Wyalusing Academy donated to RVI
This is the front of the historic main building on the former Wyalusing Academy grounds.
By Ted Pennekamp
Clinicare Corp., headquartered in West Allis, Wis., has donated the Wyalusing Academy buildings and grounds to River to Valley Initiatives (RVI) of Prairie du Chien.
“We are confident that both private and public entities can come together to develop the property into something that will greatly benefit the citizens of Prairie du Chien and Crawford County,” said Clinicare President David Fritsch. “From its inception as St. Mary’s Academy to its later use as Wyalusing Academy the building has stood as a landmark in the community. We feel that RVI has the expertise and vision to successfully transition the property and preserve its historic legacy. We are grateful to be part of the community and look forward to continuing the relationship for many years to come.”
RVI is a non-profit organization, and on its website states, “We work to find, plan, and implement innovative projects that through public and private participation, can change a disaster–empty storefronts, blighted neighborhoods, closing business, natural disaster, and poor marketing and business development into an opportunity for growth and renewal.”
“We’re very positive and very excited about this project,” said RVI President Julia Henley. “We want Prairie du Chien to do well, and we feel that the Wyalusing Academy property can become a regional magnet.”
Henley said that in the near term, RVI will create and then vet potential development options in order to make the Wyalusing Academy site economically sustainable and to create a positive outcome for the community and the region. At this time, RVI has not finalized any particular concept. In the past, RVI did put forth one option for the property as that of a resort and spa.
In a press release, RVI said that a comprehensive plan will be created for the historic Wyalusing Academy building along with a sensitive and compatible development on the balance of the site. RVI stated that they do not know yet whether Wyalusing Academy will be a resort. “The work has yet to be completed to evaluate if that will or will not make sense,” said RVI. “A resort complex of some sort certainly would be a tremendous positive for the region and the city of Prairie du Chien. We have eliminated certain types of development—such as industrial, storage, or non-permanent housing.” RVI has also said that they will be working hard to find a proper use for the main building in order to avoid tearing it down.
The Wyalusing Academy property is for sale, but RVI has stated that there is no selling price at this time.
“The project will require a number of supportive entities to succeed,” said Henley. “Developing property, and particularly this historic property, is both a big opportunity for the Driftless Region and surrounding communities, but with very real challenges. It will require a careful eye and respect for architecture and history, partnering and gaining support of local, state, and federal economic development and government entities, as well as partnering potentially with other organizations and private investment. We are excited about what can happen here, and we are ready to work with others towards a positive outcome and sustainable future for the property.”
Wyalusing Academy, 601 S. Beaumont Road, Prairie du Chien, is a former treatment center for emotionally disturbed children and adolescents and has been vacant since 2014. Clinicare had owned the property since 1969 before recently donating it to its new owners RVI.
The historic main building on the Wyalusing Academy site is 80,000 square feet. The property is 17 acres.
