History In The Making

1870-1924

On this Lake Koshkonong bluff, a hotel was built in 1870. This location attracted canvasback duck hunters and fishermen who used the railroad to arrive at Koshkonong Station. Lake Koshkonong was considered one of the finest duck hunting areas in the United States. At this time, the property was owned by Chicago businessmen. 

In 1898, Arthur Hoard, son of Governor W.D. Hoard, purchased the hotel, converted it into a 30-room resort hotel, and renamed Hoard's Hotel. He added five cottages near the hotel and named the resort Koshkonong Place. 

As the number of canvasback ducks declined, Hoard developed new social activities at the hotel such as golfing, swimming, and dancing.  As the resort prospered, in 1922 the first nine-hole golf course began development.  The hilly, rolling terrain of the new course was open for play in 1924. 

In 1944, two years after Hoard had passed, a group of Fort Atkinson businessmen formed the Koshkonong Mounds Resort Inc (which is still in operation today, as Koshkonong Mounds Country Club).  In 1973, the former hotel was removed and the current Clubhouse was built.