FOOT PRINT.docx

This is a scope of work document for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources seeking proposals to operate concession services at Yellowstone Lake State Park under WI Statute 27.01(2)(f). The Department is soliciting proposals from both nonprofit and for-profit organizations to provide food services, including a restaurant operation, ice cream service, coffee, baked goods, and a small camp store with convenience items at the state park facility. The building is owned by the Department and has remained vacant for over one year since the previous operator, Lafayette Dairy Sales, Inc., ceased operations. An on-site vendor conference is scheduled for May 18, 2026, at 11:00 AM, with written questions due by May 21, 2026, and proposals due on May 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM. The concession services are expressly limited to food and retail operations; proposals must exclude boat rentals, bait sales, and firewood services, which are currently provided by Friends of Yellowstone Lake.

Historically, ice cream service has been the primary revenue driver and consistent offering since the dairy stand's inception fifty years ago, with successful operators also providing complementary services such as fish fries and Sunday breakfast specials. The facility includes a kitchen, seating area, and walk-up service capability. The Department notes that recent operator profitability has fluctuated based on service offerings and operating hours, with the previous operator providing limited ice cream service with restricted hours. No specific pricing terms, funding sources, or contract term lengths are detailed in this document; however, the solicitation indicates the Department has experienced difficulty securing operators in recent years and seeks a proposal that would optimize the facility's revenue potential and visitor services.