Lake Lawn Resort and Conference Center in Delavan recently completed a $40 million renovation project that included renovations to its rooms, meeting facilities, public spaces and a new feature, Frontier Restaurant.
“Back in 2005, the owners really took a look at the competition of the market and decided that in order to put Lake Lawn back on the playing field, some chances had to be made,” said Peter Zellmer, director of sales and marketing for Lake Lawn Resort. “Basically, the resort had become stagnant. The resort has over two miles of great Delavan Lake shoreline. We wanted to make the inside of the resort be on the same level as the views and the outside landscape.”
The resort completed a rebuild of its 222 guestrooms that now feature two-story guest lofts and luxurious couple suites, complete with flat-screen televisions and wireless internet.
The opening of the Frontier Restaurant and its new bar, featuring an open view to the courtyard and shoreline of Delavan Lake, completed the renovation to the resort’s public spaces, including 32,000 square feet of meeting areas.
“Lake Lawn Resort now has a complete product. We now have great meeting spaces, bars, restaurants, an 18-hole golf course and the landscape to provide water sports and other recreation as well,” Zellmer said. “We strategically spread out the renovations over a couple of years to minimize the effect on our guests, and in turn downplay some of the effects of the economy.”
According to majority-interest owner of Lake Lawn Resort, Pat Nelson, the resort is just about ready to begin construction of a series of condominiums known as the Villas of Harbor’s Edge.
“The next phase, which will be broken up into small parts, will feature 130 high-end condos on the marina, all with direct lake views,” Nelson said. “We are in the process of getting final approvals from the city and hope to break ground sometime this summer with a tentative completion date of about this time next year.”
According to Nelson, the resort secured funding for the renovations almost a year and a half ago and breaking the project into phases ensures they can withstand the effects of the down economy.
Other notable Walworth County projects
Doug and Kathy Jackson of Palmyra recently received approval to operate a winery at 450 Interchange North, Lake Geneva, at the old Hay Manufacturing building. After extensive renovations the winery will include a small vineyard, rooms for production in steel tanks, aging in wooden barrels, an outdoor patio for live music, a living residence, and regular tours and tastings. The winery could be completed by early 2010.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater broke ground in November on a new dormitory building that is expected to be ready for use during the 2010 academic year. The dorm will feature new suite-style living quarters, with each suite having a common room, kitchen and bathroom. The new dorm will also be a “green” building in the UW System, built in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
