Green Lake’s “Keipe Hotel”, located at 536 Mill Street, is once again open for overnight guests.

The “Keipe Hotel” is available to rent by the week or the weekend. The name itself is a little deceiving. It is not a hotel in the traditional sense, but rather a rental unit that can sleep up to twelve people. It is a great place for families or groups to stay, located right in the heart of the downtown.

You can dine in or eat out at one of Green Lake’s fine restaurants within walking distance.

Thrasher’s Opera House is just up the street, where you can take in a show.

Shopping is practically at your doorstep, beautiful Playground Park is across the street, and the marina is only a couple of blocks away.

In 1905, August Keipe built and operated the first year-around hotel in Dartford (Green Lake), WI. It was a combination boarding house and saloon. Many of the occupants were workmen who roomed there while working to build the Lawson Estate (Lone Tree Farm), which is now part of the Green Lake Conference Center.

Not long after completion of the hotel, Mr. Keipe sold the building to Mrs. H. R. (Ida) Polensky, who had been operating a boarding house out of her home and needed more space. Mrs. Polensky served the workmen who were working for Mrs. Lawson, breakfast, an evening meal, as well as packing them lunches to carry to work each morning. Ida’s husband, H. Rudolf Polensky, along with their three sons, owned and operated a painting business. They soon took over part of the hotel building for their paint business and store.

In the early 1940’s, one of the sons, Herbert (Poly) Polensky and his wife, Bessie, became sole owners of the family business. It was at this time that the building was no longer used as a hotel, and eventually became known as “Polensky Decorating Shop” owned and operated by Ann (Polensky) Sandelback and her husband Murray.

In 2002, Chuck and Lynn Mirr of Green Lake purchased the building along with the paint business. In 2003, they decided to renovate the upstairs. After many ideas and much discussion, the decision was made to restore it back to a place people could stay. Coming full circle, the hotel is back into the hands of a member of the Keipe family. August Keipe is Chuck’s great, great uncle on his mother’s side. It seemed fitting to restore the name “Keipe Hotel” as well.

With the cooperation and talents of a number of friends and family members, the renovation project began in December 2004.

Every effort was made to maintain the integrity of the original boarding house while trying to make the best utilization of the space. The side door facing south is the entrance into the hotel. The lobby area has been renovated, showcasing a large hand-painted map of Green Lake. The stairway leading upstairs is the original stairway. At the top of the steps, one enters a large, open hallway with eleven doorways, just as it was more than 100 years ago.

Some of the rooms are just as they were, while others were made larger by removing dividing walls. The original doorframes, window frames and baseboards were painstakingly removed, labeled and then put back on once the new drywall was up. The pine and maple floors have been refinished and restored to their original luster. The old steam heat registers have been cleaned up and put back in place.

Some of the updated changes are a full kitchen, a pool room with an eight foot pool table, and a second bathroom. All of this is topped off by a spectacular view of the dam and downtown Green Lake.

Come and experience a bit of Green Lake (Dartford) history!