Resort Guide: Winter in Kohler, Wisconsin

We just returned from a wonderful trip to Kohler, Wisconsin to celebrate Christmas. I have read about the Kohler Company and the idyllic Village of Kohler for years and visiting for the holidays has been on my “bucket list” for a while. Our visit exceeded our family’s expectations and we hope to return for a summer visit to enjoy many other seasonal activities and amenities.

The Kohler Company, founded in 1873 by John Michael Kohler, originally made farm equipment including plows. A decade later, the first bathtub, originally created as a water trough for pigs, was sold. In 1899, the company purchased farmland near the city of Sheboygan in Wisconsin and built its factory. The company realized it needed to house immigrant workers from around the world in order for the company to succeed. Kohler built a large dormitory to house, feed, and educate its workers, charging them a monthly rent and offering training and classes so that the workers could earn American citizenship. The dormitory included a “Mess Hall”, pub, bowling alley, and even a barbershop. In the 1910s, the area was named “Kohler Village” and plans for the growth of the community began. The Kohler Company produced projectiles and shells used in World War I, and later World War II, before focusing its production of bathroom and kitchen fixtures in the middle and late 20th century. 

When the dormitory was no longer needed to house workers, the company decided to turn it into a resort, opening “The American Club” in 1981. Since then, the Village of Kohler has expanded to include three hotels and dozens of private rental homes, five golf courses (which host major championships), nine restaurants, a sport club, hundreds of acres to enjoy sports and gaming, and a Forbes Five Star spa (one of only 85 spas in the world with that honor). 

We’ll have several dedicated features to spots around Kohler (the American Club! The art museums! The Design Center!), but this week we’re sharing a FULL guide to the entire village. Two (additional) resources to help plan a trip: the Kohler Resort Map here and the weekly calendar of events here. Book a trip now- Kohler is worth a visit every season!   

Where to Stay:

Guests are welcome at three locations in the Kohler Collection:

• The American Club: The original hotel of the Kohler collection, the estate was opened in 1918 to house immigrant factory workers. The property was renovated and opened as a resort to the public in 1981. Today, the American Club offers 184 guest rooms and suites, morning coffee and tea service, several dining options on site, four courtyards, and tons of daily activities.
• Inn at Wood Lake: Located a half mile from the American Club and adjacent to the Shops at Woodlake, the Inn at Wood Lake is the perfect spot for families and larger groups. We LOVED our two bedroom, two bath suite that included a full kitchen and living room with fireplace. Stays at the Inn at Wood Lake include daily continental breakfast (so much more than a traditional continental breakfast with hot and cold dishes, plenty of grab and go pastries, and lots of drink options) and daily Happy Hour (complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks). There are also afternoon treats for humans AND dogs, and dog friendly accommodations. The Inn at Woodlake is in the middle of an expansion, with more rooms and suites being added and a new entertainment center scheduled to open in 2027.
• Carriage House: The 55 room hotel was under renovation when we visited in December 2025, but has plans to reopen for summer 2026. Carriage House is located next to the Waters Spa and across the street from the American Club, and is reserved for adults only. 

Where to Eat:  

We enjoyed wonderful meals at the Horse and Plow, Taverne at Wood Lake, Blackwolf Run, and snacks at The Greenhouse.

• The Immigrant Restaurant: A four star pre-fix 4 or 7 course dinner Wednesday through Saturday. There are six intimate dining rooms decorated to celebrate the countries where most immigrant workers came from: Austria, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Great Britain, and Poland. Located on the lower level of the American Club. Reservations recommended. Not appropriate for children.
• The Wisconsin Room: Open for breakfast and dinner (a modern steakhouse) daily, it was the original Mess Hall for the Kohler Company workers and served 1,000 men three meals a day! Located on the main level of the American Club. Reservations accepted.
• Horse and Plow: A casual bar open for lunch, dinner, and snacks with the original booths from the bowling alley on the property; Great atmosphere, tvs for sporting events and lots of board games families can bring to the table. Located on the main level of the American Club. No reservations accepted.
• The Greenhouse: Located in the Fountain Courtyard at the American Club, the cheery, light filled cafe offers lots of specialty warm drinks, smoothies, sweet treats, and pastries. No reservations accepted. 
• Taverne at Wood Lake: Located in the Shops at Woodlake, the Taverne offers lots of Italian options, including wood fired pizzas, and outdoor seating during summer months. Reservations recommended. 
• Blackwolf Run: A great spot for lunch and dinner, and a children’s menu, with views of two of the golf courses. Located at Blackwolf Run, less than five minutes from the American Club. Take out available. Reservations suggested. 
• Kohler Chocolate and Awakening: A visit to Kohler is not complete without sampling delicious Kohler Chocolates, made on site. The Awakening Cafe also has grab and go prepared meals, snacks, and drinks.

Family Friendly Amenities In and around Kohler:

• Daily calendar of activities: There’s  daily historic hotel tours of the American Club, tours of The Waelderhaus, Yoga on the Lake, and drop in hours at the Kohler Swing Studio (at the Shops at Woodlake). There are also plenty of seasonal, family friendly activities- December activities included holiday caroling, gingerbread house making, and carriage rides. Check the Weekly In the Moment guide available throughout the resort and get a feel for Thanksgiving activities, Christmas activities, Flora Fields, and the very popular Food and Wine festival in the fall. See the full calendar of seasonal events here.
• Sports Core Health and Racquet Club: All guests of the American Club and Inn on Woodlake receive complimentary admission to the club. There are more than 80 weekly classes (pilates, cycling, HIIT, TRX, and more), two pools (a family pool and designated lap pool), outdoor hot tub, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a private beach with seasonal boat and kayak rentals, and running trails. The facility has steam and locker rooms and changing areas, as well as grab and go drink and snack options, and a Pro Shop. Sports Core is also opening “The Serve” in summer 2026 and will feature pickleball courts, heated tennis courts, and a social lounge.
• Frozen Fairways: Open from late November through early March (afternoons and evenings weekdays, 10am-10pm on Saturday, and 10am-6pm on Sundays), Frozen Fairways at Blackwolf Run is situated behind the main restaurant and at the base of the golf course. There’s an ice skating rink (rentals included), two indoor curling lanes (with plenty of places to lounge and relax and enjoy food and drink options- including lots of candy jars), fat tire biking, a putting green, table games, snowshoeing and cross country skiing, sledding, and s’mores all day by outdoor fires. The entire complex is festively decorated with lights, including the path down to the golf course. Most activities are complimentary for resort guests; some additional fees apply. 
• Kohler Design Center and History Museum: Located on Upper Road in the heart of the village of Kohler, the Design Center has three floors of displays and museum exhibits open to the public with free admission. The main floor includes the latest Kohler bath and kitchen products (several of which guests can try out!); the second floor has 20 designer-created bathrooms on display; the lower level is a museum dedicated to the history of the Kohler company and the village. 
• Arts Centers: There are two art museums open to the public, free of charge. The John Michael Kohler Arts Center is located in Sheboygan, about 15 minutes from the village, and has several rotating exhibits, as well as a Social Studio with daily arts and crafts activities kids will love, and seasonal special events and programs. The Art Preserve is a satellite campus less than two miles from the American Club, that is home to “a collection of almost three dozen artist- built environment and sculptural works”, according to the website.  Be sure to check out the restrooms on each floor of both spaces- individually designed by artists. Note: Both museums are closed on Mondays. 
• Winter Selfie Scavenger Hunt: Pick up a copy at the Concierge Desk in the lobby of the American Club and return it completed for a fun souvenir. 
• Searching for Arsham in Kohler sculptures: Daniel Arsham collaborated with the Kohler company to create six large scale sculptures on display throughout the village, including the golf courses, shops, and main street.  See the sculptures and their locations here. 
• The Arts/ Industry Walking Tour: There are over 50 pieces of art and sculpture on display throughout the entire Village of Kohler, in collaboration with the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. The program began in 1974, hosting over 500 artists from over 35 countries, who work with Kohler associates to utilize the company’s facilities to create the artwork. (according to the print brochure). The art work is on display inside resort buildings and on walking trails throughout the village- see the full list here. 

Getting around the Village:

• Kohler offers a free shuttle for all guests, with stops at the American Club, Waters Spa, Inn at Woodlake, Blackwolf Run, and Sports Core. There’s also complimentary water bottles on board. 
• A large underground parking garage and valet parking are available at the American Club, and there is plenty of free parking in front of the Inn at Woodlake, Blackwolf Run, and Sports Core. 
• More information on driving and flying to the area can be found here. 

Other Amenities:

Additional fees apply for most locations:

• Waters Spa: The only five star spa in the state of Wisconsin, Waters is located next door to the Design Center and offers dozens of treatments from massages to facials to nail and hair services.  See the full list here. There’s a relaxation pool and cool plunge pool, steam room, saunas, ice cave, and state of the art showers and changing facilities. The spa also has a cafe and boutique. 
• Shopping: The Shops at Woodlake Kohler, located next door to the Inn at Woodlake, offer a wonderful variety of gifts and souvenirs to bring home- everything from housewares and cooking supplies to clothing and jewelry to chocolates and gardening supplies. See the full list here and map here. The shops were undergoing an update when we visited in December 2025 and plan on fully reopening in the spring of 2026. There are also gift shops throughout the village (the Emporium and the Greenhouse at the American Club, and shops at the Sports Core and Waters Spa).
• Golf: There are five golf courses in the Kohler Collection: Three courses located at Black Wolf Run (including the family friendly The Baths course) and two courses at Whistling Straits.
• Factory Tours: A three hour tour of the Kohler Factory (covering over three miles of walking!) is free and offered throughout the week to guests ages 14 and older. Tours are guided by retired Kohler employees and include explanations of the creation of many popular Kohler products and the history of the company.  During warmer months, the tour includes a stop at the Kohler Gardens.
• River Wildlife: A club located near Blackwolf Run, the area includes 500 acres and 18 miles of woodland trails near the Sheboygan River. The club includes the Lodge Restaurant and Wildlife Sanctuary, with seasonal activities like cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The club also offers passes for fishing, rifling, pheasant hunting, and canoe and kayak rentals.