Hotel Retlaw Celebrates Its 100th Birthday… And You’re Invited

Hotel Retlaw, the 121-room boutique hotel that has been an important part of Fond du Lac’s history since the 1920s, will mark its 100-year anniversary on March 3, 2023.

A grand celebration will be held at the hotel on Friday, March 3, 2023 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, tours of the hotel, live music, and more.

The party is open to the public and is the hotel’s way of thanking the community for its support as well as honoring past and present guests and employees of the hotel.

“We have been happy to be part of Hotel Retlaw’s renovation and re-birth since 2016,” said Sarah Richardson, partner, Barker Companies, a major investor in the hotel. “It has been Fond du Lac’s hotel for the last 100 years. We look forward to sharing its history and hospitality with the people of Fond du Lac and beyond for the next 100 years,”

Hotel Retlaw, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built by Walter Schroeder in the center of Fond du Lac at One North Main in 1923 as the second of eight hotels he developed throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Retlaw is Walter backwards.

The eight story, neoclassical building was the tallest building in town when it was built.

During its first heyday, the Hotel Retlaw hosted a number of famous guests, including Eleanor Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Jack Dempsey, and  Roy Rogers.

More recent guests have included Paul Newman, Alice Cooper, the Oakridge Boys, Tom Cruise, and Chip Ganassi.

In 2018, the hotel underwent a complete reimagining, combining the best of historic grandeur with modern amenities to ensure that the hotel will retain its place and importance in downtown Fond du Lac for guests and travelers well into the future.

For more information, visit https://www.thehotelretlaw.com/.