Located on 200 feet of prime Highway 45 frontage just north of the world famous Eagle River Derby track, the WSHQ sits in the heart of snowmobile history. Housed in this museum is some of the history of snowmobiling past. There is racing memorabilia displayed that earned its original fame less than a football field away at the finish line of the World Championship Snowmobile Derby track. Snowmobile history hangs from virtually every wall in the building. There are the portraits and biographies of snowmobiling legends Edgar Hetteen, J-Armand Bombardier and North Pole adventurer Ralph Plaistad. Historic snowmobiles sit waiting to be viewed. There are racing leathers worn by competitors whose names appear on the WSHQ’s Racing Wall of Fame. Old movies play in a special viewing room off the main museum floor.

It’s all here in a place dedicated to snowmobiling in a place officially known as the ‘Snowmobile Capitol of the World.’

The Human Engine

Tom Anderson, WSHQ president and the human engine that propelled the WSHQ from dream to reality, feels that Eagle River's significance in the history of snowmobiling makes this location a natural venue. Eagle River draws thousands of snowmobilers for the Derby every year, and the Derby Track hosts other significant snowmobile events each year. In the fall, the annual ‘Reunion’ brings in vintage sled aficionados from around the midwest. The Derby track plays host to a major snocross-racing event. Of course, due to the excellent snowmobile trail system in the Vilas County area, Eagle River, already a major summer tourist draw, became a well-known destination for snowmobilers.

Anderson says his group, which includes former Ski-Doo vice-president Russ Davis, among others, had negotiated for more than two years on a number of sites in the Eagle River area. But it wasn’t until the current site came up that he felt the World Snowmobile Headquarters would really become a reality.

Strip Mall to Hall Of Fame

A year-ago, the current WSHQ facility was little more than a failed mini-strip mall that had been converted to offices for a dentist and various sales operations. It truly required a person with a creative mind to picture the building as a future location to house snowmobile history. While the building itself needed renovation, the location was a dream come true. For snowmobiling, the location fulfilled a realtor’s mantra of ‘location, location, location.’

The site was on a busy highway with an average daily traffic count of more than 1,100 vehicles. It borders two major snowmobile trails, and sits adjacent to the Derby track, which draws more than 60,000 people annually. And tens of thousands of visitors come to Eagle River every year—looking for things to do and see.

The importance of securing a physical building was critically important to the immediate success of the WSHQ. Anderson says the idea of a centralized snowmobile headquarters has been a long, difficult process to coordinate. The goal was to create a space that would encompass a museum with adequate space for vintage displays; a hall of fame to showcase snowmobiling’s legends; and still have office space available for snowmobile related groups like antique clubs and state snowmobile groups. He sees the WSHQ as a ‘town hall’ for snowmobile group meetings. But, he realized that all the preliminary planning would make implementation a bit easier once the group secured a building.

Open House

By the time WSHQ board members and Polaris and Arctic Cat founder Edgar Hetteen cut the ribbon on January 20, 2007, the WSHQ crew had opened up 7,500 square feet of the facility’s space to snowmobile history. It was a rush to get the initial attractions ready for the WSHQ Open House this past January. According to Anderson, there’s still another 9,000 square feet available for future growth.

With free admission, the WSHQ is open to the public to enjoy. There are portraits of inductees on loan from the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame in Grand Rapids, MN. You’ll find a World Championship ‘Wall of Fame’ with photos of historic racing action of the past. There’s even a gift shop where you can buy WSHQ-logo memorabilia, snowmobile videos and books outlining the who and what of the sport.

The big draw has to be the vintage snowmobiles on display: including a unique Boatel Grand Prix which was built in Isle, MN; a Polaris Lil Andy; a Montgomery-Ward snowmobile, built by Polaris; and even a SnoSkat, which was offered as a do-it-yourself kit in 1968 and was powered by a 4stroke, single cylinder, air-cooled engine set low in a recessed portion of the tunnel.

Evolving Displays

“The displays of sleds will be constantly evolving as we continue to  work on making this facility the showcase of snowmobile history,” says Anderson. He notes that he and the WSHQ have received strong support and assistance from snowmobilers all across the snowbelt.

In addition to being an enthusiast, Anderson has spent a career in snowmobiling as publisher of a regional snowmobile magazine and as the innovator of a series of snowmobile shows held annually in the upper midwest, including the Detroit and Chicago areas. As a snowmobile rider, racer and promoter, Anderson long felt the need for a single location that could house the past, present and future of snowmobiling. Now, with the World Snowmobile Headquarters, the dream has become reality. It is a reality that snowmobilers can enjoy. It is all things snowmobiling for all snowmobilers.

Plan A Visit

To arrange a visit or for more information about the World Snowmobile Headquarters, contact: World Snowmobile Headquarters, 1521 North Railroad Street, Eagle River, WI 54521; Telephone: 715-479-2186 or visit http://www.worldsnowmobilehq.com/.