Departments

Lodging

Five Great Stays

505 West at Horseradish

If the aesthetics of your surroundings are as important as the comfort, check out 505 West at Horseradish. This popular Airbnb rental, located above Horseradish Kitchen + Market in downtown Princeton, features two bedrooms and one bath with enough space for four guests. The space was recently renovated to offer the best of both worlds – refinished original hardwood floors with updated modern touches and fixtures. Stylishly outfitted with a mix of new and vintage finds, it will be nearly impossible not to spam your friends with Instagram posts of your stay. The walkability of this rental is perfect for visitors looking to indulge in the shops and restaurants of Water Street. 505 West books up fast, so planning ahead is key. 

Mecan River Outfitters & Lodge 

Choose your own adventure at Mecan River Outfitters & Lodge which offers a variety of accommodations, from campsites to log cabins. Mecan River Outfitters offers pheasant hunting on 500 acres, canoe and kayak trips on the Mecan River, and a variety of other recreational opportunities. Staying on the premises is a convenient and comfortable way to enhance your trip. The main lodge was built in 1994 and feels like a true northwoods escape. The 6,000-square-foot building is made with hand cut red and white pine logs and features five bedrooms with shared bathrooms. For something more secluded, check out the various log cabins for rent on the property. These are rustic, most without electricity, but the cabins are conveniently located along ski trails and make the perfect retreat at the end of a day spent exploring. Primitive campsites are also available for rent. 

Gray Gables Airbnb

Built in 1904, this stately home now hosts groups and families vacationing in Princeton. The five bedroom, 1.5 bath home has been newly remodeled and features large bedrooms, comfortable gathering areas and ample off road parking. Contemporary decor offsets the home’s historic features and creates a charming ambiance. For visitors looking to experience downtown Princeton’s shopping district, this is a great place to stay – everything is within walking distance. 

Acorn Ridge Motel 

This nostalgic 14-room motel is located between Princeton and Green Lake on Highway 23, near the western shores of Big Green Lake. The location is easy to find and close to many points of interest including the Green Lake Conference Center and Lawsonia Golf Course. A favorite of snowmobilers and hunters, Acorn Ridge sits on a main snowmobile trail and is minutes from some of the best public hunting and fishing spots in the state, including the White River Marsh Wildlife Area and Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area.

Aframe in the Pines

Nestled among mature red and white pine trees (hence the name), this Airbnb rental is chock full of “up north” charm. Buffalo plaid comforters, barn board doors and cabinetry and exposed wood beams give the rental a log cabin vibe. If you’d rather spend your time outdoors, the nearby trails can be used for hiking, biking and skiing. The A-frame cabin has three bedrooms and one bathroom and can accommodate up to six guests. 

On the Horizon: Parlor Hotel 

Whether it’s renovating a restaurant or staging a retail store, Matt Trotter’s businesses all possess a strong sense of place. “Everything I do is just an excuse to create environments,” says Trotter, who owns Horseradish Kitchen + Market. His latest project is space making on steroids – refurbishing an 1800’s two-story Italianate building to function as a vacation rental for groups. The Airbnb style hotel at 544 W. Water Street will feature seven guest rooms, a wellness center/gym and a common space on the first floor for groups to gather. The common area will feature a bar for guests to stock with whatever they wish, a mix of low and high seating with sectionals and places to read books or play games. It’s a space for guests to communally drink coffee in the morning and sip cocktails in the evening. “The streetside windows are off the gathering space,” Trotter says. “I wanted it to be a living space to bring life to the downtown streetscape.” Trotter envisions Parlor Hotel to be a venue for small parties, retreats and reunions. “One of the strengths of the space is you can rent the whole building,” he says. “Here you would get the whole hotel in a cool downtown that’s walkable to shopping and restaurants.” One of the hotel’s taglines – “Strangers and tourists are welcome” – was inspired by similar phrasing found on a ledger for the American House Hotel which operated in Princeton during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Trotter hopes Parlor Hotel will be completed sometime during summer 2021. Follow the hotel’s progress on Instagram @parlorhotel. 

Attractions

Selfie Spot: Horseradish Vespa

A shiny red Vespa motor scooter, complete with Horseradish Kitchen branding, sits outside the restaurant on most days. It’s impossible to resist hopping on and taking a selfie. 

Three Must-See Spots

Princeton Historical Society’s Folklore Museum

Princeton’s history is revealed through the lives, artifacts and even love poems of its residents at this new museum that officially opens this month. The museum is housed in an old general store that was transported from the neighboring community of St. Marie by 40 yoke oxen and three teams of horses. It served as a feed store for the last 100 years until the 1980s and has been completely renovated, in a true labor of love. “We started this build with $350 and all the hope and community behind us,” says Princeton Historical Society Treasurer Vickie Wielgosh. The museum’s front room is dedicated to the people who have touched the community. Visitors will learn about German puppet makers who settled in the area, local business owners like Dr. Andrew Drill, the town dentist (yes, that was his real name) and notable residents like Lillian Hotmar, an accomplished self-taught clay artist. A poem written by Herman Megow to his wife on their 50th wedding anniversary is just one of many artifacts that will give visitors a glimpse into the lives of the town’s residents. “Our main goal was to not forget the stories of those wonderful, vibrant, hardworking people who came before us,” Wielgosh says. The middle room tells the story of the community, with vignettes dedicated to taverns, lodging, stores and transportation through the ages, including a replica of a paddle wheel boat representing early river travel. Each vignette is accompanied by an audio narrative. The museum is still in progress and will later include vignettes on manufacturing, churches and pre-Princeton history of French traders and trappers, Native Americans and Father Marquette. “When you come here, you aren’t looking at stuff. If you take the time you will find the story behind every piece,” Wielgosh says. The museum will celebrate its grand opening on July 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by for refreshments, raffles and tours. Open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and by chance. For more information, call 295-9008 or visit Princeton WI Historical Society on Facebook. 

Megow Park

This urban park is smack dab in the middle of Princeton’s Water Street and makes the perfect place to put your feet up after (or during) a day of shopping. Featuring two quaint gazebos, gorgeous seasonal blooms and a gravel path that winds its way to the Fox River, Megow Park sits on the site of the Herman E. Megow home and business. The two-story building was first built in the mid-1800s and a third story was later added for Megow’s photography studio and gallery. In addition to his work as a fine photographer, Megow was an entrepreneurial local businessman and served as a justice of the peace in Princeton for over 50 years. 

Father Marquette Cross 

In 1673, Father Jacques Marquette, a French Jesuit missionary, traveled the Fox River while exploring the northern portion of the Mississippi River Valley. While on his journey, Father Marquette planted a cross at what would later become the Village of St. Marie near Princeton. More than 300 years later, local historian Jerry Disterhaft and a group of residents erected a replica of the Father Marquette Cross in 2005 to continue its legend. The 16-foot cedarwood cross is visible to boaters and paddlers from the river just before the boat landing off of Old St. Marie Road. The natural springs that Father Marquette blessed are still flowing about 400 feet from the cross. The cross is located on private land, but interested parties can arrange a walking tour with Disterhaft by calling 920-229-3360.