Wisconsin

Some people buy a car during a midlife crisis. This man bought a small-town hotel instead

Published

1 year ago

November 5, 2023

Some people buy a car during a midlife crisis. This man bought a small-town hotel instead

For the past two years, property developer Matt Rogatz made a weekly five-hour round trip from his home in northern Chicago to Green Lake, Wisconsin — population 1,005.

Before that, the only thing he knew about the small town was that his high school buddy had family there, he said.

But after a 30-year career in industrial real estate, completing more than 400 transactions totaling more than $750 million, Rogatz said he hit a wall, which prompted a midlife crisis.

“I was looking for my next industrial property and couldn’t find anything of value,” Rogatz told CNBC Travel. “My life was kind of on autopilot. I wasn’t growing as an individual. A lot of people at that point might retire, but I’m not that kind of guy.”

Shopping in Green Lake.

Source: Our Green Lake

Rogatz said there was “no way” he wanted to get into the hospitality industry. He had no idea how to run a hotel and had been put off by horror stories about bad hotel guests, he said. Plus, he had heard the restaurant business was notorious for theft, he said.

But an internet search in early 2021 completely changed his mind, he said.

A small-town hotel for sale

One day while on his computer, Rogatz saw that a small hotel — the Green Lake Inn — was for sale. The 17-room property, set on 1.5 acres of land, is minutes from the small town’s “downtown” area, and most importantly, just around the corner from the 7.3-mile-long lake, which is said to be the deepest in Wisconsin.

The Green Lake Inn.

Source: Our Green Lake

Rogatz took the gamble, thinking that in the worst-case scenario, he could use the inn for private getaways and invite extended family on vacation. He spent the next few months refurbishing the inn — which he described as “well maintained, but very outdated.”

That worst-case scenario didn’t happen— in fact, the opposite did, he said.

“The timing was right as it was after Covid, and people started wanting to do things again,” Rogatz recalled. “I was like, ‘Wow, I’m on to something.’ I made some decent money that first year.”

On a streak

His next purchase was The Manor, a grand waterside villa and guest house with its own boat dock, formerly known as The Angel Inn.

The Manor.

Source: Our Green Lake

The elderly couple that had run it as a bed and breakfast wanted to retire to spend more time with their grandchildren. Rogatz gave the seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom property a complete face-lift, replacing its dark color scheme and 1970s carpets, linen and furniture with modern finishings and windows that maximized its lakeside views.

Rogatz’s entrepreneurial mind began whirring, and immediately he saw the potential in creating wedding packages incorporating both properties — the Green Lake Inn as a wedding venue, and The Manor for extra guest accommodations. He even purchased a minibus to shuttle guests between venues.

Élan Brio Spa.

Source: Our Green Lake

Then, like a Monopoly player on a winning streak, when the local spa, Élan Brio, hit the market, Rogatz scooped up that property too. It meant he could add hair and beauty treatments for weddings, which included dips in the spa’s saltwater pools.

Adding the Goose Blind bar and restaurant and partnering with local golf courses sealed the deal for vacation packages for fishermen and golfers in the area.

Goose Blind restaurant and bar.

Source: Our Green Lake

“I’ve had groups of 24 guys stay at our hotel. We shuttle them to the golf course, then to the Goose Blind, and they love it. Then we shuttle them back. They don’t have to worry about drinking and driving. We put everything together for them so they just pay one fee,” Rogatz said.

The inn also has outlets where fisherman can charge their boats, he said. “And we have boat parking, which a lot of hotels don’t have,” he added.

Two years — and five properties — later, Rogatz has a full-fledged tourism operation on his hands — Our Green Lake — which cost him nearly $4 million to buy, and several million more for refurbishments, he said.

A new getaway

Attracting more tourists to Green Lake has become a personal mission, said Rogatz — especially among those who regularly visit another Wisconsin town called Lake Geneva, which he called the default getaway for Chicago residents.

An ice sailing race on Green Lake.

Source: Our Green Lake

“It’s crazy expensive, and it’s packed. It’s not even fun, because there are so many boats. But Green Lake is just that bit further away from Chicago, so it’s not really on the radar for a lot of Chicago people,” said Rogatz.

He plans to change that by marketing to adventure sports groups in Chicago, and by building relationships in different cities to promote Our Green Lake. The usually quiet winter months — when average temperatures are below freezing — aren’t even a barrier, he said. Ever optimistic and opportunistic, Rogatz plans to entertain visitors with activities like ice sailing, ice fishing, curling and even dog sledding, he said.

Rogatz said his latest purchase — Green Lake’s three-story former jail — will provide indoor activities in the winter too, such as boutiques and a flea market, as well as cooking and mixology classes.

He’s already turned the first floor, which had a kitchen, into a 40-seat breakfast venue called the Terrace Cafe. The second floor, where the jail cells used to be, is proving a little trickier, he said.

The third floor is being used for a monthly bingo night, which Rogatz has agreed will continue if he can use it for other events the rest of the time, such as laser tag and obstacle courses.

Green Lake’s “renaissance”

Rather than see Green Lake’s vacant properties as a red flag, Rogatz views them as an opportunity to create a “renaissance” for the town.

Green Lake is a small town in Wisconsin with a population of 1,005.

Source: Our Green Lake

He said he and other investors who bought local golf courses, cafes, hotels and bowling alleys have brought a new energy to Green Lake. Rogatz said he now serves as an advisor on the Green Lake Economic Development Committee.

While some locals have expressed concerns about their hidden gem becoming as busy as Lake Geneva, the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is happy for the town to be “put on the map,” especially during the winter, said Lisa Meier, the chamber’s executive director.

“Matt’s investments will help uplift our charming community to be recognized as a year-round destination,” said Meier.

For Rogatz, it’s become his personal mission to see Green Lake thrive.

“You come to Green Lake, and you instantaneously take a breath,” he said. “You feel good. You’re relaxed. You feel all the stress of the city leaving you.”

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Wisconsin

Preview: Wisconsin Closes Nonconference Schedule Hosting Detroit Mercy

Published

1 hour ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Preview: Wisconsin Closes Nonconference Schedule Hosting Detroit Mercy

Detroit Mercy (5-8, 1-2 Horizon League) vs. Wisconsin (9-3, 0-2 Big Ten)

Date/Time – Sunday, December 22, 1 p.m.

Arena – Kohl Center (16,838)

Watch – Big Ten Network (Jeff Levering and Brian Butch)

Radio – Badgers Radio Network (Matt Lepay and Charlie Wills), Sirius 119 or 195, stream online on iHeartRadio.

Series – Wisconsin leads 3-0 (Wisconsin leads 3-0 in Madison)

Last Meeting – Wisconsin won, 68-42, on December 6, 2003, in Madison

Follow Online: The Badgers’ Den

Twitter: @Badger_Blitz

Betting line: Wisconsin -29.5

Projected Starting Five (Wisconsin)

Player to Watch: After averaging 2.4 points per game last season, Winter has improved to 10.6 ppg this year after scoring a career-high 20 vs. Butler. He leads UW in rebounds (5.6), offensive rebounds (23) and field goal percentage (.598).

Projected Starting Five (Detroit Mercy)

Player to watch: Leading the Titans with 16 points in Wednesday’s loss at Northern Kentucky, Lovejoy has been in double figures in nine of UDM’s 13 games. He leads the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals (1.9).

Series Notes

Wisconsin’s average margin of victory in its three prior meetings with UDM is 18.3 points.

The last time Wisconsin and Detroit Mercy met was Dec. 6, 2003, when UW claimed a 68-42 win. Devin Harris and Freddie Owens led the Badgers with 13 points, with Harris adding nine assists.

Wisconsin is 72-4 all-time against teams in the Horizon League. Under head coach Greg Gard, the Badgers hold a 9-0 all-time mark vs. Horizon teams.

The Titans are 30-123 all-time against the Big Ten Conference – 12-81 on the road – and have dropped 18 in a row against the league. The last win was at Michigan State, 68-65, on Dec. 13, 1997.

Wisconsin Notes

Wisconsin is 79-23 (.775) in regular season, non-conference games under Gard.

Wisconsin is 9-1 in non-conference play this season and has the chance to post double-digit out of conference wins for the first time since going 11-2 in 2016-17. The Badgers have tallied four non-conference wins over Power 5 teams, their most since 2018-19.

Wisconsin ranks 11th in the nation with an adjusted offensive efficiency of 120.1 per KenPom – through games played Dec. 18. This year’s adjusted offensive efficiency rating of 120.1 ranks as the school’s third-highest mark since KenPom began tracking in 1999.

UW is averaging 15.2 assists per game, its most since 1993-94, while turning the ball over 9.6 times per game. UW has never had a season in which it has averaged 15+ assists per game while remaining below 10 turnovers per contest.

Wisconsin leads the NCAA in free throw percentage, 84.8% FT (234-for-276) at the line. UW has nearly made more FTs (234) than its foes have attempted (237) this season.

Detroit Mercy Notes

With 11 new players on the 15-man roster, the Titans returned just 14.2 percent of their scoring, 12.9 percent of their rebounding, and 18.0 percent of their minutes played from last season.

The Titans snapped a 22-game road slide with a win at Ball State on November 20.

UDM posted four wins in November, the most in the month since going 4-3 at the start of the 2017-18 season

Detroit Mercy has owned the glass this year, outrebounding its opponents in nine of its 13 games. The Titans are 52nd in the country with 13.2 offensive boards and 74th in DI with a +5.4 rebounding average.

UDM has a 173-107 margin on second-chance points on the season.

Prediction

Calling out a play that involves Crowl getting an early shot attempt in the low post is nothing new for Gard. Off the top of his head, he estimates that getting the ball to Crowl in the low post within Wisconsin’s first three offensive possessions happens 90 percent of the time.

But after being publicly called out by his coach and pushed to be more aggressive by his teammates, Wisconsin intentionally made a call to get Crowl the ball near the low block on the first possession. Seeing him convert by being physical with his back to the basket, unleashing a spin move for an easy bucket was the positive response the staff was looking for.

Crowl’s season-high 18 points against Butler were a catalyst in breaking a three-game losing skid. He did it playing aggressively and in short spurts, playing in just 17 minutes (second-fewest of the season) and going 7-for-10 from the floor (second-most attempts of the year).

“It’s a credit to him,” Gard said. “The 17 minutes that he had, he took full advantage of those.”

The renewed play of Crowl and the growth of Nolan Winter could give Wisconsin a punch to the offense it hasn’t had through the first two months of the season. Crowl and Winter had only reached double figures in the same game once until last Saturday. The duo combined for 38 points and their play helped Wisconsin outscore Butler, 40-to-24, in the paint, its third-highest total for the season and the second-highest paint-scoring differential.

“They play and have pride in playing for what’s on the front of the jersey, knowing that the back of the jersey will get taken care of,” Gard said. “You really get individual accolades through team success. I don’t see a lot of MVP awards being handed out to an 8-25 team.”

Getting to 8-25 would be a huge step forward for Detroit Mercy, which opened last season with a 26-game losing streak and finished 1-31, the worst record in Division-1. Hiring Michigan State assistant Mark Montgomery, who has coached with Tom Izzo on two different occasions, the Titans run some patterns similar to the Spartans in addition to executing three-quarters court pressure and zone.

The Titans also have a good player in Lovejoy, as the transfer from Eastern Michigan is one of 10 Division 1 players who averages 13.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Detroit ranks 54th nationally in rebounding, averaging just under 40 per game. The problem the Titans are facing is health, as the Titans have three rotation players averaging at least 8.9 ppg out with injuries. The Titans played 10 student-athletes at NKU, six of those were freshmen who accounted for 101 of the 200 minutes as well as 38 of the 60 points and 22 of the 34 boards.

Wisconsin should handle an undermanned unit, as long as the Badgers aren’t overly rusty from finals week.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin former four-star quarterback Mabrey Mettauer appears headed for transfer portal

Published

9 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Wisconsin former four-star quarterback Mabrey Mettauer appears headed for transfer portal

MADISON – It appears that the Wisconsin football team will have almost a completely new quarterback room next season.

Mabrey Mettauer, the last scholarship player left at the position on the roster from this season, is expected to enter the transfer portal, according to 247sports. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound true freshman from The Woodlands, Texas, was a consensus four-star recruit coming out of high school.

This season he served as the top backup to Braedyn Locke after Tyler Van Dyke suffered a season-ending knee injury against Alabama. Mettauer appeared in one game and completed his only pass attempt.

He maintained his redshirt status and will have four years of eligibility remaining.

Mabrey’s departure was the last domino to fall from the firing of Phil Longo as offensive coordinator. Like Van Dyke and Locke, Mettauer came to Wisconsin with the idea that he would play in Longo’s pass-friendly offense.

Locke’s brother, Landyn, a member of the 2025 recruiting class, was also recruited by Longo. Landyn Locke has been released from his letter of intent and has re-opened his recruitment.

After 247sports broken the news of Mettauer’s expected departure he reposted the post on his X and Instagram accounts.

The loss of Mettauer means Wisconsin has three scholarship quarterbacks plus walk-on Milos Spasojevic on the roster for next season:

* Billy Edwards Jr., who started this season at Maryland and threw for 2,800 yards. He has one year of eligibility left.

* Danny O’Neil, who started at San Diego State as a true freshman and threw for 2,000 yards this season. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

* Carter Smith, a four-star prospect from Florida, will enroll early and participate in spring practice.

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Wisconsin

14-year-old killed in Wisconsin school shooting shared gifts of music and art with many, friends say

Published

17 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

MADISON, Wis. — Rubi Patricia Vergara was a talented young teenager who often handcrafted gifts for others and shared her musical talents with many, family friends recounted at funeral services held Saturday morning.

14-year-old killed in Wisconsin school shooting shared gifts of music and art with many, friends say

Vergara, 14, was a student at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where she was shot and killed by a fellow student Monday. Teacher Erin West, 42, was also killed in the attack.

“She was a quiet, gentle spirit who cared deeply for others,” City Church lead pastor Tom Flaherty said. “But Rubi also had a faith beyond her years.”

Vergara’s services were held at City Church, which is adjacent to the school. West’s funeral is set for Monday at Doxa Church in Madison, according to her obituary.

Two other injured students remained hospitalized Saturday in critical condition but were stable, UW Hospital said.

A family friend, Dawn Moris, spoke about Vergara’s compassion and empathy. Vergara made personalized birthday cards for loved ones with digital artwork, origami and had started crocheting. Moris showed those in the congregation a small crocheted smiley face potato crafted by Vergara.

“She applied a caring and creative approach to everything she did,” Moris said.

Vergara played keyboard in a family worship band and could hear a song and pick it up on the piano, Moris said. As a singer, she had a special talent of harmonizing and “sang like an angel,” Moris said.

Vergara’s aunt played her niece’s favorite song, “Shoulders” by for King & Country, on the guitar during the service. Her uncle, Andy Remus, thanked the people of Madison for supporting his family this past week.

Police say the shooter, 15-year-old student Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, shot herself at the school and died at a Madison hospital. Police have said she was in contact with a man in California who authorities say was planning to attack a government building. Rupnow’s motivation for the attack remains a key part of their investigation.

Volmert reported from Lansing, Michigan.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

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