Merrick State Park is one of many public lands that started as a gift from John Latsch, a wealthy Winona grocer. After finding himself caught in a storm while paddling his canoe in the sloughs of the Mississippi, he found himself confronted with an angry landowner while he was riding out the storm under his canoe. Not wishing that others should have such an unsettling experience, he ordered the purchase of available lands along both sides of the river, becoming southeastern Minnesota’s greatest conservationist. He donated land to Minnesota, Wisconsin and the City of Winona. These lands eventually became parts or all of John A. Latsch State Wayside and Whitewater State Park in Minnesota and Perrot and Merrick state parks in Wisconsin. He said he gave the land so that the boys of today and tomorrow would have a permanent place to play.

The Wisconsin Geocaching Association (WGA) is a group of geocachers dedicated to promoting and protecting geocaching within the state of Wisconsin. The WGA organizes geocaching events, works with land owners/managers on geocaching policies, educates the public at large about geocaching, and facilitates communication between WGA members. To learn more about the WGA visit: www.wi-geocaching.com2013 kicks off the beginning of the Wisconsin Geocaching Association State Parks series. It is our goal to place a geocache in every state park in the state of Wisconsin so watch out for more in this series that encourages geocachers to explore the natural resources in this beautiful state of ours.