Most sites on the Mississippi Blues Trail are in the South, but not Grafton. This village, about 20 miles north of Milwaukee, was once the home of Paramount Records. Legendary artists like Ma Rainey and Lawrence Welk cut incendiary recordings on Grafton soil before the company ceased operations in 1932. The local legacies of these and other musicians are cemented in Paramount Plaza, where plaques with the names of Paramount Records artists are engraved in plaques arranged to look like a keyboard. Over 90 years later, Grafton remains proud of its past while being an active and modern community. Parks with river access, a highly rated school system, a thriving downtown and family-friendly events give the village a vibrant character and evergreen appeal.
Paramount Plaza in downtown Grafton shows of the the cities music history.
Grafton is a rare non-Southern site on The Mississippi Blues Trail.
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Fishing, frisbee golf and four-legged friends
The Milwaukee River runs north to south through Grafton’s middle. Local anglers will visit riverside green spaces like Veterans Memorial Park and Lime Kiln Park to cast their lines. Lime Kiln Park further features a river access point for canoes and kayaks. Its land-bound amenities include a sand volleyball court, an archery range and nine holes of frisbee golf. Visitors can also explore historic, long-inoperative kilns once owned by the Milwaukee Falls Lime Company. Across the street, Muttland Meadows offers 7 wooded acres where dogs can get the zoomies out and meet fellow four-legged friends. During the summer, locals of all ages flock to Grafton Family Aquatic Center to enjoy the waterslide, lap lanes and wading area.
Graftons Lime Kiln Park riverfront acces is perfect for fishermen.
Playing a round at Lime Kiln Parks Disc Golf course.
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A nationally known fall festival
Fall Into Grafton is the village’s annual autumn festival hosted at Paramount Plaza. Attendees can enjoy various activities, including nine pumpkin-themed holes of miniature golf scattered throughout downtown. However, the highlight of Fall Into Grafton is the nationally known pumpkin derby. “If you can picture pinewood derbies for Boy Scouts, it’s the same thing, only with pumpkins,” says Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Elizabeth Mueller. “Participants pick up wheel kits, decorate their pumpkins and send them down the ramp. It’s not only a beauty contest — it’s also about who can be the fastest.” Downtown Grafton’s Lumberyard Plaza is a small, tree-dappled lawn hosting various seasonal events. These include the annual tree-lighting ceremony and Ladies’ Night Out.
From century-old bungalows to luxury lofts
Grafton is home to over 12,000 people living in clusters of winding and gridded residential streets. Many occupy single-family houses averaging about 2,100 square feet. A few homes date to the early 1900s, including bungalows, Colonial Revivals and American Foursquare designs. Ranch-style homes, Cape Cods, split-level, bi-level and contemporary Craftsman houses emerged in later decades. Duplexes and apartment-style condos — including some luxury lofts — are also available. Two-bedroom condos from the 1900s start below $200,000, while homes over 3,600 square feet on acre-plus properties can top $1 million.
A few olders homes can be found near the center of Grafton.
Some condominiums in Grafton feature Milwaukee River views.
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Public schools: Grafton's "pride and joy"
The Grafton School District has an overall Niche score of A; Mueller calls it “our pride and joy.” Students start at one of two elementary schools: Woodview Elementary to the north or Kennedy Elementary to the south. All sixth through eighth graders attend John Long Middle School before advancing to Grafton High. It enrolls roughly 700 teens, offering over 20 Advanced Placement courses and a dozen dual-enrollment courses. “We have a career and technical education program like no other,” Mueller says. Students can prepare for automotive, welding, construction and food science careers, among other trades. “On top of that, they can have the first semester of college done,” Mueller adds. Niche gives Grafton High an A-minus, while Woodview Elementary, Kennedy Elementary and John Long Middle have As.
John Long Middle School In Grafton has a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1.
Kennedy Elementary School is a highly rated public school, scoring a A by Niche.
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Big-name and locally owned businesses
Downtown Grafton features various locally owned businesses. Milwaukee Ale House is among the village’s higher-rated dining options. This two-story riverside restaurant offers scenic outdoor seating where customers can enjoy Friday fish fries. Mueller recommends The Stillery, an American eatery with a sprawling whiskey selection, and Lobo’s Place, which serves traditional Mexican fare. Locals can grab groceries at Pick ‘n Save and Sendik’s Food Market in the village’s southern section. Big-box stores like Meijer, Target and Costco Wholesale operate to the east near Interstate 43.
The Milwaukee Ale House Grafton sits on the Milwaukee River and serves great food and brews.
Find the perfect Bourbon at The Stillery in Grafton.
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About 20 miles to downtown Milwaukee
The village is home to several prominent employers, including Aurora Medical Center — Grafton, a 132-bed hospital. I-43 offers a direct route south to downtown Milwaukee. Ozaukee County Transit Services also operates the Ozaukee County Express Bus, which takes commuters to the city in about 45 minutes.
Grafton is a village of over 12,000 people in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.
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