Norskedalen

Norskedalen — Norwegian for "the Norwegian Valley" — is a nature and heritage center spanning more than 443 acres across two sites in Coon Valley, Wisconsin. It traces back to 1977, when Dr. Alf Gundersen and his wife Carroll donated the 112-acre Gundersen farm to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Foundation, establishing an arboretum in memory of Alf's mother, Helga Isaksaetre Gundersen. Today Norskedalen combines an arboretum, nature trails, and a collection of historic Norwegian immigrant buildings, including the Bekkum Homestead and Norskedalen's Thrunegaarden farmstead. For weddings and other celebrations, Norskedalen offers its amphitheater for ceremonies and an open-air shelter for dinner receptions and dances, along with the Benrud Little White Chapel — an 1886 Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church relocated to the property in 2009. Couples can book the three-day Picturesque Package, which covers both ceremony and reception locations, the single-day Classic Package, or the ceremony-only Just Us and Sweet & Simple packages. Beyond event rentals, Norskedalen's grounds include the Per and Anne Paulsen Cabin, an authentic log cabin built roughly 150 years ago, and the Farmhouse at Thrunegaarden, set on 40 acres of Wisconsin farmland — both available as overnight stays for guests wanting to extend their visit to the valley.