100 Years of the Chateau at Devil’s Lake

For a century now, visitors to Devil’s Lake State Park have stopped for a meal, a drink, or even a night of dancing at the park’s north shore concessions. While today’s Chateau blends into the atmosphere, its history is deeply tied to the evolution of recreation at Devil’s Lake.

Early Concessions & The Pavilion Era

In the early 1900s, park concessions looked quite different. Lucius D. Prader, a Baraboo jeweler, ran the park’s first concession stand, which wasn’t just a small snack shack—it was a full operation. His business included a pavilion, a store, a canvas bathhouse, boathouses, an icehouse, a laundry, and even Army-style teepee tents where visitors could stay overnight.

But here’s the interesting bit—Prader himself lived in a tent along the lakeshore, right alongside his workers, who earned 50 cents a day plus meals and a Coke. Nights at the park weren’t quiet either—Prader would fill, pump, and hang lanterns along posts to light the paths so that strollers could see their way.

Music and dancing were already a core part of the park experience during this time. Before the Chateau was built, visitors gathered at Prader’s pavilion for live performances, where bands played under the open sky.

The Chateau Takes Shape

As more visitors came to the park, the need for a larger, more permanent concessions facility grew. In 1925, Madison architect Philip M. Homer designed the Chateau, replacing Prader’s pavilion as the park’s main concessions hub. Originally clad in wood shingles, the building was remodeled between 1939 and 1942 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which replaced the exterior with clapboards. Of course, it’s been remodeled a few times since then, but the heart of the original structure remains.

By the 1930s, live music had only grown in popularity. Bands like the Baraboo American Legion Band and the Reedsburg American Legion Band regularly performed at the Chateau, and nearly every night, full orchestras played swing and jazz, filling the warm summer air with music.

Not everyone was thrilled with the new building at first. Some locals criticized its modern look, with one Milwaukee Journal article in 1925 declaring, “New Concessionaire Ruining Devil’s Lake.” (People also complained of high prices, poor service, and the burning of rubbish on the beach.) Today, of course, the Chateau is simply part of the landscape—something most visitors take for granted.

A Changing Role Over Time

Following World War II, entertainment at the park evolved. The days of big band orchestras playing six nights a week faded, replaced by younger musicians in the following decades. By the late 1960s, live music at the Chateau was mostly a thing of the past.

For a time, the area surrounding the Chateau also offered lodging. More than 20 cottages, known as “Vest Pocket Park,” provided screened porches and electric lighting for visitors looking to stay overnight. These cottages operated until 1968, when the state acquired the property and sold off the buildings.

The Chateau Today

While its role has changed, the Chateau remains a central part of the Devil’s Lake experience. It’s still a gathering place for visitors looking for snacks, souvenirs, or a place to cool off after a long hike. The era of nightly big band dances may have faded, but every now and then, the music returns, and the Chateau once again comes alive with the sounds of swing. Even when silent, the echoes of its rich history linger in the century-old building.

Personally, I’ve heard plenty of stories about the Chateau’s past—my grandmother and her friends used to hitchhike to the park just to dance with the boys from the CCC. Sounds like quite an adventure!

💬 Do you have a Chateau story? Share it below!

References

*A Lake Where Spirits Live” – Ken Lange
Wisconsin Historical Society
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources