About Us

In 1886, German entrepreneurs Otto and Paulina Osthoff built a large summer resort; Otto Osthoff’s Hotel. The hotel could accommodate 120 guests. A pavilion was later added which provided for additional rooms and dining space. In 1940, they opened The Funspot, a beautiful art deco bar and dining spot with the obligatory gambling devices then present in Elkhart Lake. In 1955, Osthoff’s was sold to Sulie and Pearl Harand of Chicago. The Harand Camp of the Theater Arts specialized in teaching drama, song interpretation and ballet. Through the years, thousands of children attended the camp, learning how to be at home on and off the stage. Plays were performed at the camp and at the Forrest Tucker Theater at Siebkens. The camp continued operating until July of 1989 when Dairyland Investment Company purchased it to build The Osthoff Resort. The camp was demolished in the spring of 1990. South Lake Street was rerouted to create the beautiful lakefront, beach, pond, gardens and brick-walking path, which are now a part of the resort. The new Osthoff Resort opened in June 1995.

In 1872, William Schwartz erected a hotel named the Rustic House. In 1876, additions including a dining room, sitting rooms, a parlor and a 100-foot pier. In 1879, brother John took over operations of the resort and promptly renamed it the Lake View House. It was located on the north side of the lake and could accommodate 100 guests. This hotel was destroyed by fire in 1890 and rebuilt in 1891. In 1881-1882, William began constructing a new building on top of the hill. According to the Plymouth Sun, “The building will be eight stories with a piazza on every story. There will be water in every one of the 28 sleeping rooms and it will also include a dining room, parlor and kitchen.” In 1890, the building was destroyed by fire but was rebuilt and completed in February of 1891. In 1896, it was renamed The Schwartz Hotel by its new owner Sigmund Bloomfield. In the 1980s, it was known as Barefoot Bay. In May of 1999, resort renovations were completed and it was renamed Victorian Village Resort until 2018. Today, this special resort is known as The Shore Club.

In 1883, William Schwartz built the three-story Belleview House to accommodate 75 guests. This resort included an opera house and a greenhouse that provided greenery for his two resorts. In 1916, Herman Siebken purchased the hotel and renamed it Siebkens Resort. In June of 1918, boasting reservations from NY, IL, and AK, they offered swimming lessons at the Siebkens pier and picture shows in the Elm Park Theater. It also became a tradition that groups of German singers spending the weekends would serenade the guests. Over the years their arrival was eagerly anticipated. The tradition of singing groups would continue for over 70 years. Herman’s daughter, Olive (Ollie) returned to the resort to help after Laura (Herman’s widow) died in 1941 and in 1946 she became the sole owner. Her love of antiques turned the entire hotel into a large antique store; guests of Siebkens Resort enjoy her fine taste in antique furnishings today. She ran the resort until 1977 when her daughter, Pam and husband Douglas Lueck purchased the resort and continued its German heritage and then passed it onto their daughters, Laurie and Lisa. In recent years, Wendy and her husband purchased the hotel and continue to keep Siebken’s traditions alive, while innovatively continuing to keep the property evolving during modern times.