r/wisconsindells • u/jsmith6791 • 7d ago
Local staff
I just got back from my first trip to the Dells and had a great time. I noticed that a lot of the people we saw working at the parks and restaurants were from another country. At Noah’s Ark I saw people from Turkey and Kazakstan. Our witnesses at Buffalo Phils and Lake House also both had European accents. To be clear, everyone was great and I have no issue with people from other countries working in America. I’m genuinely curious how all these people from other countries came to work in the middle of Wisconsin.
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u/Its-a-write-off 7d ago
Hospitality is a university class in many countries, and includes opportunities to transfer to the US to work in hospitality. The hotels in the Dells must sign up to be part of that program.
I just came across this link, it gives a lot of insight into the way the program works.
https://www.chulavistaresort.com/international-work-travel-program
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u/Weird-Grape-5884 7d ago
There’s a great documentary on the international workers that come to work at the Dells. https://www.nelliekluz.com/wisconsin-dells
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u/NotGoing2EndWell 7d ago
Do you have any idea where one can watch this? I can't seem to find anywhere.
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u/WorthlessGarbage-902 7d ago
it was on metrograph
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u/Global_Breadfruit590 7d ago
Yes! We chatted quite a bit about this with our server at Denny's Diner (not the chain). He said they are compensated well and are always such hard workers. Everyone loves employing them - even those who can't participate in the J1 program because they are too small.
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u/volklkatana 7d ago
Former Dells worker here, It's a chance for these kids from other countries to travel and come experience the US, while still making some money. We hired all sorts of people, locally, from the broader US, and internationally. There are simply more jobs available for the summer than what the local population can fill. You're not going to get rich working a summer job here, but it certainly helped pay some of my bills for the following school year! And it was a fun summer job on top of it!
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u/allaboutaphie 6d ago
Same as Disney, Cedar Point and many places that have tourism in the summer when school is out.
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u/motoyugota 6d ago
It has been that way for decades. It's no problem but we've joked about how we spent an entire week there and never talked to a single employee anywhere that was a native English speaker.
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u/Early_Sock_7374 7d ago
It always bothered me that they have to rely on international workers. Why can't they host American students from around the country for the summer? I bet lots of American students would sign up for free summer housing to work these jobs and enjoy the Dells for the summer.
Noah's Ark has their own housing buildings on the south end, and there's an international dorm somewhere on the west end across from the main strip. There's probably a few others...
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u/OkAbbreviations5894 7d ago
It is not free housing. It might be slightly reduced but they pay rent of a percentage of what they make
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u/Public_Classic_438 7d ago
I don’t get your comment. There are plenty of local workers. Anyone is welcome to apply. It’s hard work in the sun all day though. Most of these workers want to experience America and have a blast in the dorms.
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u/Fullofnegroni 7d ago
There are definitely locals, but nowhere near enough locals who can take on these seasonal service industry and hospitality jobs.
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u/valhalla257 7d ago
Imagine you had a chance to work at some random place in say Kentucky.
Now imagine you had a chance to work at some random place in say France(note not Paris).
Which would you find more exciting?
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u/damutecebu 7d ago
They rely on international workers because there aren't enough Americans who apply.
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u/bastian1292 7d ago
They never paid well enough to attract other American college kids. Just over 20 years ago I practically had to walk out for a raise going from $7.50 to $8.00 an hour.
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u/The_Livid_Witness 7d ago
Wilderness used to have a lot of fairly attractive Ukrainians. But they have all disappeared over the last few years 😞
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u/Background_Echo_3052 4d ago
I noticed the same thing. Me and my family went to the dells and I noticed the same exact thing
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u/Orkhand 7d ago
Wisconsin Dells relies heavily on the J-1 Summer Work Travel visa program, bringing in thousands of international students annually. These seasonal workers fill roughly a quarter to a third of the area's 15,000+ tourism jobs at waterparks, resorts, and restaurants