Elkhorn has small-town charm in southern Wisconsin
Dating to 1836, Elkhorn is a rural small town, where the most popular event is a yearly county fair. The community's Main Street-style retail district keeps the town of approximately 10,000 from getting too sleepy, and its holiday festivities and lights have earned it the nickname "Christmas Card Town." But watch out come nightfall: the Beast of Bray Road, the area's legendary werewolf-like cryptid, is said to haunt the farmland stretching across the community’s east side.
Main Street-style retail on South Wisconsin
South Wisconsin Street is the heart of the community, embodying a quaint, small-town feel. This small downtown is lined with historic Italianate storefronts, where many local businesses thrive. “Moy’s Restaurant is a landmark Chinese restaurant that’s been there for decades,” says Realtor Rob Edwards, who works with Compass and has over 20 years of experience in the area. It serves classic dishes like egg rolls and orange chicken in a relaxed setting. More of the area’s eclectic restaurants include Los Tres Hermanos, a laid-back, authentic Mexican spot. For a morning pick-me-up, Perkup Elkhorn has specialty drinks, while the bakery next door, Pastries by Chad, offers everything from donuts to custom cakes. For groceries, El Super Burrito is right off Wisconsin Street, plus there’s a supermarket called Hanson’s IGA Market on the north side of Elkhorn. It’s in a plaza with lots of fast-food options, including Culver’s and Domino’s Pizza.
Historic houses, ranch-style homes and contemporary homes in Elkhorn
“There's a variety of inventory, from lake homes to multiacre estates to regular family homes and everything in between,” Edwards says. Centered around the walkable shopping district, the adjacent blocks are lined with historic homes shaded by tall evergreen and maple trees, adding plenty of greenery. The architecture includes Colonial Revivals, Victorians and Craftsman bungalows. They range from $300,000 to $400,000. From there, the community expands with streets of midcentury ranch-style homes, which range from $200,000 to $300,000. Waterfront homes on Silver Lake, north of town, also range from around $300,000 to $400,000. Contemporary houses, often on the outer edges of Elkhorn, range from $400,000 to $500,000. Surrounded by rural land, the community also has undeveloped multiacre lots, ranging from $300,000 to $1 million.
Education, including Elkhorn Area School District and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Elkhorn Area School District has a B-plus rating on Niche. “It’s a great family community with good schools,” Edwards says. Serving approximately 3,600 students, the district’s student-teacher ratio is 18-to-1. The closest higher education options include the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Outdoor recreation from Sunset Park to Williams Bay Beach
Sunset Park, on the west side of Elkhorn, offers a swimming pool, a playground and hosts an annual fireworks show for July Fourth. On the south end of the community, Babe Mann Park has a fishing pond and waterside walking paths. At Evergreen Golf Club, on the north side of the community, is a 27-hole course that's open to the public. Just 5 miles south of the community, Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy provides a bird-watching tower and boardwalk trails. Williams Bay Beach is adjacent to the preserve and has a swimming beach on the shores of the popular Geneva Lake.
Walworth County Fair and Elkhorn Antique Flea Market
On the east side of the Elkhorn, the Walworth County Fairgrounds hosts the Walworth County Fair in late August. This historic tradition has been celebrated since 1849, offering five days of carnival rides and demolition derbies. “It's the best county fair in the state," Edwards says. "It's really well done, with good entertainment like big name bands, and they have tractor pulls." The fairgrounds also host the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market, which has over 50 dealers selling everything from furniture to glassware four times per year.
45 miles to Milwaukee and more transportation
Via Interstate 43, Elkhorn is about 45 miles from downtown Milwaukee. The same route can also take residents to Madison, about 70 miles away. “You can get on an interstate system with an easy drive to many major cities,” Edwards says. “And it’s just over the Illinois border for easy access.” Some residents have jobs close to home at major employers like the Aurora Lakeland Medical Center and the Elkhorn Area School District. The closest major airport, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, is about 40 miles away.
