Eau Claire, WI, April 30, 2026—Chippewa River Trolley Co. opens its third season on May 1 with more than 30 unique trolley tours, including six brand-new experiences and more currently in development.
Since launching in 2023, the Trolley Co. has built a distinctive model around collaboration, partnering with local nonprofits, small businesses, and cultural organizations to offer guests behind-the-scenes access to the people, places, and stories that define the Chippewa Valley. Partners this season include the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership, Beaver Creek Reserve, the Chippewa Valley Museum, Maiv Flower Farm, River Bend Winery & Distillery, and 5 & 2 Café at Down to Earth Garden Center, among others. Tours range from native plant and nature experiences to craft beer and winery routes, farm tours, Scandinavian history, local sports legends, and narrated Eau Claire history tours.
The model is good for the community as well as the calendar. By routing visitor spending through locally owned businesses and mission-driven nonprofits, Chippewa River Trolley keeps dollars circulating in the local economy while connecting residents and visitors alike to businesses and causes they might not otherwise discover.
The tourism impact is measurable. Of the more than 7,000 tickets sold in 2025, approximately 2,000 (28%) were purchased by guests from outside the Chippewa Valley. The company contributed to Eau Claire County’s record-breaking tourism performance in 2024, a year in which county tourism supported over 3,900 jobs and generated $31 million in state and local tax revenue, according to Visit Eau Claire.
Tickets for the 2026 season go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 1 at https://chippewarivertrolley.org/tours. Several tours, including Parade of Homes and Nature’s Best-Kept Secrets, are offered just two or three times per season and are expected to sell quickly.
B-roll footage is available upon request. Media are also welcome to schedule on-site shoots.
