Places to Stay : Ephraim

The Lodgings at Pioneer Lane
9998 Pioneer Lane
Ephraim, WI   54211
800-588-3565
920-854-7656

Idyllic location, smartly decorated rooms and nurturing amenities are yours when you decide to stay at the Lodgings at Pioneer Lane in Ephraim.   Seven different accommodations are available here in two buildings, tucked behind the Ephraim Village Hall.

Location
If you drive past the famed Wilson’s Ice Cream Parlor, you went a tad too far north.  From Hwy. 42, turn right on Pioneer Lane, and drive about 200 feet. The Lodgings at Pioneer Lane is situated close to lovely boutiques and shops. Yet, it has plenty of space for guest privacy and parking. And like other buildings in the pretty-in-white Ephraim skyline, the Lodgings also has a white exterior.

Checking in
The inn has a self check-in service.  After making your reservation, you’ll receive details about finding your key and accessing your room at a time convenient to you. So, no worries if you get a late start leaving the office on Friday night. We like the idea of self check-in.

Rooms
The Lodgings at Pioneer Lane was established in the year 2000 by the current innkeepers Hugh and Alicia Mulliken.  Available here are seven suites/rooms. Two suites opened in 2009.  Each has its own look and feel.

All accommodations include private bathroom, flat screen televisions/cable, wireless Internet and king-size bed.  Many have two-person whirlpool tubs. All (except Bill’s Room, Sea Chest and The Gift Box) include a gas fireplace.   And each suite also has a mini-kitchen, and we love the “mini” part. They are not over-the-top utilitarian spaces.  Goodness; who wants a big kitchen on vacation, right?  Let’s take a look inside, starting with the suites that opened in 2009.

The Sea Chest
This Sea Chest, an addition to the Lodgings in 2009, has a modern vibe and urban edge. We liked the maple flooring, blue and cream color scheme, built-in storage units for your clothing in a creamy finish. 

Enjoy the sitting area with large windows and a lot of natural light. Nearby and tucked away is the mini-kitchen.  Find a microwave, refrigerator, sink, coffeemaker, some china and flatware.

The bathroom is pretty with a two-person whirlpool tub and a dimmer switch above it.

“Many of my friends say, ‘I can live here,’” Alicia says. 

The Gift Box
Another space, added to the Lodgings in 2009, is The Gift Box suite. It got its name from the fact that the space was formerly a gift shop.

This suite has a lovely view of the water from a large window in the sitting room. The brown leather sofa gives you a good perspective.  The décor here has a natural contemporary feel: a wall hanging that looks like hay, wall sconces that seem to match it, gold and sage wall colors, you get the idea.

“I like to do some decorating, but not too much,” Alicia says.

The bedroom has a four-poster bed and also affords a wonderful view of the harbor. The bathroom amenities include a two-person whirlpool tub.

Oh, and all bathrooms have towels, embossed with “Lodgings at Pioneer Lane.” Nice touch.

The Blossom Room
This suite is located on the second level, and you feel as though you are in the treetops because you can see them through the large windows and on your own private deck. 

You enjoy one large open space here. The king-size bed with a vintage frame faces the gas fireplace. Nearby is the mini-kitchen. 

There’s a display of plates over the bed. The Blossom Room has a feeling of country elegance. The color scheme is rose and creamy white.

“You may not have a room decorated like this in your house, but--for a change-- to stay in a room like this feels good,” Alicia says.

We agree. The Blossom Room feels like a good space.

The Cabin Room
Still another choice is the Cabin Room. It has a north woods feel, but the offbeat creative touches make it stand out from other places you may have seen with this decorating theme. There are vintage signs on the walls, and they are bright and big. So, you won’t miss them. One is for the Great Northern Railway. 

The deck affords you with a wonderful view, and we marveled at the bed frame and tables crafted from real hickory. 

The Leaf Room is another option. It has a Scandinavian look and was not available for a sneak peek during our visit.

Helen Suite/Bill’s Room
Head over to the separate building with a porch to find the Helen Suite, which includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms as well as a sitting room with a gas fireplace.

The exposed wood in the sitting room is original from the 140-year-old cabin that was on these grounds.  On the Helen’s room side, there is a bathroom with a two-person whirlpool.

Bill’s room is adorable. It can be rented as the second bedroom of the Helen Suite. Or Bill’s Room only can be reserved by a couple or a single person on its own. Included are a king-side bed and a private bathroom with tiered shower.

Travel Green-certified
Lodgings at Pioneer Lane recently earned certification as a Travel Green Wisconsin destination.  The inn’s eco-friendly practices include recycling, use of green-certified products for cleaning, water conservation initiatives and more. 

Enjoy Ephraim and Door County
You can walk out the door and enjoy nearby shops specializing in handcrafted jewelry, furnishings and more. And, don’t forget: Wilson’s Ice Cream Parlor is just a little north of the inn.

Alicia has a lot of ideas for other places to go and see. She advises people to head to the Chef’s Hat (just two doors away from the inn) to eat or to Joe Joe’s Pizza in Ephraim.  “And we tell them the Shoreline Restaurant is worth the drive to Gills Rock,” she says. “And the Sister Bay Bowl and Al’s Swedish Restaurant are not to be missed.”

As for shops, she likes Maple Grove Gallery, Viva La Cabin, Amanda DeWitt Jewelry, City Farmer and McKeefry & Yeomans. 

People on their honeymoon or celebrating anniversaries, or couples on any kind of a getaway will relish the Lodgings. Kids not so much: no pool, no big play space or common areas for them.

“All our rooms are spacious. They are quiet, and I think they are unique,“ Alicia says. “There’s a lot to like while you’re here.” 

We agree. This place is first-class all the way.  So, at the Lodgings at Pioneer Lane, choose a suite or room that suits your style or a style you want to try out. And when you do, let them know DoorCountyNavigator.com sent you.  Call them now!

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