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Lake Tomahawk’s Tourism Success Story: Softball, Summer Crowds…and Snowshoes

Softball, Hot Dogs, Homemade Pie…and snowshoes? It may not be the catchiest jingle, but in Lake Tomahawk, WI, it perfectly captures a uniquely Northwoods Americana.

In Lake Tomahawk, community spirit is a way of life, shaped by a blend of natural beauty, deep-rooted history, and one of the country's most unusual summer traditions: snowshoe baseball! What began as a local curiosity has become a signature tourism draw, bringing visitors back week after week during the summer.

Visitors often travel to Lake Tomahawk to enjoy its pristine lakes, towering pines, and the natural beauty of northern Wisconsin. But every Monday night during the summer, they come for the silly fun that is snowshoe baseball.

That’s right - it’s America’s national pastime, played on footwear necessary for walking in deep snow. What may sound like an odd combination has become one of the region's most beloved attractions and a textbook example of how a community can embrace its heritage to create a lasting social and economic impact.

From Frozen Lakes to Summer Tradition

Snowshoe baseball traces its roots back to the frozen lakes of northern Wisconsin, where it was played during the 1940s and 1950s. In 1960, Lake Tomahawk Town 

Chairman Ray Sloan had an idea that would change the community forever. Snowshoe baseball had always been played during the winter months, but Sloan believed the game could become a unique summertime attraction that would draw visitors to town. His vision changed a winter game into the town’s signature summer tourism and social event that continues more than six decades later. 

The idea worked. Thousands of visitors make the trip to Lake Tomahawk for the games, each one drawn to the excitement, comradery, food, and unique entertainment! For many, attending a game has become a tradition passed down for generations. 

What Exactly Is Snowshoe Baseball?

Part sport, part comedy, and part community gathering, snowshoe baseball is unlike anything most people have ever seen. The game is played using a 16-inch softball, adopted from Chicago-style softball, and players wear no gloves.  Bases are shortened to 50 feet, and participants compete while wearing snowshoes, and yes, they are the kind used for walking in deep snow!

The result is exactly what you'd expect…silliness, fun, and lots of laughter! Players stumble. Players fall. Players slide - and spectators love every minute of it!

The specially designed field is covered with roughly six inches of sawdust and wood chips to soften landings because, as longtime Snowhawks manager and player Jeff Smith puts it, "everybody falls!" Fielding a ground ball while running on snowshoes is challenging enough.  Take away the gloves, add a 16-inch softball and the occasional cloud of dust, and the game quickly becomes a test of both athletic ability and humility.  

The unpredictability of the game is part of the appeal.  Every game delivers plenty of laughs for all involved, making it as entertaining for first-time visitors as it is for longtime fans and players.

The Hometown Snowhawks

The Lake Tomahawk Snowhawks serve as the hometown team and compete against a variety of opponents throughout the summer. Games often feature local fire departments, community organizations, restaurants, and recreational teams from around the region. One of the season's most anticipated matchups is the annual grudge match against a team of Chicago firefighters who travel north with their families every summer, specifically to play the Snowhawks.

What started as some winter fun has grown into a thriving league with multiple teams and participants spanning generations. In many cases, the children of former players are now taking the field for the Snowhawks.

More Than a Game: A Community Fundraising Engine

While snowshoe baseball attracts crowds, its greatest impact may be what happens beyond the field. Every game night, a different local nonprofit organization operates the concession stand.  Volunteers prepare and serve hot dogs, brats, fresh popcorn, beverages, and one of the event's most famous attractions: homemade pie.

Between 70 and 80 pies are sold by the slice during a typical game night, and they frequently sell out. Locals know that if pie is on the agenda, arriving early is essential.

Volunteers bake the homemade pies, grill the food, operate the concession stands, and pop freshly-made popcorn throughout the evening. Each nonprofit organization keeps the proceeds from its designated game night, providing critical funding that often supports the group's activities for an entire year!

Jim Travis, Adjutant of the local American Legion Post 318, believes snowshoe baseball has truly transformed the community. “Snowshoe Baseball is the best thing that ever happened to this town,” he says. “We man the concessions twice a year, and it not only provides monetary support but also helps us recruit new members.”

Even the field itself benefits from community participation. During games, volunteers pass a butterfly net through the crowd to collect donations that help maintain the field and cover operating expenses, including the lights that illuminate the games.

Fueling the Local Economy

The impact of snowshoe baseball extends well beyond the ballpark. Monday nights have become an economic boost for downtown Lake Tomahawk. After games conclude, visitors and players head downtown, filling restaurants and gathering with friends and family.

The town's ice cream shop often sees lines stretch out the door, while local restaurants welcome crowds looking to continue the evening's festivities. Players frequently rotate among the community's eateries, creating opportunities for visitors to meet them and share stories about the game.

Local businesses embrace the tradition as well. The Lake Tomahawk Meat Market, one of the community's best-known attractions and a regional destination famous for its extensive variety of bratwurst, supplies meat for concession sales and benefits from the increased visitor traffic generated by the games.

Building Tourism Through Community

While snowshoe baseball may be Lake Tomahawk's most distinctive attraction, it represents just one piece of the community's tourism story. Today, Lake Tomahawk is a thriving year-round destination that welcomes visitors seeking outdoor recreation in every season. However, by celebrating its outdoor heritage, honoring its history, and leaning into the joyful absurdity of snowshoe baseball, Lake Tomahawk has created an experience that visitors cannot find anywhere else. 

The result is more than a successful tourism attraction. It's a tradition that strengthens nonprofits, supports local businesses, brings residents together, and gives visitors a reason to return year after year.

In Lake Tomahawk, tourism isn't something that happens to the community; it's something the community creates together.  And judging by the crowds gathering every Monday night to watch people attempt to play baseball on snowshoes, it's a tradition that will continue for generations to come!