Written by Brian J. Grefe
New Restaurants
I hear it almost every week:
“When are you going to open the restaurant at the airport?”
The truth is we’ve always had a wonderful little café called the Fly Away Café in the concourse at the Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA). The Fly Away Café provides travelers with fresh dining options and an impressive selection of local beer.
But what the community means by “the restaurant” is our second-story restaurant that was open to the public for decades before closing over 5 years ago. It’s gone by many names:
- Sullivan’s at the Airport
- The Restaurant at CWA
- (And the name that’s remembered most) Wings Restaurant
From Merrill to Marshfield, people used to travel from miles around for the Friday night fish fry or Sunday brunch.
Well, I’m happy to announce:
The restaurant at CWA will open again later this summer!
Last week, the Central Wisconsin Joint Airport Board signed a contract with a company that will run both the restaurant and the concourse café:
The concourse café will re-open on July 1, 2018, as: The Blind Rooster – Café + Market.
The opening day for the second-floor restaurant, “The Blind Rooster – Kitchen + Bar,” will be announced in the coming weeks. The details are still being finalized, but I can share that there will be a fish fry.
At CWA, we put a tremendous amount of focus on the customer experience. Both locations will provide a care-free experience that will delight our travelers and the Central Wisconsin community.
Sign up for updates on The Blind Rooster at www.flycwa.com.
Old Warbirds
In July, the warbirds of EAA’s AirVenture at Oshkosh will be coming to CWA for the second annual Warbird Rendezvous at CWA. The event is free and open to the public.
This once-per-year event will invite the community out onto the tarmac to see the warbirds up close and personal.
The Warbird Rendezvous at CWA is also a fundraiser for Never Forgotten Honor Flight. Through sales of commemorative merchandise and meal donations, we hope to send several local veterans on the trip of a lifetime to Washington, D.C.
Visit the Warbird Rendezvous Facebook page to learn more about this event.
The event will go on — rain or shine — so mark your calendars for July 25 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
We hope to see you there.
More Flights
The total number of flights and available seat capacity is increasing this summer at the airport!
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, total available flights and seats will increase by 12% as compared to the same time last year. Central Wisconsin can expect more options and better prices on American, Delta, and United Airlines.
This additional air service is enhanced by a better schedule by the airlines. All three airlines now have early morning departures (between 5:30 and 7:00 a.m.) and late-night arrivals. This means that the business traveler can now get to and from distant meetings easier and in the same day.
So, skip the LONG drive, lines, and wait times…
- Park super-close in our convenient lot (only $7 per day).
- Enjoy fast check-in and security.
- Get to your gate in minutes, not hours.
- Experience the comfort of our newly renovated, expanded, modern terminal.
Three major airlines. Minutes from your home or office.
Fly CWA — It’s easier from here!
Brian J. Grefe
Airport Director | Central Wisconsin Airport
Brian has been serving as Airport Director at Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA) since February 2016. Prior to CWA, he worked at airports in Aspen, CO, and in Duluth, MN. With his wife and two sons, he is now living in Rib Mountain. Email Brian Grefe.
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