Time travel in the making? Soon you will be able to step back in time to the 1800s at the “historically new” restaurant coming to Lake Delton, WI—The Original 1855 Dawn Manor. You will be able to take a seat in one of five themed dining rooms, each with their own taste of the 19th-century and be immersed in a curated experience. Be prepared to enjoy roaming musical and theatrical performers, era inspired menu options, and original 1800s décor. There is something to be said about meals that become experiences, and this restaurant has quite the story which will bring the experience to life.
The name Dawn Manor comes from what was once a gothic style home completed in 1855 near the Wisconsin River in what was to be the city of Newport, WI. In 1853 Newport was preparing for a population of 10,000 as they thought the Milwaukee & La Crosse Railroad would be crossing the Wisconsin River there. The railroad’s bridge was eventually built a mile up the road in Kilbourn City, which is now Wisconsin Dells. Newport very quickly became deserted due to all the residents fleeing to Kilbourn City. Only the beautiful sandstone home, Dawn Manor, remained.
Over the years the home has been owned by a few different families and was restored to its original layout by Helen Raab before she left it to her son in 1970. In 2017 Steve Uphoff purchased the home from Raab’s great grandson. Uphoff’s family has been in Wisconsin Dells since 1873, and he grew up across the street from Dawn Manor. With such fond memories of the unique home, he began dreaming up a way to share it with the public. “I want people to see the last piece of the lost city of Newport—the start of Wisconsin Dells. I wanted it to be an experience and what better experience than a meal,” explained Uphoff. Uphoff no longer owns the land that the home originally sat on but had the building completely deconstructed piece by piece and stored until his vision could become a reality. “The Wisconsin Dells area doesn’t have a dining experience quite like what the Uphoff family has created, and it will stand out in the crowd,” stated Jason Ryan, ADCI Architect.
ADCI is proud to be a part of creating that reality! The preserved pieces of the home are traveling just over three miles up the road, past ADCI’s Lake Delton office, to a gorgeous new location on Mirror Lake. There has been great effort to use each piece of the deconstructed home and make a historically accurate experience. According to Lauren Johnson, ADCI Senior Interior Designer, “The overall aesthetic is complimenting the era of the home, particularly 1855. The materials were selected to create a homey experience that also brings you back to that elegant time in history, bringing in interesting, patterned wallcoverings, warm wood tones, and ornate tile designs.” The original Potsdam sandstone, stained glass, handmade oak grand staircase, door hardware, fireplaces, and more will be transformed into this new era. The parts of Dawn Manor that could not be saved in the deconstruction are being recreated based on photos. “Trying to adapt to modern codes with designs from the Victorian era presented the biggest challenges,” stated Casey Raimer, ADCI Senior Designer.
The 12,000 square foot building will include a three-story restaurant, speakeasy bar, and gift shop. Ryan enjoyed working on such a unique project. He found the high level of detail and ornamental nature of a period piece combined with the passion from Uphoff stimulating! The excitement and talent of the ADCI’s team blended well with Uphoff’s vision and passion to make such a unique experience come to life.
This one-of-a-kind dining experience will be elevated by each of the five dining rooms having their own theme. Will you be seated in a room influenced by one of Dawn Manor’s rumored guests, Frank Lloyd Wright, or Abraham Lincoln? Or will you be in a haunted themed dining room? Or would you prefer a seat on the wrap around patio overlooking Mirror Lake? Whatever your flavor, the unique beauty of the architectural and interior design elements will catch your attention as you move throughout the manor. You will be able to enjoy 1800s inspired faire or more modern plates for those who do not need to be as immersed in the time. As if the food from two local chefs and wildly unique dining space is not enough, there is also a plan for roaming musical and theatrical performers for entertainment.
The lower level of the establishment will take you forward in time. You can sip cocktails at the replica prohibition-era speakeasy, a 1930s Uphoff Rotunda bar. The Uphoff Rotunda was once a hotel in Wisconsin Dells. It featured a round bar that Uphoff’s grandparents had moved to their Wisconsin Dells hotel from their Chicago hotel. The rare shape of the bar offered a more social experience rather than a traditional back bar. “With the intricate woodworking and finishes it truly will make you feel like you are in a prohibition speakeasy,” Raimer explained. This more intimate space will have guests surrounded by antiques. Johnson even described it as “a time capsule of a space.”
As construction continues, we will continue daydreaming of enjoying such a unique space and prohibition inspired cocktails until we can experience 1855 “firsthand”. We look forward to seeing you enjoy The Original Dawn Manor 1855 in spring of 2025.
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I am really looking forward to seeing how our client's vision comes to life, the joy in his face, and all his guests at the restaurant. Seeing others walk through a building and admire our design work and shared vision is one of my greatest joys as an architect. -Jason Ryan, ADCI Architect
Converting an 1850’s house into a modern restaurant provided a plethora of challenges, so the fact that I will just be able to walk through the completed building after so long is the most exciting part. -Casey Raimer, ADCI Senior Designer
It was an absolute pleasure to restore the manor for people to really enjoy- and I am excited for the Dells to have a new experience they haven't seen before. -Lauren Johnson, ADCI Interior Designer
