Stanley is experiencing a "Rural Renaissance." The city is home to Ace Ethanol, Wisconsin's first large-scale producer of ethanol, and the Stanley Correctional Institution, a medium security facility housing 1500 inmates and employing 405.

The community is known for Chapman Park, with its annual rodeo, modern campgrounds, game parks, ball fields, volleyball, tennis and basketball courts. Otter Lake recreation area is seven miles north of Stanley, and is just one of the areas offering fishing and hunting opportunities and recreational trails. The Stanley Area Historical Society Museum draws visitors from near and far, and the community has a pool and fitness center at the high school.