acres to its beauty today.
W8742 Capital Rd
Greenwood, WI
Please enjoy Worm's Tour of ABATE Acres. The video takes in the view as he drove us around on the "People Hauler".
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In the beginning...
In 2001 Ed Williams & Dan Franz came up with the idea for ABATE to buy the land in order to have a place to host the annual Summer Hummer Party which was previously was hosted at the park in Neillsville, WI. In 2003 a purchase was made. The land included the "Brown Palace", cattle shed, and another small shack on site. Some of the 1st projects were pouring a concrete floor in the cattle shed and building a bar.
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Over the years...
For the first few years there were outhouses and makeshift showers out of 2x4's and plywood. Members started fundraising in 2006 to build proper showers & bathrooms. By 2008 the new bathrooms had been built with the help of Gaier Construction & Halverson Plumbing out of Black River Falls. Over the years the small shack was torn down. We added the admissions shed by the gate, which was donated from a property on Mead Lake. Down the road, the land committee saw the importance of having a garage to store and work on the mowers and other equipment. It has also become the brainstorming center for how members can turn random items into something we need. Then picnic shelters & tables were built around the property. Like all projects, funds were raised through individuals, businesses, and regions to pay for them.
Where we are...
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Summer of 2016 we were able to pay off the last of the property debt. In the following years members donated money to purchase and plant over 50 trees. The next project in sight for the land was to build a pavilion so that we wouldn't have to keep renting large tents for the bands each year at the Hummer. The pavilion would also provide a large dry space in the rain. Josef Stanek in his wife Brenda's memory, offered to match $10,000 of funds raised to bring the idea to life. One avenue of fundraising was that members could purchase a brick for a wall outside the pavilion. Hupy & Abraham again offered a large matching funds campaign for this project. In 2023 construction was complete. Since then brainstorming has begun on the next projects. The land committee is always looking for the most cost-effective way to enhance the land and allow all members to enjoy it. Brickl Brothers Construction & Craft Masonry
The plan for years ahead...
Dan Frantz Fund
After Dan Frantz passed away, the Dan Frantz Fund was established to collect free will donations in order to pay off ABATE Acres. In 2016 the land was paid off. Since then, donations continue to be accepted into the fund to pay for future land improvements.
Marlene Bautch Memorial Fund
Marlene Bautch "Auntie ABATE" was a pillar within ABATE for many years and when she passed, her husband, Dave "Twit" Linberg worked with us to establish the Marlene Bautch Memorial Fund. Marlene was often known as ABATE's historian. In her memory we are working on a project to replace the "Brown Palace" with a 32 x 68 multipurpose building. The basement will provide additional storage for historical items as well as make an excellent storm shelter. The main level will include a small kitchen, a large open space for a new board meeting room, and to provide a library type setting to display the many artifacts of the History of ABATE.
How the land will be used
Each year we host several events on the land:
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Land Warming - Held the 3rd weekend in May. Members help get the land in tip top shape for the summer. It's definitely not all work, no play though. While we get a lot done, there is also lots of comradery that takes place.
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Summer Hummer - Held the weekend after Father's Day in June. This is a weekend filled with live music, biker games, a bike show, motorcycle rides around the beautiful countryside, and fun with friends.
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Family Camp Out - Held the 2nd weekend in August. This weekend is a family fun weekend. Activities are directed around kids. As a member, this is the weekend that you are permitted to bring non-members with you. Hopefully they will decide to join.
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Land Closing - This is the 3rd weekend in October. Members pack everything up and prep the buildings for winter. This is another weekend of fun while we work.
The land is open all summer for members to come and camp for free. We do encourage donations when using the showers and electricity. It's difficult to camp for less. Regions hold regional campout weekends as a fun get together and way to enjoy the land. We want this to be a place for members to enjoy for years to come.
If you have any questions or would like to see how you might be able to help, please contact Robert "Worm" Grasse. Donations can be made using the link below. If monetary donations don't fit in your budget, let us know how else you may be able to help. Labor is always appreciated.