Food, Fun and Friends

The Wabegon was first built as a residential home around the 1930’s. Peter Bouis purchased the home and turned it into Peter’s Supper Club in the 1950’s and 60’s. In the early 1960’s the Dining Room addition was added on. In that late 1960’s Peter sold the Supper Club to Harry Holm who renamed it Harry’s Supper Club and he owned it until 1971, when he sold the business to Dick Lawson who renamed it Wabegon. Dick and later his daughter Lynn ran the restaurant until Lynn’s passing when it was soon after sold to Mel Schlafer in 2001. In the purchase agreement Mel was not allowed to keep the Wabegon name so he changed the name to the Mile Long Club signifying the mile long drive up the road to the scenic overlook. In 2007 Paul Vernon purchased the Mile Long Club and changed the name back to The Wabegon since locals still referred to the restaurant by that name. In 2017 Paul Vernon sold the Wabegon to now current owner John Hartwick who has kept the Wabegon name. John is honored to own a restaurant will such history and hopes you will stop in soon and say hi.

This history was narrated by current owner John Hartwick and long-time bartender Phil Nephew and his wife Helen over a favorite libation one afternoon. Phil and Helen have been long time customers as well. Many of these events were recalled by simultaneously occurring life events. If you have other historical facts, or corrections to our historical statement, please feel free to contact us. We’d love to hear more stories about the history of this long cherished establishment.