Saturday, May 17, 2025
Raise a Glass to the Past: Old World Wisconsin Celebrates Grand Opening of Wittnebel’s Tavern
Restored tavern and new Biergarten debut to the public with ribbon-cuttings, live performances and beer tastings
EAGLE, Wis. – Visitors to Old World Wisconsin this weekend got a chance to step into the world of 1930s life as the site unveiled its newest attraction. The fully restored Wittnebel’s Tavern opened to guests for the first time, joining a new outdoor Biergarten and the working Brewhouse on site to create a grain-to-glass experience unlike anything else in the Midwest. Wittnebel’s Tavern operated as a family-owned business for generations before its move to Old World Wisconsin, and today it shares stories of post-Prohibition Wisconsin as the first historic building added to the site since the 1990s.
“The expanded brewing experience at Old World Wisconsin is an important development for the site, providing an opportunity to expand the kinds of stories we can share with visitors while propelling us into a whole new era of time,” said Rob Novak, beer and brewing historian for Old World Wisconsin.
The Tavern, Brewhouse and Biergarten are all part of a guest experience improvement project that also includes a new welcome center slated for completion in time for the site’s 50th anniversary in 2026.
“Today we are celebrating the next milestone in our effort to fully reimagine the arrival experience here at Old World Wisconsin,” said Angela Titus, assistant deputy director and chief program officer for the Wisconsin Historical Society.
The addition of Wittnebel’s Tavern completes the Beer & Brewing Experience that invites guests to journey through Wisconsin’s rich beer and brewing history, across a variety of cultures and traditions. Titus acknowledged the Wittnebel family’s contributions in helping to preserve and share stories from a pivotal moment in history when taverns emerged as vibrant community hubs following Prohibition. More than 30 Wittnebel family members attended the opening festivities.
“This historic tavern—like so many rural taverns across the state—once served as the heart of its community. It first opened in Old Ashippun in 1906 and was operated by two generations of Wittnebel family members for an extraordinary 81 years before its final last call. These tavern walls have witnessed countless celebrations, community potlucks, shakes-of-the-day and sheepshead games among friends,” said Titus.
The first day of the Grand Opening Weekend featured special perks like live polka music by Mike Schneider, a celebratory ribbon cutting at the tavern, a tap dance performance and special giveaways with beer purchases and tastings of an exclusive new brew created for Wittnebel’s Tavern. “Kettle Brau” lager, brewed in collaboration with Foxtown Brewing in Mequon, is representative of a post-prohibition lager and is available at the historic tavern.
The celebrations continue Sunday, May 18, with a secondary ribbon cutting and Grand Opening Weekend perks for visitors. The expanded brewing experience at Old World Wisconsin will remain open to visitors for the duration of the spring, summer and fall seasons.
For further information or tickets for Sunday’s celebration, go to oldworldwisconsin.org or click here to purchase tickets online. Spring and summer admission rates are $20 for adults and teens, $18 for seniors (65+), $13 (children five to 12) and free under five. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free general admission to all sites, including Old World Wisconsin, and 10% off ticketed events.
About Old World Wisconsin
Old World Wisconsin is one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums. Rated as one of the top attractions to take kids in the Milwaukee area, Old World Wisconsin is a 600-acre regional history attraction that features interactive environments and immersive stories of 19th-and early 20th-century Midwestern immigrant farm and rural life. The museum offers guests family-friendly, hands-on activities as they visit crossroads village and eight working farmsteads, explore heirloom gardens, experience beer brewing traditions, meet heritage animal breeds and try historic crafts and skills. Old World Wisconsin is located on Highway 67 just south of Eagle, Wisconsin, within daytrip distance of Milwaukee, Chicago and Madison. For more information and a list of upcoming events visit oldworldwisconsin.org or call (262) 594-6301. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free general admission to this site during regular operating hours.
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefitting the Wisconsin Historical Society and administers the membership program. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
