Kahlscheuers take over local campground

By Holly Neumann

After five generations of the Conroy family running Bear Lake Campground and Resort, the business has been sold to Bob and Sarah Kahlscheuer, effective Jan. 17.

The couple hails from the Menomonee Falls area, where they raised two sons.

Sarah was working in education, while Bob was working in manufacturing.

“We got to a point where we wanted to try something new and wanted a change in our life,” Bob said. “We always loved camping and joked about buying a campground one day.”

“Bob came home from work one day and said, ‘What would you think about really doing it?’” Sarah said. “I was like, whoa.”

Their search began last fall when they connected with a realtor that works with selling campgrounds in Wisconsin.

“We came and saw this one and it was such a beautiful campground with a gorgeous lake,” Sarah said. “There is such a sense of family and community here. They have built such a great business and you can tell when the people come in.”

“The people are just great,” Bob said. “They are willing to help and that is just the kind of people we are.”

Looking forward to spring

The Kahlscheuers are looking forward to camping season, warm weather and the campground being full.

“We want to continue the great tradition that the Conroys had: to continue to build the great history here,” Sarah said.

They do not plan for any immediate changes.

“Like Sarah said, they built a great business here, why would we change that,” Bob said. “We do plan on making improvements as we go along.”

This will include cleaning up the mini golf course, making some walking trails, adding to the park and offering a variety of activities.

For now they are busy getting set up and running the business.

“Joe and Bridget (Conroy-Bailey) and Ryan and Emily (Conroy) have been so helpful and willing to make the transition smooth,” Sarah said. “They are very committed to making sure this stays a great place and sharing their wealth of knowledge.”

The Kahlscheuers encourage everyone to visit.

“The bar is open and we’re serving food on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday right now,” Sarah said. “We are hoping to add those Friday fish fries back in soon.”

“We are slowly building our menu back up and Joe is working with our new cook,” Bob said.
The couple is excited about their new adventure.

“We are family people,” Sarah said. “The history you find here you cannot get in a lot of campgrounds. The story is impressive.”

“People like feeling that they are a part of something,” Bob said. “If we can just keep that going, they will be a part of our story and the history moving forward.”