'There's nothing like it': Dells Army Ducks celebrates 80th season of family tradition

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (CBS 58) — Among the trees of the Dells, you can find visitors taking a unique tour.

Just as passengers get used to the rough and tumble terrain, they are hit with a surprise - and a splash.

"I can remember as young as 10 years old being up in the cockpit of the duck, and the duck drivers teaching me how to drive the ducks," said Jason Field, the general manager of the Dells Army Ducks. "I thought, oh my God, this is so cool."

It's one of Wisconsin's cherished traditions, with the boats a staple attraction in the Dells for decades.

"Very unique. What vehicle can you go from land to water in? There's nothing like it," Jason said.

For him, the amphibious vehicles are a family affair.

"My grandfather, Melvin Plath, brought the very first duck to Wisconsin Dells," he explained.

Jason's grandfather started Dells Army Ducks in 1946, after going to a government vehicle auction looking for a carting truck.

"He and his brother, Roy, headed out to Los Angeles for this auction, got on the auction block," Jason said. "There wasn't one single truck there, but there were 250 amphibious ducks."

The dual-purpose pieces of heavy military machinery were formally known as D.U.K.W.s, first used during World War II.

"They were used for hauling soldiers from the boat to land, and cargo," said Jason's son, Jack. "It's six wheels, 45-pound brass prop on the back. Super heavy duty."

Mel didn't want to leave the trek empty-handed, so he purchased one duck.

"He and Roy drove the duck back to Milwaukee, started giving rides to friends on Pewaukee Lake on Sundays," Jason said. "One of his friends told him, you've got to bring your duck to the Dells, where every day is a Sunday."

That's exactly what he did, and it was an immediate success. The next year, Mel bought 65 more ducks.

This year, Dells Army Ducks is celebrating its 80th season.

"Melvin passed away in 1973, and my mother and father took the duck company over from there, and it's continued forward and onto myself," Jason explained. "I started selling tickets when I was 14 and moved on to driving duck as soon as I turned 18."

Now with 24 operational ducks, Jason keeps the family tradition going with his son, Jack, in the driver's seat.

"I've kind of been around it my whole life," Jack said. "Super cool for a young kid, being in an Army vehicle like this."

This is his third year as an official duck boat driver and tour guide.

"There's a bunch of little stuff with the duck, like engaging the six-wheel drive, the prop right here, making sure it's in second gear," he explained. "Talking to the guests, giving them funny jokes, good information."

The tour captivates visitors of all ages, as the trolley-like truck splashes into the water.

"The children are screaming with excitement when those ducks go down in the water and splash down," Jason said. "Three different times on tour, they're splashing down into Lake Delton, Sasquatch Lake, and the Wisconsin River."

The 80th anniversary is more than a success story - it's a celebration of memories made across generations.

"I've heard people say they remember coming on here as an 8-year-old, and now they're bringing their grandkids on," Jack said. "It's just kind of cool to hear about that, how they didn't forget about it."

Over the last 19 years, Jason has built out the Dells Army Ducks property by adding jet boats, zipline tours, tubing, a bar, and a candy shop.

"We've got to keep on expanding and give people something new to do, something new to come back to," he said.

Despite its growth, the old-school charm that made the ducks so popular remains intact.

"The history is super cool, the generations passed down, how my dad is running everything, it's just really cool to see," Jack said.

With its popularity, the Field family is honoring Grandpa Mel by keeping his dream afloat.