Take a Vintage Vacation to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

Courtesy of Elkhart

THE ROAD RACE HAS LONG HELD SPECIAL ALLURE, from the days it was romanticized on the silver screen by James Dean, Steve McQueen, James Garner, Paul Newman and others. At this same time, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, was discovering its love of all things road racing. It was this small town two and a half hours north of the Windy City that that the Chicago Region of the Sports Car Club of America chose for its iconic open-road races.

A Storied Racing History

A true embodiment of the sport, Elkhart Lake’s road races were shots of adrenaline that burned quick and bright. Running from 1950-1952, the hard turns and long straights that took drivers, literally, through the middle of town, were ultimately deemed too dangerous to continue. A fatal accident involving a young bystander put a halt to future road races.

But Elkhart Lake still has racing in its blood. Fourteen historical markers—such as Peck’s Alley, Dickens’ Ditch and Schoolhouse Straight—identify significant spots from the ‘50s. Many venues in town are also so ,named. And Elkhart Lake boasts one of the fastest permanent racing tracks in the world, Road America.

The town let no moss grow in the building of Road America, which was up and running by April 1955. Resort owner Ollie Siebkins was instrumental in its construction. The only female member of the road-race committee, Ollie’s hotel and event marketing helped make the road races a success. When Road America was proposed, she sold stock to raise money for its construction. As a re- ward for her efforts, Siebkins Resort became known as the place for racing elite to be seen. Paul Newman even stayed there during the filming of his 1969 racing movie, “Winning.”

Where to Play

Today, Road America is a holy grail for fans of Indy racing, Motocross and much more— the 640-acre facility offers group adventure activities such as pace car rides, geocaching, paintball and trap shooting. Its driving schools offer programs in winter driving, motorcycle safety and high-performance driving. But perhaps one of the most exhilarating experiences at Road America is its off-roading: more than 12 miles of trails take you through grass, gravel, the woods and the mud, full of wild and mild dips and inclines. Of course, should your interests lie outside of racing, there are plenty of other activities for your docket—but you should try that off-roading! How about taking a pottery class, knocking back a beer flight, watching how cheese is made and enjoying a massage with ingredients sourced from Elkhart Lake? You can do it all in a day.

Courtesy of Elkhart

Above: Take a jaunt through Elkhart Lake’s supremely walkable downtown, just a hop, skip and a jump from your hotel.

Or over a few, depending on your chill level. As you walk through Two Fish Gallery’s outdoor sculpture gallery and its workshop, you know you’re in for a treat—the enchanting ceramic, steel and stone works will fire your imagination. Inside, longtime potter Pat Robison teaches you the basics of working with clay and encourages you to let your creative side run rampant as you craft your very own piece, which Robison will glaze and fire for you.

Getting your hands dirty is given, and it’s never been as gratifying. Robison will give you guidance in crafting a piece as individual as you are, and you’ll be able to choose from shelves and shelves of implements he’s gathered through the decades. You can texturize your piece with rocks, honeycomb, coral— you name it, Robison is likely to have it.

Two Fish Gallery recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and there’s no better time to visit. Just a stone’s throw from the gallery, you’ll find the best of Elkhart Lake’s cuisine. In this supremely walkable town, you’ll find that most destinations can be reached on foot (or bicycle) from your hotel. There’s nothing quite as charming as a leisurely stroll down the street to uncover all the gems—and there are many—that Elkhart Lake holds. Lake Street Café is one of the best. This scratch kitchen serves up flavorful American and Mexican cuisine in two different atmospheres: a casual, colorful room perfect for lunch, and a refined, white-tablecloth dining room for special occasions and date nights. Its extensive wine list has garnered Wine Spectator Award of Excellence nods consecutively since 2003.

Wine lovers can continue their journey at Vintage Elkhart Lake, with a Wine-O-Matic lounge that lets you sample all the 16 selections on tap. An additional 250 wines are available for purchase at its adjoining store. Prefer beer? Hometown brewer Switchgear Brewing Company has so many tasty choices, you’ll want to get a flight—the six-pour option. The ales and IPAs are delicious, but don’t leave without trying a sour—the imaginative Orange Krushable tastes uncannily like an alcoholic version of the popular soda. One spot you’ll need to drive to—but not after a wine or beer tasting—is Henning’s Cheese. You can’t visit the Dairy State with- out sampling Wisconsin-made cheese! This four-generation, family-owned cheese factory has been in operation since 1914. If you can tear yourself away from the cases of Monterey Jack, cheddar and Colby cheeses, take a tour of the production facility to learn about how cheese is made—and watch it processed before your very eyes. Remember, you can take as many bricks of cheese as you want in your carry-on.

Where to Stay

Three historic resorts line Elkhart Lake’s shores. The largest and closest is The Osthoff, also the starting point for recreation such as fishing, tennis, sledding and snowshoeing. The Osthoff opened in 1886 as a destination for the affluent who wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city for a refined, small-town experience. It quickly became known for its luxurious accommodations, entertainment and fine dining, and is now a AAA Four Diamond property. It has three buildings with varying suite types, which include kitchenettes and fireplaces, in addition to a spacious ballroom and conference space, a fitness center and Wisconsin’s top-ranked resort spa, Aspira

The power of nature is harnessed in Aspira’s treatments, which include the Cedars Massage Experience, for which your therapist gathers fresh cedar sprigs from the lake before your treatment. In the Sacred Waters Energy Massage, crystal-clear lake water is used. The newest amenity at Aspira is the Salt Room, where you can unwind in a lounge chair while breathing in therapeutic salt particles, which work wonders to alleviate congestion, allergies, inflammation and skin irritation. Reading materials are available, but should you find yourself needing a nap, this is the perfect place to curl up for a snooze. Want to whip up lunch for yourself? The Osthoff Cooking School will turn you into a chef de cuisine in but a few hours. You’ll learn invaluable tips and tricks from one of the property’s chefs and will wow at your next dinner party.

The Siebkins Resort opened in 1916 and is still family-owned to this day. It has two distinctive room offerings: those in the condominium tower, with balcony hotel rooms and one, two or three-bedroom condos with open-concept floor plans; and two historic hotel buildings, the Elm Park Hotel and the Lake Cottage, with 30 European-sized guest rooms. But Siebkins’ claim to fame is the Stop-Inn Tavern, touted as the “best bar on the racing circuit.” Its walls and ceilings are adorned with racing flags, stickers, signs and other memorabilia; the tavern is known for its lively atmosphere and is a must-visit entertainment stop.

Just up the hill from Siebkins lies the Shore Club, where you can relax on the resort’s private beach. Visit the waterfront Tiki Bar for a libation, then head to Cottonwood Social for dinner or brunch—if the weather cooperates, opt for patio seating that affords a great view of the lake. When it’s time for some music or comedy, the century-old theater next door to Cottonwood Social makes for a fun evening out. The resort offers both guest rooms and
condos.

Elkhart Lake abounds with many more dining, entertainment, shopping and recreation options. For more information visit elkhartlake.com

Lake Lore

Native Americans referred to Elkhart Lake as the “chosen spot” for awesome natural beauty. The lake is named for a handsome young warrior who proved his bravery by slaying an elk and devouring its heart.

When Elkheart, the young warrior, jilted Silver Birch in favor of another, Singing Bird, the rejected girl followed the lovers out onto the lake, sank their canoe, but also drowned. It is said that when the moon is full, the spirit of Silver Birch passes over the lake, crying for Elkheart.

A 252-acre lake, Elkhart is 120 feet deep and the fourth-deepest lake in Wisconsin. It is known for its pristine  waters, which Native Americans believed held healing qualities, hence their use in Aspira Spa’s treatments. Its clear waters also make it easy to see fish, even deep below the surface. It should come as no surprise, then, that Elkhart Lake is an angler’s paradise.

All this beauty and wholesomeness, however, did not stop the criminal element from coming in. Elkhart Lake’s remote location made it a popular spot for illicit gambling in the early 1900s, when the popularity of slot machines, poker and roulette saw four gambling halls pop up.

It all came to an abrupt end when the infamous Paddock Club was raided. Rumors still exist today that Al Capone had operations here, and that his slot machines still sit covered on the lake’s floor.