Northeast Wisconsin heads indoors for summer entertainment to avoid wildfire smoke

BROWN COUNTY (WLUK) — Our smoky skies have turned summer staples like Bay Beach, the pools, and parks into ghost towns.

“It’s really bad because you can’t even see the river when you go over the blue bridge,” said Elizabeth Ryczkowski of Ashwaubenon.

The smoke canceled softball for the Ryczkowski sisters, bringing them to The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley Thursday afternoon.

“Because it’s indoors and bowling is fun,” said Madison Ryczkowski.

They have been far from the only ones to turn to a place Wisconsinites tend to visit more in the winter rather than mid-summer.

“I’d say we’ve been about three times as busy as a normal week this week so far and it looks like the weekend is probably going to carry out the same way,” said Ryan Orvis, the owner of The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley.

“I had a guy come in earlier today and say it was the apocalypse outside,” said Juan Alcantar, a certified coach at The Picklr.

At the Picklr, courts normally quiet this time of year have seen heavy use.

“If it wasn’t smokey outside, people would much rather play outside,” said Alcantar.

The same likely can be said for the kids and parents visiting Let’s Run Around – an indoor playground in Ashwaubenon.

“It was very crowded, especially right before lunch, but we weren’t too surprised because we thought everyone else would have a similar idea to try to beat the smog,” said Miranda Besaw of Minneapolis.

People enjoy Let’s Run Around in Ashwaubenon on July 16, 2026. (Photo credit: WLUK)

“I just mentioned to my wife today it’s like we’re back in the middle of January on a Saturday right now,” said Mark Kinnunen, co-owner of Let’s Run Around.

Businesses will enjoy it for now, knowing once the smoke clears, so will the size of the crowds – at least until winter inevitably hits sooner than most of us would like.