Stay & Play
A Trio of Classic Resorts in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
by Randy Mink
Road America, one of the premier road racing courses in the U.S., put the resort village of Elkhart Lake on the map when it opened in 1955. A stop for most major North American race series, the track draws some 800,000 spectators every season.
Though fast cars have brought fame to Elkhart Lake, life in the northeast Wisconsin town (population 967) moves at a slower pace. The genteel ambience is reflected in three Victorian-style hotels that have welcomed travelers for generations. Within easy walking distance of charming shops and eateries, each of the white clapboard hostelries offers a private beach on the pristine lake, whose blue-green waters provide an idyllic setting for swimming, fishing and boating.
The Osthoff Resort
An AAA Four Diamond property, The Osthoff Resort was originally opened in 1886 by German entrepreneur Otto Osthoff. A favorite destination of the affluent escaping big-city hustle and bustle, it was sold in the 1950s and for over 30 years operated as a drama and arts camp.
Rebuilt in the 1990s, The Osthoff comprises three buildings featuring steeply pitched roofs, gables, dormers, turrets and gingerbread trim. Expansive lawns sweep down to the lakefront path. Each of the 240 suites has a kitchen or kitchenette, dining and living room, fireplace and private balcony.
Hotel amenities include a full-service spa, cooking school, fitness center, game arcade, and indoor and outdoor pools. When you’re ready to dine, choose from the Concourse Restaurant & Lounge, Otto’s Restaurant or the cavernous Elk Room cocktail lounge, whose floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the lake and lawns.
Siebkens Resort
Established in 1916 by Laura and Herman Siebken, Siebkens Resort is the smallest of Elkhart Lake’s trio of traditional hotels. It is steeped in Old World atmosphere, with two buildings dating to the late 1800s. Guests stay in one of the 31 historic hotel rooms or in the condominium building.
The resort’s Stop-Inn Tavern, a popular gathering spot filled with road racing memorabilia, occupies a former opera house. The adjacent Sissy’s is an outdoor beer garden, and P.A.M.’s restaurant offers fine dining.
The Shore Club
Just up the hill from Siebkens resides another time-honored resort, The Shore Club. The Social, a speakeasy-themed lounge/restaurant accented with Prohibition-era decor, shares a 1910 building with a theater featuring bands, karaoke and comedy acts. Nearby, overlooking the 600-foot beach, the Tiki Bar also presents live music.
