Even with road construction slowing it down a little bit, the tourist season in Ephraim is off to a strong start. The village’s main corridor was virtually cut off for much of the spring due to extensive work on State Highway 42. Upon the end of its hard closure, visitors were welcomed to Ephraim with new wide sidewalks and hanging streetlights. Ephraim Tourism Coordinator Lane Methner says business and tourists alike have given the street improvements high marks.

Methner also believes some businesses are continuing to see the benefits of the village allowing some alcohol sales at restaurants after ridding itself of its title of the state’s last dry municipality in 2016.