The Chain O' Lakes unfolds upon the landscape, beckoning a blue-green luster, towering white pines, and a beauty unsurpassed. The Chain was carved out some 12,000 years ago by the force of the Cary Glacier. Melting chunks of ice trapped in the glacial scars gave rise to the lakes you now see.

The first inhabitants of the Chain O' Lakes region were the Native American tribe of the Menominee. Fertile soils and thick forests soon attracted the first pioneers to the area. In December of 1849 Roswell Hicks and Granville Jones took up residence. The lure of the lakes was blossoming. Summertime enthusiasts began flocking to the liquid playground. However, not everyone was able to witness the splendor of the lakes. In 1963, the Chief Oshkosh Brewing Company employed a sternwheeler paddleboat to transport beer up and down the Fox River. Unfortunately, the beer was never quite as famous as the beer that made Milwaukee famous, thus the "Chief Oshkosh" was abandoned. In 1973, the boat was resurrected from its icy grave in Lake Butte des Morts. Pat and Mimi Meighan decided the "Chief" might serve a better tour on different waters. The boat was restored and christened the "Chief Waupaca". The old sternwheeler has been turning out public sightseeing tours ever since.

But the "Chief" needed a harbor. Taylor Lake's infamous Edmunds Dock and Boat Line, a hotspot in the early 1920s, seemed like the perfect place. In 1979 the Meighans turned a waning dream into reality. Clear Water Harbor was born. With a cruise boat line, frosty mugs of beer, classic cocktails, a tasty menu, live music, water volleyball, and a waterfront deck to enjoy it all from, the Harbor Bar became the place to be.

As the Harbor continued to expand, in 1983 the custom-built cruise boat, the "Lady of the Lakes," was added to the docks at Clear Water Harbor to meet the tour and charter demand. This boat was named after the original "Lady of the Lakes" that toured on the Chain in the early 1900s. The current "Lady" was specifically designed to pass under the Indian Crossing Bridge and all the way to the end of Long Lake.

In 2003 this local landmark and tourist destination underwent major renovation. Additional seating, raised stage, wood dance floor, state-of-the-art acoustics and sound, expanded kitchen and remodeled bathrooms were just part of the expansive remodel. The project earned Clear Water Harbor the coveted Grand Facelift Award 2003 from the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Meighans, along with their staff, welcome you!

An aerial view of the 22 spring-fed lakes that form Waupaca's beautiful Chain O' Lakes.

The Chief's icy grave in Lake Butte des Morts.

The Chief.

Clear Water Harbor - The home of the Chief Waupaca Sternwheeler.