Siebkens Resort History                              
SALE PICTURES BELOW               
In 1883, William Schwartz built the three-story Belleview House to accommodate 75 guests. This resort included an opera house and a greenhouse that provided greenery for his two resorts.  He also built a boathouse on the lake.  In 1916, Herman Siebken purchased the hotel and renamed it Siebkens Resort.  It became known for its warm hospitality and good food, including the serving of Spring Chicken, Duck and Geese every Sunday.  In June of 1918, boasting reservations from NY, IL, and AK, they offered swimming lessons at the Siebkens pier and picture shows every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the Elm Park Theater. It also became tradition that groups of German singers spending the weekends would serenade the guests.  The singing groups provided entertainment for the local residents as well.  Over the years their arrival was eagerly anticipated.  Usually arriving by train and several coaches, they sometimes formed a parade down Lake Street to the hotel.  The tradition of singing groups would continue for over 70 year. Herman’s daughter, Olive (Ollie) returned to the resort to help after Laura (Herman’s widow) died in 1941 and in 1946 she became the sole owner. Her love of antiques turned the entire hotel into a large antique store; guests of Siebkens Resort enjoy her fine taste in antique furnishings today. She ran the resort until 1977, when her daughter, Pam and husband Douglas Lueck purchased the resort and continued its German heritage. Today, Ollie’s Opera House offers antiques for sale in the old theater. Ollie’s granddaughters, Laurie and Lisa, now operate the hotel and continue the legacy. Time to clean out the Opera house. This store has been closed for over 6 years and the family is ready to sell everthing. Please see www.lakeshoregalleries.com for pictures 
Source: https://www.elkhartlake.com/media-room/history-legends/