History of Regis Property

From Summer Enchantment - The History of Twin Lakes by Greg Saucerman

(Copyright 1994, Western Kenosha County Historical Society)

Capt. Alfred Ackerman came to Kenosha from New York in 1855 with his wife, Jane.  He had married into a prominent family as his father-in-law, Henry Adams, was cousins to both presidents of the same name.  In 1865 they moved to Twin Lakes purchasing a 149 acre farm.  His father, John, was a veteran of the War of 1812 and Ackerman himself was an experienced sailor.  As friends and relatives began to visit, requests were made that they should build a house down by the lake since the farm contained a nice piece of shoreline.  Ackerman built a cottage on the northwest shore if Lake Mary which he and his wife moved into.  Seeing the possibilities of being close to a railroad and with land on a beautiful lake, Ackerman erected a four story hotel capable of holding about 200 guests.  The hotel was built in the late 1870s and was the first in Twin Lakes and most of the surrounding area.  Ackerman later added a tavern and restaurant dance pavilion, ice cream parlor, and bath house, ice house, bowling alley and several more cottages along with several additions to the hotel.  Ackerman played host to many fine visitors and the hotel was well known.  Along with other activities at the Ackerman, row boats were available and steamboat with Capt. Ackerman at the wheel would give cruises on Lake Mary.  Sometime around 1910, Ackerman sold the hotel to William Schwardt, a barber from Chicago.  It is reported that the hotel had closed down for a few years until Schwardt repaired and reopened the popular resort.  Capt. Ackerman died in 1913 and was buried in Kenosha and his sailing stories were sadly missed by the patrons.  Schwards soon had the resort in full swing, and by 1914 he sold the hotel to Jake and Ingabord Gustafson and went on to build Schwardt's Resort.  Gustafson owned the resort for many years and sold it to John Johnson who continues to keep the Ackerman name.  In 1962, Johnson sold to Wayne Cavanaugh, who continued the tradition until the tragic day in 1966 when the hotel burned.  The remains were taken down and  Cavanaugh continued to operate the bar and restaurant until it was sold to Ed Norris in 1980.  At this time the name was changed to Proud Mary's Landing, and by 1982, It was again sold to Ronald Steiner and leased to Bonnie Kenyon who renamed it The Waterfront.  In 1983, it was sold for the last time and the tavern torn down to make way for Regis Landing Condominiums.