Harley Ride Relocation Hits Small Town in a Big Way
After losing Harley dealership, Sauk Prairie stands to lose even more.
Any time a business closes, it’s rarely a good thing for the local economy. But when a business closes in a small town, it’s even worse. And the relocation of a Harley-Davidson dealership in the town of Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin takes away more than jobs and tax revenue. It also took away the town’s annual Harley ride. An event that brought in thousands of visitors and countless dollars for local businesses.
The 32nd annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Freedom Ride will instead move to nearby Madison, Wisconsin, following the dealership’s relocation last September. The event, one of the largest organized MDA fundraisers in the country, was a huge boon for the little river town of Sauk Prairie. Not to mention the dealership itself, which served as a destination for many riders in the summer months.
Town officials and local business owners admit that they don’t know how much business they’ll lose as a result of the relocation. “I definitely think it was a huge day for local restaurants, retailers, convenience stores and gas stations,” Sauk Prairie Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tywana German told WISC News. “We won’t have firm numbers, but for sure this entire summer season will have an impact without the dealership in town.”
Ken Myers, owner of the Cedarberry Inn, hopes that other local attractions will help fill the void (and his rooms). “We don’t know; the absence of some of the Harley riders could free up some rooms for other people,” he told WISC. If nothing else, Sauk Prairie serves as a grave reminder of just how much of an impact the presence (or absence) of a Harley event and dealership can have on a town.
