Lighthouse Passport Weekend
Gills Rock to Rock Island Tours
Departs from Gills Rock Come experience the magic of Rock Island. Take the Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands charter boat The Shoreline from Gills Rock to Rock Island to enjoy a Rock Island history chat in the historic Thordarson Boathouse, then hike the 1.25 miles to the oldest lighthouse in Wisconsin, the Pottawatomie Lighthouse. You’ll step back in time to 1910 to envision what life was like for a lighthouse keeper and their family with a guided tour followed by a scenic hike back to the dock.
The Friends of Rock Island (FORI) have partnered with the Friends of Plum & Pilot Islands (FOPPI) along with the Wisconsin DNR to make this tour possible. See the Reservation Website Link for cost and more information for this 5–6-hour tour.
Reservation Link: https://www.plumandpilot.org/passport
Lighthouse Passport Weekend
Gills Rock to Rock Island Tours
Departs from Gills Rock Come experience the magic of Rock Island. Take the Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands charter boat The Shoreline from Gills Rock to Rock Island to enjoy a Rock Island history chat in the historic Thordarson Boathouse, then hike the 1.25 miles to the oldest lighthouse in Wisconsin, the Pottawatomie Lighthouse. You’ll step back in time to 1910 to envision what life was like for a lighthouse keeper and their family with a guided tour followed by a scenic hike back to the dock.
The Friends of Rock Island (FORI) have partnered with the Friends of Plum & Pilot Islands (FOPPI) along with the Wisconsin DNR to make this tour possible. See the Reservation Website Link for cost and more information for this 5–6-hour tour.
Reservation Link: https://www.plumandpilot.org/passport
Fall Park Shutdown Volunteer Weekend 2025
Our annual park shutdown event happens on Columbus Day weekend. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, October 11, 12 and 13. Chores include closing down the Lighthouse Museum, the Boathouse and the campground, etc. Free camping for volunteers is available Saturday and Sunday nights at Group Site 1. Register to join us here: https://fori.squarespace.com/config/?frameUrl=%2Ffall-spring-clean-up-interest
FORI Annual Meeting 2025
Meet in the Rock Island Boathouse to discuss FORI and park business. New Board members will be elected during the meeting. Open Board positions include Officers and all At Large directors. All paid organization members are eligible to vote at this meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend!
Email Friendsofrockisland@gmail.com with questions and nominations for Board positions.
Annual Fundraiser Family Fun Day
The Friends of Rock Island invite you, your family and friends to join us in celebrating the Island's 60th Anniversary as a State Park. Yep! In addition to FORI's Annual Picnic and Fundraiser (Brat Fry, Silent Auction, Merchandise Sale, Kids Activities inside and around the outside of the Boathouse, and of course Lighthouse tours) the day's activities will be further enriched for this very special "once in a life-time" Anniversary! The celebration will begin at 11:00am and conclude around 3:00pm.
So you ask,"what are the enriched special activities?" Well, among other activities there will be; self-guided trivia trail contest, painting your personalized sun catcher, creating and coloring a very special luminary, decoding the Icelandic saying above the Boathouse fireplace, creating a campfire in a clear 8oz cup--- imagine that!!! There will be prizes for participants in some of the activities. OH, and be assured that FORI will provide DELICIOUS birthday cupcakes!
Did you ever wonder how Rock Island became a State Park? In 1961 Town of Washington Island Chairman, Jack Hagen, and others proposed that Rock Island become a State Park. In July of 1962 the WI Dept of Conservation negotiated with Dewey Thordarson, who was managing with other heirs the estate of Chester Thordarson, an agreement that eventually led to the purchase of the Island and the establishment of it as a State Park in April of 1965!
Our DNR Park Manager for Rock Island, Brian Grube, will be giving a talk about the history of Rock Island as part of this event (time yet to be determined). We hope to see many of you there to celebrate this very special 60th Anniversary.

Lighthouse Passport Weekend
Gills Rock to Rock Island Tours
Departs from Gills Rock Come experience the magic of Rock Island. Take the Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands charter boat The Shoreline from Gills Rock to Rock Island to enjoy a Rock Island history chat in the historic Thordarson Boathouse, then hike the 1.25 miles to the oldest lighthouse in Wisconsin, the Pottawatomie Lighthouse. You’ll step back in time to 1910 to envision what life was like for a lighthouse keeper and their family with a guided tour followed by a scenic hike back to the dock.
The Friends of Rock Island (FORI) have partnered with the Friends of Plum & Pilot Islands (FOPPI) along with the Wisconsin DNR to make this tour possible. See the Reservation Website Link for cost and more information for this 5–6-hour tour.
Reservation Link: https://www.plumandpilot.org/passport
Spring Park Preparation and Cleanup Volunteer Weekend
Free camping for volunteers all weekend.
Help prepare park buildings, campground, latrines, Boathouse and Lighthouse Museum for a new season. All skill levels and ages are welcome to join in this effort.
Signup at this link: Fall & Spring Clean Up Interest — Friends of Rock Island State Park, Wisconsin (squarespace.com)
Spring Board Meeting
The Board will discuss the 2025 season fundraiser plans and consider a memorial plaque program.
They will meet on Zoom. If you wish to join, send email for the Zoom link to: friendsofrockisland@gmail.com
Everyone is welcome!


Fall Park Shutdown
Our annual park shutdown event happens on Columbus Day weekend. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, October 12, 13 and 14. Chores include closing down the Lighthouse Museum, the Boathouse and the campground, etc. Free camping for volunteers is available Saturday and Sunday nights at Group Site 1. Register to join us here: https://fori.squarespace.com/config/?frameUrl=%2Ffall-spring-clean-up-interest
Universe in the Park at Rock Island
Bring your chairs and blankets to the lawn near the Boathouse to see a presentation on the night sky and look through a telescope to see our galaxy and nearby planets. It is an amazing opportunity to view the dark sky at the park.

FORI Annual Meeting
Meet in the Rock Island Boathouse to discuss FORI and park business. New Board members will be elected during the meeting. Open Board positions include Secretary, Vice President and all At Large directors. All paid organization members are eligible to vote at this meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend!
Email Friendsofrockisland@gmail.com with questions and nominations for Board positions.

Thordarson Eagle Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Chestor Thordarson’s eagle has been returned to the Boathouse thanks to a donation by FORI that made building a display case possible. It will be celebrated with the story of where it has been and its return to the park.

Annual Fundraiser Family Picnic and Fun Day
Visit Rock Island State Park to enjoy a picnic lunch and buy some park merchandise as well as shop at the Silent Auction in the Boathouse
Cash and credit cards will be accepted at this event
Spring Park Cleanup Volunteer Weekend
Free camping for volunteers all weekend.
Help prepare park buildings, campground, latrines, Boathouse and Lighthouse Museum for a new season. All skill levels and ages are welcome to join in this effort.
Signup at this link: Fall & Spring Clean Up Interest — Friends of Rock Island State Park, Wisconsin (squarespace.com)

Winter 2024 Board Meeting
Please RSVP to friendsofrockisland@gmail.com to be sent the zoom invite.
Fall 2023 Board Meeting
Please RSVP to friendsofrockisland@gmail.com to be sent the zoom invite.

Fall 2023 Park Shutdown Work Day (Tuesday)
Volunteers should email us at friendsofrockisland@gmail.com to join in this effort.
Pottawatomie Lighthouse 2023 Tours Close
The Lighthouse Museum closes for the winter on Columbus Day.

Fall 2023 Park Shutdown Work Day (Monday)
Volunteers should email us at friendsofrockisland@gmail.com to join in this effort.
Magnificent Monarchs
Join Ranger Brynna at the Pagoda for a drop-in program all about Monarch Butterflies! Learn about their lifecycle, migration habits, and the impact these wonderful pollinators have on our world.
Snakes of Door County
Join Ranger Brynna at the Pagoda for this drop-in program to learn more about the snakes that call Door County home. You can spend as much or as little time as you like learning about things like snake habitat, diet, lifecycles, and more! No live snakes will be used for this event, but real snake sheds and props will be used to offer a tactile experience to those who wish to have that interaction.

FORI 2023 Annual Meeting
Everyone is invited to attend the FORI annual meeting in the Boathouse where we will elect Board Members and get reports on the year's accomplishments and plans. Only paid FORI members may vote in the election.

Fair Isle Book Shop Fundraiser
Shop on Sunday, July 2nd at Fair Isle Book Shop on Washington Island and 20% of the days sales will be donated to FORI! You can shop in person or online at: http://fairisleshop.com.

Annual 2023 FORI Fundraiser
The Annual Friends of Rock Island Fundraiser will include lunch for sale as well as deals on park merchandise and FORI memberships and a silent auction in the Boathouse.
Games for kids will be part of the festivities!
Pottawatomie Lighthouse 2023 Tours Begin
Seasonal Lighthouse Tours begin on Memorial Day Saturday in May and continue daily until Columbus Day Monday in October = 10am - 4pm

Spring 2023 Clean Up Weekend
Please RSVP to friendsofrockisland@gmail.com to register for this event and for further details.

Spring 2023 Clean Up Weekend
Please RSVP to friendsofrockisland@gmail.com to register for this event and for further details.

Spring 2023 Clean Up Weekend
Please RSVP to friendsofrockisland@gmail.com to register for this event and for further details.

Spring 2023 FORI Board Meeting
Please RSVP to friendsofrockisland@gmail.com to be sent the zoom invite.
Winter 2023 Board Meeting
Please RSVP to friendsofrockisland@gmail.com to be sent the zoom invite.