In 1863, Mathias and Margaret Timmer emigrated from Germany, ultimately settling in the Town of West Bend. They purchased the property that is now known as Timmer's Resort on January 4, 1864.
In 1880, work was started on the first building which was completed and opened in 1882 as a hotel. Their daughter, Mary, acted as hostess and greeted guests as they arrived from Schlesingerville (Slinger) by buggies and a horse drawn bus. The rectangular "TIMMER" stone near the parking area served as a step to be used when arriving in carriages.
In 1907, Leonard and Rose Timmer became the property owners and additional cottages were erected, with electricity and running water added in 1926.
The Resort struggled but survived (and actually prospered) during both Prohibition and the Great Depression. The Prohibition years forced the owners to have beer smuggled into the resort from a Chicago brewery via a neighbor's pie truck. And bartering became a way of life during the depression years to assure that guests were properly fed and housed.
By 1940 Beryl and John Timmer had assumed the responsibility of running the resort until 1981 when their son, Jack, took over restaurant operations. In 2002, their daughter Barbara stepped in to manage the cottages.
In October 2007, Judi and George Prescott purchased the resort from Barbara and Jack.
During the remodel, great care was taken by all the trades' people to preserve the flavor of a 150 year old lake resort. The original fireplace, which was added to the dining pavilion in 1906, was sandblasted and tuck pointed and stands as a monument to an earlier time.
All of us at Timmer's wish your experience to be as warm and personal as when Mary Timmer greeted her first guests in 1882.
Welcome Home to Timmer's!
Timmer's Resort 5151 Timmer Bay Road, West Bend WI 53095 262.335.8032