The History of Bostwick Lake Inn

Established 1910
In 1910 a beach house and pavilion were built on the site where Bostwick Lake Inn stands today. That structure was replaced by Bert's Lakeside Place in 1927. Owned by James and Susan Bert, it operated as a soda fountain, bathhouse, restaurant, and later as a tavern. With the repeal of Prohibition in 1934, Bert's Lakeside Place became officially known as the Bostwick Lake Inn and was one of the first area taverns to receive a liquor license. During the decade of the 1930's, the tavern featured floorshows from Chicago, slot machines, dancing, and full course dinners. Bostwick Lake Inn also served as an unofficial post office in the 1940's, allowing lake residents to stop and pick up mail when the postman could not navigate the roads around the lake due to winter snows. In 1954, Earnest Gates purchased the lakeside inn and, along with the Pullen family, operated the Bostwick Lake Inn for decades. Jim Isabell purchased the inn in 1993, made major renovations and managed it for fifteen years before passing the torch on to Gregory Gilmore in 2012.