From Plumbing to Pampering
By Naperville Magazine
Appears in the April 2025 issue.
By Jeff Banowetz
Once a Wisconsin factory town, Kohler has become one of the top luxury getaways in the Midwest
Chances are, you’ll find the name Kohler somewhere in your home. The Wisconsin company known mostly for its kitchen and bath fixtures has become a leader in high-end home design. Founded in 1873 by John Michael Kohler, the business began as a steel foundry, primarily making farming implements. Its breakthrough came a decade later when it applied enamel to a cast-iron horse trough—and voilà—its first bathtub was created.
That success caused a change of focus and the need for a bigger factory—built just outside Sheboygan, Wisconsin—and a larger, mostly immigrant, workforce. In 1918, The American Club was built across the street from the factory to help feed and house the new employees. For $27.50 a month, a worker received a private room, laundry service, and three meals a day. The club also featured a bowling alley, pub, and barbershop; residents took English lessons and worked toward gaining American citizenship.
Fast-forward to the 1970s, when the Tudor-Revival-style building (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) was underused and in need of repair. Herbert V. Kohler Jr. had the grand idea for turning the property into an “elegant village inn,” and after three years of restoration and construction, a new version of The American Club was born.
In the ensuing decades, it has been the center of the transformation of a onetime factory town into arguably the Midwest’s premier luxury destination. Kohler, about 150 miles north of Naperville, features Whistling Straits—the fourth-ranked public golf course in the country (as deemed by Golf Digest)—plus three others in the top 100. The 25,000-square-foot Kohler Waters Spa is the Forbes Travel Guide’s only five-star spa in Wisconsin, and you have the choice of multiple fine-dining restaurants, two world-class art museums, and a private 500-acre natural recreation area that includes five miles of the Sheboygan River and 18 miles of trails.
Whether you’re looking for a weekend of pampering or recreation, a trip to Kohler is a nearby way to treat yourself.
Where to Stay
The American Club may have adopted the best of modern amenities, but it remains rooted in history. The wood-paneled halls feature reminders of the past, like photos and citizenship papers from the original residents, and you’ll find leather sofas, fireplaces, and a cozy library where you can relax. The resort, the recipient of the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award, is surrounded by inviting gardens, and all 241 rooms are unique. Other lodging options include the Inn on Wood Lake, a contemporary modern hotel that’s closest to the golf courses and Kohler’s entertainment district. Or choose one of the five standalone accommodations in the Kohler Cabin Collection, each located in a rustic setting with water views. You won’t be roughing it with these artist-designed getaways.
Health and Wellness
As you may expect from the company’s history, the Kohler Waters Spa features several hydrotherapy treatments. Try an aromatherapy bath, perhaps? It’s also a place for Kohler to show off its latest and greatest fixtures. You’ll find traditional spa treatments as well, like a 50-minute pedicure that includes a warming salt scrub exfoliation and warm stones to soothe tired feet. A signature 80-minute Kohler Waters facial treatment also includes massage for your back, arms, and hands. The Sports Core Health and Racquet Club provides group fitness classes, swimming, and tennis for those looking for a workout. Or try Yoga on the Lake, which offers 75 weekly classes in indoor and outdoor environments.
Enjoy Nature
Kohler’s River Wildlife Area is a members-only recreation and dining club open to guests for hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing in this natural setting. Try your skill at the tactical pistol and rifle course or pheasant hunting in the fall.
Golf
Fans of pro golf may be well aware of Whistling Straits, the Pete Dye–designed masterpiece that’s hosted four major championships and the 2021 Ryder Cup. It features two 18-hole options: The Straits course hugs the rugged shoreline of Lake Michigan, while the Irish course crisscrosses the Seven Mile Creek and coastal dunes. Both offer spectacular settings—and typically require planning far in advance for a tee time. Blackwolf Run, also designed by Dye, offers three courses in the Sheboygan River Valley that are nearly as impressive and a bit more accessible.
Do Design
Have an upcoming kitchen or bathroom remodel? The 36,00-square-foot, three-tiered Kohler Design Center features a full display of Kohler’s newest products to help you brainstorm ideas. Take advantage of meeting with the design team (by appointment) to help you plan for your next home improvement project. Admission is free, and factory tours are also available.
Explore Art
The free John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan was founded in 1967 to promote the appreciation and understanding of “self-taught and contemporary artists.” The museum includes eight galleries, two performance spaces, and a drop-in art-making studio. You’ll find a full slate of events and activities, including workshops and a weekly summer concert series. Running through July will be an exhibition on Sam Barsky, an artist who works in wearable art, and more than 20 of his sweaters will be on display.
In 2021, the center opened the Art Preserve, a three-level building that holds more than 25,000 pieces collected to preserve “artist-built environments.” In other words, it displays items that artists have made to transform their home, studio, or outdoor environment into a work of art. It’s the only museum in the world dedicated to this type of artwork, and the building alone makes it worth a visit, with its impressive entrance that features towering vertical wood beams.
Celebrate Food and Wine
The Kohler Food & Wine Festival, held this year Oct. 16 to Oct. 19, brings some of the country’s top chefs, winemakers and culinary innovators to the area to celebrate the best in gastronomy. Guests enjoy chef-led demos, tastings, and evening parties where they can mingle with celebrity chefs and other food-world notables. Aside from that event, Kohler has earned a reputation for fine dining.
The Immigrant Restaurant at The American Club showcases a seasonal menu emphasizing modern cooking techniques. Its dining rooms are named for the nationalities of immigrants to the area (Dutch, French, German, etc.), and its warm, cozy setting is the perfect spot for the five-course tasting menu. Also at The American Club are The Wisconsin Room (a traditional steakhouse), The Horse & Plow (a classic pub), and The Greenhouse (a garden café).
For an intimate dining experience, the River Wildlife’s Lodge Restaurant is a private club available only to overnight guests. The rustic log cabin features Midwestern fare like walleye, pheasant, and duck.
For more information, visit kohlerwisconsin.com.
Photos: Kohler
