Hubbard Park Lodge: A guide to Shorewood's hidden gem

Tucked inside a wooded ravine along the Milwaukee River, Hubbard Park Lodge is one of Wisconsin's most extraordinary dining destinations — a 1930s WPA-built log cabin that serves up all-you-can-eat fish fry with live polka music every Friday night.

The lodge sits at the heart of Hubbard Park, a roughly five-acre Milwaukee County landmark in the Village of Shorewood that feels more like a northwoods retreat than a spot just minutes from downtown Milwaukee. Whether you're coming for the beer-battered cod, the German-style beer garden, a riverside wedding, or a paddle down the Milwaukee River, this is a place that rewards every visit. Here's everything you need to know before you go.

A WPA masterpiece born from the Great Depression

Hubbard Park Lodge was built between 1936 and 1938 as a Works Progress Administration project at a cost of roughly $30,000 — part of some $2.65 million the Village of Shorewood secured for public works during the Depression. Originally called the Scout Craft Cabin, it was designed specifically for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, complete with an observation tower for signal practice and an archery range in the basement (remnants of which are still visible today).

The architect was Henry C. Hengels, a Shorewood resident who also served as State Architect for Wisconsin beginning in 1920. Hengels designed the lodge in a Rustic Style evocative of pioneer blockhouses and northwoods cabins. The front facade features log walls, while the side and rear elevations use cream and red brick salvaged from the dismantled Lighthouse Squadron Armory. Heavy stone veneer anchors the front corners, four massive stone-and-brick chimneys punctuate the roofline, and the interior boasts cathedral ceilings and a grand stone fireplace. A newer deck and veranda off the west side now overlooks the Milwaukee River through pairs of French doors.

According to the Village of Shorewood's official publication, the lodge was one of 13 identical structures built across the United States during this era, and it is one of only two still standing — the other houses a USDA research station outside Washington, D.C. Hubbard Park received Milwaukee County landmark designation in 2000, and the lodge is documented by the Wisconsin Historical Society's Architecture and History Inventory and UC Berkeley's Living New Deal project. It is not a CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) project, as sometimes assumed — it was built entirely through the WPA.

The park's history runs far deeper than the lodge itself. The land once held Native American burial mounds (excavated in 1919), then became home to a succession of colorful enterprises: Luedemann's-on-the-River beer garden in the 1870s, a mineral spring park, and most spectacularly, Coney Island Park (which drew 30,000 visitors on opening day in 1900) and later Wonderland and Ravenna Park, featuring roller coasters, a zoo, ostrich farms, and even a "Murderdrome" motorcycle track. After the amusement era ended in 1916, Shorewood Village President William J. Hubbard purchased the land in 1922, and the park opened on July 4th weekend, 1930 bearing his name.

The Friday fish fry draws crowds

The lodge's Friday Night Fish Fry runs every Friday from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, year-round, and it is widely considered one of Milwaukee's best. Live polka music kicks off at 5:00 PM inside the cathedral-ceilinged lodge, and the combination of WPA-era atmosphere with crispy cod and cold beer creates something genuinely hard to find elsewhere.

The star of the menu is the Traditional Beer Battered Cod at $15.00 — reportedly all-you-can-eat, with servers bringing additional pieces of Alaskan cod until you wave them off. Each entrée comes with a choice of two sides: homemade potato pancakes (a consistent highlight in reviews) or french fries, plus coleslaw and rye bread. Beyond the cod, the menu offers Breaded Walleye ($19), Blackened Salmon ($19) with a creamy beer blanc sauce, and Lobster Ravioli ($22) in white wine garlic cream. Starters include Smoked Trout Dip ($11) and Hand-Breaded Coconut Shrimp ($12), and the Smoked Trout Chowder ($7) is a warming opener. Kids under 12 can get battered cod for just $6. Both dine-in and takeout are available — you can grab your meal to-go and eat it in the beer garden if you prefer the outdoor setting.

The lodge is operated by Russ Davis of Vecchio Entertainment Group, a Milwaukee restaurateur who signed a lease with the Village of Shorewood in 2010. Davis also runs the Lakefront Brewery Palm Garden and Twisted Fisherman, and he brought the polka band tradition — originally featuring The Brewhaus Polka Kings — from Lakefront Brewery's own fish fry.

Milwaukee's only year-round beer garden sits on the river

The Hubbard Park Beer Garden occupies the riverbank just steps from the lodge, offering communal picnic tables beneath towering trees with views of the Milwaukee River. It operates as a traditional Old World German beer garden, and it's positioned directly on the Oak Leaf Trail, making it a beloved stop for cyclists, runners, and families.

The outdoor beer garden runs roughly May through October, with typical summer hours of noon to 10:00 PM on Fridays through Saturdays, noon to 9:00 PM on Sundays, and 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM on weekdays. Hours are weather-dependent, so checking their Facebook page or website before heading out is wise. The tap list features German and local craft beers — Sprecher Black Bavarian, New Glarus Spotted Cow, Hofbräu, Spaten, Lakefront, and Miller Lite among them — plus wine, hard cider, Bloody Marys, cocktails (the Old Fashioned gets frequent praise), and non-alcoholic options like root beer and local kombucha. Food leans classic beer garden: Usinger's sausages, bratwurst, giant German-style pretzels with mustard, and Wisconsin cheese plates.

What makes this beer garden truly unique is its claim as Milwaukee's only year-round beer garden. From late November through mid-March, the operation transforms into "Winter Camp" — private heated domes overlooking the river, available Thursday through Sunday in two-hour reservation slots seating up to eight guests. The Winter Camp menu goes ambitious with items like elk steak, wild boar ravioli, and venison roll-ups alongside seasonal cocktails. The concept drew significant attention during and after COVID and has become a wintertime staple.

Summer also brings cabana rentals for private groups and the Friday fish fry available from the beer garden window. The atmosphere is emphatically family-friendly — children are welcome, non-alcoholic drinks are plentiful, and the setting is safe and relaxed. Cornhole and outdoor ping pong are set up for entertainment.

Weddings, concerts, and salmon festivals

Hubbard Park Lodge has become one of Milwaukee's most distinctive wedding and private event venues. The lodge seats approximately 175 guests comfortably inside, with the cathedral ceilings, stone fireplace, balcony, and river-view veranda creating an atmosphere that's hard to replicate. Outdoor ceremonies can be held along the river, and the nearby Shorewood River Club (another WPA-era building just steps away) serves as a free rain backup venue. Wedding reviews on WeddingWire give the lodge a 4.4 out of 5 rating, with 89% of couples recommending it. Evening receptions carry a minimum spend of approximately $6,000, and the venue is available Tuesday through Sunday. A Wedding Open House is scheduled for April 12, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Inquiries go to hubbardparkweddings@gmail.com.

The community event calendar is rich and seasonal:

• Summer Sounds Concert Series: Free live music on Wednesday evenings (typically late June through July), 6:00–8:30 PM in the park, organized by Shorewood Recreation & Community Services. Past acts include Third Coast Blues, Pat McCurdy, and Cold Soda Club.

• Fish & Feather Festival: An annual fall celebration (typically October) marking the salmon spawning runs and fall bird migration, with wildlife viewing, live music, educational exhibits, and food vendors.

• Oktoberfest: The beer garden hosts an annual Oktoberfest celebration with German beer, polka music, and firepits.

• Holiday Pop-Up Bar: "Home for the Holidays Winter Camp" runs November through December with seasonal themes.

• Easter Brunch: Special holiday brunch buffet at the lodge.

The lodge also hosts its Sunday "Lumberjack" Brunch Buffet every week from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM — a hearty all-you-can-eat spread at $18.50 per person with pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and more, reinforcing the northwoods theme.

Trails, kayaking, and urban wilderness along the Milwaukee River

Hubbard Park sits within the Milwaukee River Greenway, a corridor linking over 840 acres of parkland along 8 miles of the Milwaukee River, and the outdoor recreation options are remarkably varied for a park this close to a city center.

Hiking is the most accessible activity. The Milwaukee River Riparian Trail runs approximately 2,760 feet along the riverbank from Hubbard Park to East Capitol Drive, featuring a boardwalk near a wetland, a limestone staircase connecting to the Oak Leaf Trail above, and multiple river access points. Beyond the park, the Milwaukee River Parkway trails extend as singletrack paths along both sides of the river — a mix of flowy sections and more technical, rooty, rocky terrain — connecting north to Estabrook Park and south to Riverside Park. The full Greenway hiking loop covers roughly 8 miles.

Kayaking and canoeing received a major upgrade when a dedicated canoe and kayak launch opened in June 2023, featuring a zero-entry design with snapped stone risers for safe, gentle access — ideal for families and paddlers with mobility considerations. Forward Outdoor runs guided kayak trips using Hubbard Park as a put-in or take-out point, including a scenic stretch from Kletzsch Park to Hubbard Park (with a mandatory portage around Estabrook Falls) and a 4.8-mile intermediate run from Hubbard Park to downtown Milwaukee (2.5–3 hours, with Class I-II rapids near North Avenue). Additional rental options include Milwaukee Kayak Company and Brew City Kayak from downtown locations.

Biking is exceptional thanks to the Oak Leaf Trail, Milwaukee County's 135-mile paved multi-use trail system, which runs directly adjacent to (and above) the park. The operator installed 120 bike racks near the trail entrance. Mountain bikers can access the Milwaukee River Parkway singletrack trails from the park.

Fishing is an official park amenity, with dedicated river access points designed to let anglers wade without damaging the banks. In October, visitors can watch large salmon fighting upstream through the park — a spectacular natural event that anchors the annual Fish & Feather Festival. Picnicking is available at riverside tables and grills throughout the park, though the Village restricts tents and amplified sound in public areas.

What's open when: a seasonal breakdown

Understanding the seasonal rhythm is key to planning your visit. The lodge restaurant operates year-round with its Friday Fish Fry (4–9 PM) and Sunday Lumberjack Brunch (9 AM–2 PM). The lodge is closed to the public Monday through Thursday and Saturdays, though private events can be booked Tuesday through Sunday.

The outdoor beer garden runs from roughly May through October, open daily but weather-dependent. From late November through mid-March, the Winter Camp heated domes take over, operating Thursday through Sunday with reservations required. Hubbard Park itself stays open year-round from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The kayak launch and trails are accessible year-round but are most practical from spring through fall. Summer brings the concert series, cabana rentals, and the liveliest beer garden crowds. Fall delivers the salmon runs and Fish & Feather Festival. Winter offers the heated dome experience and cozy fireside dining inside the lodge.

Practical tips: parking, reservations, and getting there

Address: 3565 North Morris Boulevard, Shorewood, WI 53211 Phone: (414) 332-4207 Lodge website:hubbardparklodge.comBeer garden website:hubbardparkbeergarden.comReservations: book online through the lodge website or via exploretock.com/hubbardparklodge

Parking is the biggest challenge. The small free lot at the intersection of North Morris Boulevard and East Menlo Boulevard fills fast, especially on Friday evenings and summer weekends. Overflow parking is available at Shorewood High School after 5:00 PM. Better yet, bike there — the park is directly on the Oak Leaf Trail with 120 bike racks available. By public transit, MCTS Route 14 stops about two blocks west on Oakland Avenue.

You'll enter the park through a pedestrian tunnel running under the Oak Leaf Trail — a charming detail, but know that it means a walk downhill from the lot, past the Shorewood River Club, to reach the lodge. The park is ADA accessible. Dogs are welcome on-leash in the park and at the beer garden, though confirming current pet policy by phone is worthwhile. Reservations are strongly recommended for Friday fish fry and Sunday brunch, available online; the beer garden is first-come, first-served. Parties of six or more are automatically charged 19% gratuity. All major credit cards and cash are accepted.

Conclusion

Hubbard Park Lodge is that rare place where history, nature, food, and community genuinely converge. A Depression-era WPA cabin that survived when 11 of its 12 siblings didn't, it now anchors a park with a story stretching from Native American burial mounds through roller coasters and motorcycle tracks to one of Milwaukee's most beloved fish fries. The combination of all-you-can-eat cod, live polka, cathedral ceilings, and a river view makes Friday nights here essentially unrepeatable anywhere else. The beer garden's year-round ambition — heated domes in winter, communal tables under old-growth canopy in summer — reflects an operator who understands what makes this spot irreplaceable. With the 2023 kayak launch, improved trails, and continued event programming, Hubbard Park Lodge isn't resting on its WPA-era laurels. It's the kind of place that turns a casual visitor into a regular.