The American Club

The American Club opened in 1918 to house Kohler Co. employees, immigrants from around the world who payed $27.50 a month for rooms and received English language lessons to help them become American citizens. Photos from earlier years hang on the wood-paneled walls in the hallways of this red brick Tudor-style property, which was transformed into a full-service hotel in 1981. Portraits of well-known Wisconsinites hang in the library, which is furnished with classic chairs, bookshelves, and a grand piano. The lobby is also cozy, with leather sofas and a fireplace. Uniformed doormen stand at the entrance, where antique horse-drawn carriages wait to make journeys throughout Destination Kohler -- a complex that also includes the Woodlake Hotel, Sandhill Cabin, and members-only Riverbend Mansion. The sprawling property features well-manicured courtyards and gardens, which were were originally designed in 1913. The quiet, romantic setting draws mostly couples, but families find their way here too. The meeting rooms and business services also make it a good choice for conferences and business retreats, though the hotel can get crowded when it hosts events.

Kohler, WI, dates to the turn of the 20th century, when the Kohler Co. opened a factory in the area. There are numerous restaurants a 10-minute walk from the hotel throughout the village and shops at Woodlake, including a grocery store and the popular Craverie Chocolatier Cafe. The Kohler factory and the Kohler design showroom can be easily reached in four minutes on foot. Golfers have access to four courses at Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run, 15 and two minutes away by car, respectively. Shuttles provide free transportation throughout the village. It's a five-minute drive to Sheboygan Falls. Downtown Sheboygan and the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport are about a 10-minute drive from the hotel, and it'll take one hour to reach Milwaukee by car.

American Club rooms have an Old World elegance, with high-end hardwood furniture, early 20th-century architectural touches, and rich textiles. The look is thoroughly classic, with plush touches including down duvets, though some elements like rattan-style headboards and side tables look slightly outdated. There are a wide variety of room categories, from more simple Standard Rooms to Suites, Deluxe, and Superior Rooms that have wet bars and sitting areas. Some of the Governor Suites have gas fireplaces, and Heritage Rooms feature dark wood paneling and sharp textiles. One-bedroom Presidential Suites also have wood paneling, living rooms, and gas fireplaces. Eau de Vie Suites are the most romantic, with four-poster beds, whirlpool tubs by glass fireplaces, and high-tech electronic bathroom controls. Immersion Suites feature spa-style designs. Some of the Historic Rooms in the Carriage House, home to the hotel's spa, have whirlpool tubs on sunroom patios. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, irons, bathrobes, slippers, free Wi-Fi, minibars, safes, hairdryers, and turndown service with chocolates. Bathrooms have a polished look, with marble and granite surfaces, in-lay tile work, and (of course) premium Kohler fixtures. Toiletries are also provided

The former worker dorm that houses the American Club has been retrofitted and now the hotel is home to several restaurants. What was once the laundry room is now the elegant Immigrant Restaurant and Winery Bar, where male guests are required to wear jackets. The workers’ old dining hall is now the Wisconsin Restaurant, which serves farm-to-table cuisine, while the Horse and Plow (once a bowling alley) is a tavern. The most stunning restaurant is the Greenhouse Cafe, with beautiful stained-glass windows and free morning coffee and tea. Breakfast, however, is not included with room rates.There are 25 shops in the Destination Kohler village, and year-round leisure activities throughout the property, from skiing to yoga on Woodlake. The luxury 21-room Kohler Waters Spa is the The American Club's Carriage House and has two Vichy showers, a pool, whirlpool tub on the rooftop deck, sauna and steam rooms, and a plunge pool. Guests also have access to the Sports Core Health and Racquet Club, which is on Woodlake with a beach and summertime water-sports rentals. Inside are tennis courts (for a fee), a modern fitness center, salon, cafe, and two pools -- one of which is for families.For business retreats and weddings there are multiple options, including conference rooms, a ballroom, theater, and an Irish barn at the Whistling Straits, among other spaces. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and the resort runs free shuttles throughout Destination Kohler. The resort runs a free shuttle and carriage rides are available to get around as well, however, these aren't free and reservations are required.