Review: Inn on Woodlake 📍Kohler, WI
The American Club is a lot of things, but there are two things the five-star hotel isn’t — casual or dog friendly. For that, you’ll want to head to the Inn on Woodlake.
The Inn on Woodlake is one of three properties at the Destination Kohler resort complex in an eastern Wisconsin village that built up around a Kohler plumbing parts factory. The inn is the most casual of Destination Kohler’s accommodation options. It offers a more laid-back experience than The American Club but includes access to The American Club’s facilities. It doesn’t have the privacy of Destination Kohler’s collection of private cabins, but it does offer easier access to resort services than those cabins.
Location
The Inn on Woodlake is located at the edge of a lake that’s surrounded by a walking trail. It’s about a half-mile from The American Club, which anchors Destination Kohler. The Inn on Woodlake is about an hour’s drive north of Milwaukee and about two-and-a-half hours north of Chicago.
Address: 705 Woodlake Rd, Kohler, WI
Phone: (800) 344-2838
Website: https://www.destinationkohler.com/lodging/inn-on-woodlake
Vibe
If you’re looking for a relaxed vibe, the Inn on Woodlake is where you’ll find it. This property is the laid-back sibling of The American Club, the hotel that serves as the anchor of this resort town. This property doesn’t offer the same range of services you’ll find at The American Club. Valet parking and room service, for example, aren’t available. But the dress code is casual, so you can leave that sports coat at home unless you have a dinner reservation at The Immigrant Restaurant at The American Club.
Rooms
Rooms here are comfortable but not over the top or as plush as what you’ll find at The American Club. They are, however, very comfortable and extremely functional.
Standard rooms come with the option of one or two beds and include a dresser and a large desk. There’s also a wet bar and mini-fridge. Some rooms open directly onto the lawn, making dog walks a breeze but you will have to book early to snag one of them.
Regardless of what type of room you choose, the showers here are truly epic. Each shower comes with not one, not two, but five distinct shower sprayers. It’s a good thing there’s a gigantic Kohler design center around the corner because you are most definitely going to leave here with dreams of a bathroom renovation.
Food & Drink
Breakfast is served onsite at the Inn on Woodlake and several restaurants and bars are within walking distance.
There’s a coffee shop inside a grocery store a 5-minute walk away. Before you get there, you’ll pass Tavern on Woodlake, a casual restaurant with epic lake views, nightly live music, and an unforgettable crispy Korean cauliflower appetizer. If you’re in the mood for a cocktail, do try the espresso martini.
A half-mile away inside The American Club, you’ll find the Wisconsin Room, a formal dining restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner. The food is buttery and melts in your mouth delicious. Do try the egg sandwich or create your own custom omelet.
Another gem inside The American Club is The Immigrant Restaurant. This restaurant is an ode to the European immigrants who made their homes in this area more than 100 years ago. Each of its X dining rooms is themed to reflect a different country.
The Immigrant Restaurant is multi-course fine dining at its finest, and you can expect everything you eat to be delicious. A tasting menu offers the best chance to sample the breadth of this restaurant’s rich dishes. Vegetarian and vegan versions of the tasting menu are available. On the regular menu, you can expect to find items like grilled wagyu short rib, butter-poached Alaskan halibut with lobster ricotta gnocchi, a seven-year aged vegetable risotto, and smoked pheasant confit salad.
Also at The American Club, you’ll find a garden cafe and casual pub and grill.
Amenities
The Inn at Woodlake sits at the edge of an 11-acre lake about a half-mile from The American Club, Destination Kohler’s anchor hotel. It has a private beach, island, walking trails, and a gorgeous putting green. While there isn’t a gym onsite, a cycling studio, yoga studio, and health and racquet club are located within a 5-minute walk of the hotel.
The Inn at Woodlake has a limited number of pet-friendly rooms, some of which open out onto a lawn. Rooms come with food and water bowls for your dog. Humans can upgrade their experience with a selection of in-room treats like cheese boards, cocktail kids, even a seasonal macaron flight.
Bottom Line
This laid-back dog-friendly hotel is a great option for travelers looking for a more relaxed experience in Kohler. Guests get full access to The American Club’s amenities, but there are no sports coats here. And what better way is there to cap off a day at the spa or golf course than to snuggle with your pup?
