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What to do when you arrive for a visit at Kettle Moraine

First visits can feel nerve-wracking, but the arrival process at Kettle Moraine is straightforward once you know what to expect. Here's how to get from parking to the Gatehouse without any surprises.

• 2 min read • doc.wi.gov
What to do when you arrive for a visit at Kettle Moraine

Parking Reporting

  • ✓ Park in the upper parking lot, and use lined spaces only.

After parking, head to the visitation building near the upper lot - that's your first stop. Wait there until staff calls you forward to the Gatehouse. Don't skip ahead and walk to the Gatehouse on your own.

Before you enter the Gatehouse, you’ll need to complete a Request to Visit Offender form in the visitation building. Plan to take care of the form first, then wait to be called forward by staff.

Anyone 16 or older needs a current photo ID for check-in. Staff will ask for it during entry, and showing up without proper ID can end your visit before it begins.

  • ✓ Valid state driver’s license
  • ✓ Valid passport or visa
  • ✓ Valid Department of Transportation ID
  • ✓ Valid military ID
  • ✓ Valid tribal ID (with a photo)

The Gatehouse has free secured lockers. Use them for anything you can't bring inside - phones, keys, extra cash. Better to stash items here than scramble at the last minute.

Remember: You keep the locker key while you’re inside, and your hand will be stamped. You’ll need to show that stamp when you exit the institution.

What to do when you arrive for a visit at Kettle Moraine

On Site Checklist and Metal Detector

  • ✓ Park in the upper parking lot in lined spaces only.
  • ✓ Report to the visitation building near the upper lot, and wait to be called into the Gatehouse.
  • ✓ Complete the Request to Visit Offender form in the visitation building before entering the Gatehouse.
  • ✓ If you’re 16 or older, bring a current photo ID.
  • ✓ Use the no-charge secured lockers in the Gatehouse for items you can’t take inside.
  • ✓ Keep your locker key with you, and be ready to show your hand stamp when you exit.
  • ✓ Do not leave minor children unattended in a vehicle on facility grounds.

Everyone goes through a metal detector before entering - no exceptions, unless you're a DOC employee or law enforcement officer. If the detector alerts, you get up to three tries to clear it. After that, you'll be turned away.

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