ending final approval from city officials, The Beach House at Simmons Island has a new operator with big plans proposed for the location.
The Beach House will be operated by Meryl Strichartz, owner of Lakeshore Pedal Tours, an active board member of the Kenosha Community Sailing Center, and a local business owner. “We will be offering traditional concession foods, renting recreational equipment, and selling beach sundries and gift items. We will also be hosting a variety of entertainment including fitness classes in the morning, family friendly beach games and activities in the afternoon, and local live music in the evenings,” Strichartz shares of the proposed plans.
Reportedly, the Beach House hasn’t been opened since the 1990s with only a handful of pop-up events over the years. According to Strichartz, the City of Kenosha’s new Director of Parks, Katie Elder, has made getting the beach house open one of her priorities and has been very instrumental in getting this project off the ground. The building, which is registered and protected as a historical place of interest, was renovated in 2019 but plans for an operator got delayed due to the pandemic.
Passengers of Lakeshore Pedal Tours will board at The Beach House. The business has expanded its offerings to now include a second pedal party bike. In addition, bicycles, beach chairs, umbrellas, and a wide assortment of recreational equipment will be available to rent for beach and park play, offered by Lakeshore Pedal Tours.
The Beach House will also serve as an in-person reservation outlet for the Kenosha Community Sailing Center’s watercraft rental operation. The pedal duck boats, kayaks, paddleboards, and aquacycles (new addition this year) are retrieved by the customers and entered in the water at the nearby Great Lake Yacht Sales. Reservations can be made at The Beach House or online at www.kenoshasailing.org.
In anticipation of their grand opening, Lakeshore Pedal Tours is collecting stories about good times scooping the Loop on Simmons Island and memories people have of the Beach House and being on the island. Go to kenoshabeachhouse.com to share memories.