When driving Highway 21, it might be easy to zip through Wautoma, but if you take a moment to stop and look around you might notice you’re feeling something you haven’t experienced in a while: peace.
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f you don’t find your blood pressure dropping while strolling the 300-plus acres of park land, try spending some time kayaking or canoeing one of the 136 tranquil lakes in Waushara County. It holds a natural beauty and serene surroundings, making embracing a small city easy, often resulting in visitors turning into residents.
City Treasurer Tommy Bohler is a great example of this. Comparing Wautoma to Mayberry but with “big city amenities,” Bohler, originally from Peoria, Illinois, was surprised at how hooked he became on Wautoma when he relocated for the position with the city.
“I’ve been here 12 years… it’s a tough place to leave,” said Bohler.
Besides the position, he also started a family and Wautoma seemed like a great place to raise children.
“We have Bird Creek Park where we host music in the park around six times a year. There’s a splash pad nearby where kids can play while we enjoy the music,” Bohler said. “People really care about what they’re doing. You know everybody. Everybody’s friendly to everybody. It’s kind of like Norm on Cheers when you walk into a bar here, everyone’s like ‘hey, how you doing?’”
Speaking of those big city amenities, Bohler had no trouble naming quite a few of them.
“We have a phenomenal park system, an airport… we have multiple highways going through here which helps sustain our business and tourist community.”
He also mentioned the lakes and trout streams as a draw for visitors.
“We have a trout stream that runs right through the city, so we get a lot of trout fishermen here.” And while he said he lives right near the stream, he joked, wondering why he’s not a trout fisherman himself.
“I tried,” he said.
Still, as Bohler knows from experience, there is often one main reason why people relocate to Wautoma.
“There’s nothing cookie cutter here,” he said. “For folks who are trying to get away from the big city, they can come here and get a hometown vibe.”
Chief of Police and Special Projects Coordinator, Paul Mott, is another transplant from Illinois, although he visited Wautoma frequently with his family when he was a child. After years of working as a police officer and investigations supervisor in Dekalb and Rochelle, Illinois, he was searching for a quieter place to live.
“I just wanted a great place to raise my family,” said Mott.
Mott noted it’s also the support he gets from the community that makes his job as police chief a lot easier.
“I think the biggest thing about this community is that everyone supports each other. So if I have something I want to do in the community, like, just a couple weeks ago we did a Kids Ice Fishery and the police department hosted,” he said. “Backyard Sheds of Wisconsin got involved… they had their sheds all set up with warming shelters. The Am-Vets from Red Granite came out, and they helped serve food and take tickets. And then the bait shop donated the bait… that’s the difference in that there’s still that sense of community.”
He did note one other critical difference.
“There’s no traffic!” said Mott.
Founded in 1851 and named after the Menominee Chief, Tomah, Wautoma had 85 residents at the time. Today the population is roughly 2,200. Still small enough for everyone to know each other.
“One of the reasons I actually took this job was because of the parks system in Waushara County,” said Michael Lechner, Director of Facilities & Parks Management. “Their parks are just gems… a lot of people don’t know that part of our park system is Nordic Mountain (a hot sky spot).”
Besides Nordic Mountain, part of Waushara County’s parks, along with Mount Morris Park, include something for all outdoor enthusiasts.
“There are five or six miles of trails that are open to hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, bird watching and bikes. Plus, we have a story book walk,” said Lechner.
And, with only himself and a relatively small staff, how do they manage to care for all 300 plus acres of park land?
“Because we really care about it,” Lechner said.
DINING – TO DO LIST
After hiking or kayaking, or both, you might work up quite an appetite and Wautoma’s dining scene offers everything from hearty breakfast fare to elegant dining.
Breakfast/Brunch
If you’re looking for pancakes, or maybe you’ve got a craving for Belgian waffles, make sure to stop at Lakeshore Family Restaurant right off of Highway 21.
Known for their hearty breakfasts including a wide variety of breakfast combinations, you won’t leave there hungry.
If you don’t have time to sit down, how about a drive up cafe? Chelsee’s Mobile Cafe sits just off the main drag past Kwik Trip on Division Street. You can’t miss the charming food cart, or in this case, cafe cart, decked out with welcoming signs to grab your attention.
Chelsee’s Mobile Cafe offers hot and cold coffee and specialty drinks, tea and refreshers, along with a small batch menu of muffins and scones for breakfast. They also offer locally sourced espresso. She just opened a brick-and-mortar on Main Street, and plans to keep both the restaurant and the cafe cart open.
Lunch
New to Wautoma this year, Frank’s & Feta offers fun lunch fare for anyone looking for the all American hot dog—except they offer dogs with a twist. Like the Frank’s & Feta Dog, which is a Greek version topped with gyro meat and tzatziki sauce. Or how about the Korean Corn Dog Panko, consisting of a skewered hot dog, mozzarella cheese dipped in batter and coated with Japanese panko breadcrumbs, deep fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
If you’re not feeling that adventurous, they do still offer the classic, plain hot dog. And, if you’re not really a dog person, they offer other menu items too.
Co-owner with her husband, Anthony, Gloria Cereceres said they were busy right from the start when the doors opened in early 2026.
If you’re looking for a burger and some friendly, hometown atmosphere, stop into Grimm’s One More and I Gotta Go Bar and Grill on Main Street.
Owned and operated by Aaron Grimm since 2003, it’s a favorite local spot for food, fun and catching a game on TV. Not to mention the food is pretty good according to the locals.
“You can get a great burger at Grimm’s,” Bohler said.
If you’re not in a hot dog or burger mood, how about barbecue?
Klinger’s Real Barbecue, or KRB’s, has been serving smoked barbecue in Wautoma since 2020. Co-owner Ed Klinger with partner John Wenniger have a pit capable of cooking 42 briskets at once. They’re also familiar with the time it takes to cook up some delicious barbecue.
“We were putting briskets on the smoker at 5 a.m.,” Klinger said.
Living in Wautoma for 28 years, he adds, “Wautoma is the same today as it was then,” referring to how friendly the city is. Grateful for the friendliness and camaraderie among businesses, Klinger said Wautoma is still like a best kept secret.
“We’re totally flying under the radar here (in Wautoma)… we’ve got a couple busy weeks in July and summer’s busy but the city is still kind of the same as it was 30 years ago,” he said. And although he doesn’t know what to attribute it to, he knows “it’s a great place to retire.”
Klinger, who grew up in the Milwaukee area, had vacation property north of Wautoma and just really liked the area.
He said when he and his partner bought KRB’s it was just kind of serendipitous.
“It was just a kind of a right place, right time situation,” Klinger said. “Before it was KRB’s, it had been a Mexican restaurant. Way back, it was an Irish pub.”
Once purchased, Klinger said they were able to really expand their business.
“We had the ability to go from a business that was almost seasonal to being open 7 days a week and we’ve never changed from that.
They also expanded, adding a patio, which is a popular place for diners enjoying barbecue in the summer months.
Dinner
Before Klinger had KRB’s, he owned, and still owns, the Moose Inn in Wautoma right up the road from KRB’s. He can sometimes be seen touching up the paint job on the giant moose sculpture in front of the Inn.
“I like to paint!” Klinger joked.
Opening the Moose Inn, he said he was almost grateful when they started out that they weren’t the popular place in town on Saturday nights because it gave them a chance to experiment with new things.
“We had sort of a blank canvas to work with. We could mess with our menus so our menu (at the Moose Inn) has things like Prime Rib, Broasted Chicken, Baby Back Ribs and of course a Fish Fry. When I bought the place we had six steaks and three seafood items. Now we’ve got 13 seafood items and about two cuts of steak.”
He attributes his success with both restaurants to his staff.
“I’ve got really amazing people working with me. My son runs the KRB in Waupaca and I’ve got a great crew at KRB and at the Moose I’ve got a couple guys—they’ll be the future owners,” said Klinger.
Once you see the giant moose sculpture in front of the Moose Inn, don’t think you’re seeing things when you pass a massive bull sculpture just a few doors down welcoming you to the Silvercryst Supper Club Resort & Motel.
Like the Moose Inn, the Silvercryst Supper Club Resort & Motel is a staple in Wautoma, both in dining and lodging experience. Lodgers and dining guests alike can enjoy their dinner set against a backdrop of Silver Lake. Besides the traditional super club fare, they also offer a variety of seafood entrees and some fun ‘sur-n-tur’ type combinations.
If your taste buds are pining for pizza, Christianos Pizza on Main Street in Wautoma is the place to be. Owned by Larry Wise, he strives to use fresh ingredients from local Wisconsin businesses and farms and the dough for the crust is made fresh every morning, baked in brick ovens to create an extra flakey crust.
Dessert
Celebrating its 79th year, Milty Wilty’s Drive-In, just on the outskirts of Wautoma off of Highway 21, is a family-owned favorite.
Cindy Sommer is excited to carry the proverbial torch—or ice cream cone as it were—into the next generation. Started by her father, Milton Sommers, who grew up near Milwaukee and had a grocery store. He was given the nickname “Milty Wilty” by the gentleman who would deliver his bread every day to his store.
Cindy has fond memories of growing up there but, more than that, she makes new memories all the time with her customers.
“They’re like family to me,” Sommers said. She gestures to a painting hanging on the wall.
“A customer painted that and sent it to me,” she said.
Her walls are adorned with license plates and other items people have sent her all in honor of the memories they have from her place over the years. Known for their Car Hop Service and Classic Drive-up Fare, it brings back a sense of nostalgia for people.
“I had a customer come and he hadn’t been in Wautoma for 60 years… he said he was so happy when he saw us because we were exactly the same as we were when he left. That kind of familiarity means a lot to people,” said Sommers.
RETAIL THERAPY
When you enter Wautoma from Wild Rose, you will see a brick house sitting happily on the corner. You might also notice the white mural draped across the front of the house that says “Bourbon and Wine Tasting.”
If that’s any indication as to what you might find inside Candle Freak besides the lovely decor, jewelry, clothing and coffee, you will also meet the owners who are just as fun as their business name.
Dave and Jaime Hendon were musicians before starting Candle Freak. They didn’t really have plans to stop playing music and start a boutique, but some things happened that made them stop and realize it might be time to slow down.
“We were at a gig way up north, winter in Wisconsin. Crazy, crazy but we came here (Wautoma) on the way back and I got on a snowmobile and hit a tree,” Hendon said. “I should’ve been dead. So on the way back we were scheduled to stop at Dave’s folks and they knew we were kind of looking (for a business) and his Dad handed us the local paper here. There was an ad that said, ‘Looking for artist to buy.’”
When she saw the building and peeked in the window and saw the beautiful wood, both her and her husband were impressed.
“Within 30 days we canceled every gig, packed everything up, moved here and opened the store,” Hendon said.
That was over two decades ago and Hendon said she is grateful for the success. They named it Candle Freak after their studio they had when they were musicians.
The store is filled with whimsical gifts, elegant jewelry and clothing. Hendon has also added a wine bar along with Bourbon.
“For the guys,” she jokes.
She also said that she strives to have things that are different from the other boutiques in the area. “We all really work together,” she said.
Down the street, right smack dab in the middle of downtown, you’ll find The Nest owned by Bruce Van Schaack & Robert Nelson. Nelson said he and a few of the other boutique owners on Main Street all sort of came up together.
“We all bought our buildings within months of each other. And so Sue at Shasta Daisy was the first one to open. I was still working down in Illinois but Memorial Day will be our 5-year anniversary,” Van Schaack said.
The store is like Candle Freak in terms of the joyful, whimsical vibe but with different merchandise. On one wall, Van Schaack stocks great Cocktail Mixers from unique Vodkas to Bloody Mary Mix. His display is colorful and eye-catching.
The rest of the store has gift items like soy candles, handmade soaps that Van Schaack makes himself. You can also find merchandise from the local animal shelter, who Van Schaack and Nelson love to support.
Some other popular items include the one pot pasta dishes for travelers, gift items for baby showers and costume jewelry.
“Every little thing in here has a story,” Van Schaack said.
When you step inside Shasta Daisy Co., located in a cute brick building, you’re welcomed with the wonderful scent of flowers, as well as all of the lovely decor in the boutique.
The store is a mix of Clothing, Jewelry, Gourmet Food and Floral so you can usually find Owner Sue Lund behind the counter designing something spectacular for a wedding or event.
She grew up around flowers, and her family owned the Wautoma Greenhouse for 25 years. After that she raised her family but she always had the floral design bug in her.
“I raised my three kids and then I really wanted to come back (into the industry), she said. She opened Shasta Daisy in 2019, right before the pandemic, but they got through it.
“Everyone was so supportive in the community,” Lund said.
That is a common thread among the boutiques downtown, all communicating and making sure they have unique merchandise so there’s something a little different in every shop.
“It’s just fun. We talk to each other quite often and ask ‘How are things going?’ And we collaborate for events like store-wide sales,” said Lund. “We’re all about supporting each other.” From flowers to herbs, up the street closer to Milty Wilty, is Naturally Living LLC, a family-owned and operated health and wellness store dedicated to supporting whole-body wellness.
Owner, Anna Boron, is a Board Certified Traditional Naturopath and Certified Holistic Health Practitioner. She takes pride in helping to guide her customers to make informed decisions about their health.
On the other side of The Nest, you’ll find Serenity, not the feeling, but the boutique. However you might experience serenity when you step inside. Owned by Jennifer Wood, she started the boutique after falling in love with Wautoma.
“My husband and I had a lakehouse in the area that we would travel to for the weekends just to get away. We were in the Milwaukee area. I always wanted to have a little shop,” she said. “We decided to move here full time and an opportunity presented itself, and here I am.”
She celebrated her one-year anniversary for the boutique in the beginning of May.
More than that, she said she loves the friendly atmosphere in her store and where she lives.
“Wautoma’s welcoming, small-town charm creates a unique experience that many people find well worth the drive,” said Boron.
If it’s antiques you’re on the hunt for, check out the Wautoma Antique Mall. A big, bright open space with plenty of variety of vendors, the Wautoma Antique Mall is a great spot to spend some time searching for treasures.
You wouldn’t think of Ace Hardware as a place to buy coffee, but the Ace Hardware store of Wautoma has an array of locally made and sourced unique items in stock—from the thick sticks from Stoneridge Piggly Wiggly Wholesale to candles and other gift items.
ATTRACTIONS & RECREATION
You wouldn’t think something like bowling would bring a community together, but Dean and Bridgette Tschurwald, owners of Doggers Bar and Lanes have seen generations of people grow up in their establishment.
“I see kids of people I know bowling here now,” said Dean.
Besides bowling, they have a casual bar for people to sit and enjoy good company and a beverage or two.
If you’re looking for live entertainment, check out the McComb-Bruchs Performing Arts Center. A state of the art performing art center, the theatre brings in acts from all across the country. What brings people to the area, besides the shows, is all of the things you can do before the event as well.
“I think it’s because you can come here but pair your evening with one of two Wisconsin supper clubs and that’s kind of a hot thing to do right now. Do a little shopping downtown and put all that together with a show,” said Executive Director Vicki Poeschl.
Located on the campus of the Wautoma High School, it’s an asset for students as well.
Who knew you could hang out at a business that sells sheds? Toni Mantei, Owner of Wisconsin Backyard Sheds in Wautoma has turned her parking lot into an event venue. Filling her 19 sheds with vendors, she has created an Open-Air Shopping Mall that not only helps her sell sheds, but helps create visibility for her vendors. She said she thought of the idea after filling just one shed on her own.
“I filled one shed and the next thing I knew, I was like, ‘Hey I’ve got 19 sheds, why am I not utilizing them?’” Mantei said. Then it was, ‘OK, if I’m going to utilize all the sheds to represent something, why not look for smaller vendors that have a craft who can fill the sheds with their items. Then people can still look at the buildings, but they see somebody when they go in it, and it helps, I think when you see something in the shed. Like, how much stuff can I fit in here?”
Beyond that, in the warmer months she has food trucks in her parking lot along with live music and special events.
She also spends a lot of time collaborating with the rest of the community, having done an ice fishery for kids with the Wautoma Police Department, along with special events she hosts for veterans.
LODGING
Also a staple of the city, both for food and lodging, the Silvercryst Supper Club Resort & Motel, like Wautoma, is a hard place to leave. The owners see that every year with repeat business.
“We pride ourselves on consistency and repeat customers. We’re always getting new customers, people driving by. It’s a very busy highway,” said James Heck, one of the owners of the supper club and resort.
Heck, who grew up in Wautoma, had no idea he would end up staying at his first place of employment.
“I was born and raised in Wautoma… I worked here (at the Silvercryst) during college. It was my first job besides mowing lawns and delivering papers. It’s been basically where I’ve worked since I was 18 years old,” he said.
Heck liked the atmosphere so much, he decided he might want to buy the business. So, in 2000, he and his business partner Mike Pfaller took over, buying it from the previous owners. The business itself has its share of history in the area.
“It is over 130 years old. It was established in 1894. Quite a bit of the main building is still here. It’s been added on over the years,” said Heck.
With a magical location right off of a major highway along the water, new visitors often stop in while passing by and stay longer for the water view.
“I believe it’s the busiest east to west highway in Wisconsin,” Heck said. “We’ve got groups and families that have stayed in our hotel for 60 to 70 years. I’ve seen people grow up here. It brings back a lot of memories. It’s very family-oriented.”
The proximity to certain events in Wisconsin helps their business too.
“We have people who stay with us who attend EAA each year too.”
Wherever you come from or are headed, the Silvercryst is a well-known staple of Wautoma.
“It’s the view that strikes you. You don’t see that from the road,” said Heck. “I’ve had a number of people who have driven by here for 30 to 40 years and have never stopped… once they come in and see the view they just kind of fall in love with it.”
Once you’re there, Heck has a recommendation on how best to enjoy your stay.
“If you’re staying here in the hotel, my suggestion is to check in, put your flip flops on and go hang out on the beach… we’ve got a lot of people who do that and they don’t get in their car until they leave days later. You can eat, drink, do everything right here.”
Boarders Inn & Suites by Cobblestone Hotels is another great and comfortable stay, close to shopping and restaurants, as well as the 27-hole Waushara Country Club.
With all the dining options, unique retail stores and fun things to do outdoors year-round, it’s easy to see why people have a hard time leaving Wautoma.
“I came for vacation and stayed for the lifestyle,” Mott said.