Rendering: Courtesy The Oxbow.
Grammy-winning musician Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver fame) is about to put Eau Claire on the map again as one of four partners in The Oxbow Hotel, opening just in time for the Eaux Claires music festival in August. Positioned as a hipster lumberjack’s paradise, the modern lodge will feature 30 rooms, a restaurant, bar, outdoor courtyard, and “adventure rentals.”
Accommodations will be located in two buildings: The Main House, a 1940s era space for those who want the expanse of two-room suites with living rooms; and The Flats, a mid-century motel-style structure that opens onto the courtyard. The design aesthetic is a combination of rustic north woods and the elegance one comes to expect from a boutique hotel. Unique touches include woolen blankets, contemporary art, and reclaimed wood, primarily from the region’s ash trees. Guests will also be able to check out records from a collection in the lobby and play them on in-room turntables.
Rendering: @oxbowhotel on Instagram.
But the Wisconsin-centric details don’t stop there. Critically-acclaimed chef Nathan Berg is at the helm of The Lakely, the on-site, upscale pub serving a comfort food menu using regional ingredients like wild rice, cranberries, maple syrup, and cheese. “I’m going to be relying enough upon local farmers and producers that the menus will be changing pretty much constantly to offer what happens to be in season or available at that moment in time,” says Berg.
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Minneapolis mixologist Megan Arts has been drafted to concoct a variety of craft cocktails that reflect the area’s culture. “We’ll definitely be offering high-quality versions of most of the classics, but when it comes to our original creations, we’re going to be continually developing drinks that match the feel of whatever time of year it happens to be and heavily represent our little corner of the world and as many of the craft producers that are springing up around here as possible,” Berg says.
The Lakely space seats about 70 inside and 70 outside, and is expected to entice both travelers and locals.
Photo: @oxbowhotel on Instagram.
And, of course, there will be music. Lots of it. On the indoor stage, you’ll be able to catch live jazz acts, solo singer-songwriters, and dig into some deep vintage cuts on themed vinyl listening nights. “There’s a significant jazz scene here and Justin Vernon came out of that jazz world as well,” says Nick Meyer, of The Oxbow’s partners. “That’s really what’s made this an epicenter for music.” The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has a renowned jazz program and the city is home to a jazz festival that’s endured for 50 years.
The fun isn’t limited to aural pleasures; athletic guests can partake in bicycle, kayak, canoe, and tube rentals to use on the nearby bike path or the Eau Claire River. The courtyard is a great place to try your hand at kubb, a Nordic lawn game, or soak up the heat from one of the fire pits.
Rendering: Courtesy The Oxbow.
“Early in on it, we knew we wanted this place to be about Wisconsin and feel like it was part of this place,” says Meyer. The meaning of the hotel’s name is twofold: it’s a nod to the city’s Half Moon Lake, called an “oxbow lake” because it formed when the Chippewa River diverted, leaving an abandoned, U-shaped body of water behind. The name also references Eau Claire’s logging and farming legacies; a tool called an oxbow joins a team of oxen together.
The hotel has been years in the making. It all began when Meyer, owner of arts and entertainment publication Volume One, was renovating his retail shop The Local Store. Vernon, a native of Eau Claire, came over to check on the progress; while there, he noticed that the Green Tree Inn & Suites across the street had reached eyesore status because of neglect. The two friends decided to do something about it and joined up with Ben Richgruber and Zach Halmstad to buy the property, shut it down, and redo it as The Oxbow.
The four partners bring varied experience to the endeavor. Meyer grew up washing dishes in his family’s restaurant and has done booking and promotion for a live music venue; Richgruber serves as the executive director of the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center; Halmstad brings entrepreneurial experience as the co-founder of JAMF Software. And Vernon, well, Vernon’s stayed in a lot of hotels thanks to his international tours. The best part of staying at The Oxbow, though, might just be the chance of bumping into the Bon Iver musician himself.
