Historic business a landmark in Wilmot community
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
For the last 168 years, Wilmot Stage Stop restaurant/hotel was a staple in the community, but the run ended abruptly Friday.
Wilmot Stage Stop, formerly known as Wilmot Hotel, stayed in the same spot on highways C and W since 1848, until the stunning announcement made on its Facebook page Friday morning.
“Due to current circumstances the Wilmot Stage Stop/Wilmot Hotel will be closing effective (Friday),” the post announced. “The history of the stage stop has come to an end…I would like to thank all of our loyal customers for your 168 years of patronage.”
Southern Lakes Newspapers, publisher of the Westosha and Twin Lakes Report, featured the restaurant in early May.
In the business feature, it stated the business remained in the same family for more than five generations, most recently run by the daughter of Ron and Nancy Hackett – Pamela Heins along with her husband, Frankie.
While the business kept the building composed of three floors, historically intact, the most recent upgrade was about 20 years ago when they added new barstools.
The end of Stage Stop also closes the book on an unprecedented run in the state of Wisconsin.
“This is the first time the oldest continuously owned and operated tap and dining establishment is closing its doors,” the post said. “Thank you for being a part of our six generations of success and memories.”
Upon learning of the closure, Dwayne Garwood, a third-generation owner of Wilmot Auto Service next to Wilmot Stage Stop, expressed sadness.
Additionally, Garwood knows Stage Stop brought in more than local traffic to the small town.
“It brought a lot of people into town,” Garwood said. “They were all from out of town.”
Customers at Stage Stop would often fill up their vehicles before leaving town, Garwood said, adding that a customer or two would seek more than gas.
“I had a time or two that a car wouldn’t start (on the Stage Stop property) and we’d have to do repair work on it,” Garwood said.
Stage Stop, a three-story building, consists of a second floor museum and third floor hotel, historically preserved to reflect the 1800’s.
Comments
One response to “Stage Stop abruptly shuts its doors”
I would think a restaurant such as Stage Stop would certainly give more notice. When did they actually first let the public know ?. We were shocked. Just bought a gift certificate in june. They did not know then.