A lakeside downtown and water recreation in Pewaukee Village
Pewaukee Village centers around the eastern tip of Pewaukee Lake, a popular spot in the region known as Lake Country. Residents and visitors alike flock to the lake and the village’s charming waterfront downtown. “The lake and the downtown area are probably the biggest things. The downtown area is really cute,” says Jennifer Roach, owner of Bluebell Realty, who grew up nearby. “People love walking around the downtown area right by the lake.” While the character of Pewaukee Village and the larger city of Pewaukee that nearly surrounds it are fairly similar and share the highly rated school system, downtown helps the village distinguish itself from nearby areas.
Boating, fishing and year-round recreation on Pewaukee Lake
Pewaukee Lake is a year-round hub for recreation in the village. Lakefront Park’s sandy beach is a popular spot for sunbathing and swimming in the warmer months. Residents can take boats out on the water from the public boat launch or private docks. “There’s a public boat access not too far from downtown, and you can also pay to put your boat in at some of the local marinas,” Roach says. “People can take their boats and dock them to go to the restaurants. That’s super fun, too.” Boating clubs, including the Pewaukee Yacht Club, hold sailboat races over the summer. During the winter, locals use the lake for ice fishing. Pewaukee Kiwanis Village Park has a playground, a basketball court and baseball fields, while Simmons Woods has walking trails and a boardwalk through the forest.
Small boutiques and local restaurants along the water in downtown
Restaurants, coffee shops and small boutiques line Wisconsin Avenue, opposite Lake Pewaukee. On a warm summer night, locals dine al fresco at Seester’s Cantina or Artisan 179, enjoying the view of the water. Meanwhile, shopping centers line Capitol Drive out from the lake. The Meadow Creek Market development has a Menards for groceries, and Walmart and Costco are nearby. Fast-casual restaurants and chains like Taco Bell and Chick-fil-A sit near the big box stores. More shopping opportunities can be found in nearby Waukesha.
Highly rated schools in the Pewaukee School District
Pewaukee Village is zoned to the Pewaukee School District, which receives an A-plus grade from Niche. All four of the system’s schools are located on the same campus within the community. Students start at Pewaukee Lake Elementary for kindergarten through second grade, before heading to Horizon Elementary for third through fifth. Both elementary schools, plus Asa Clark Middle and Pewaukee High, receive A grades from Niche. High school sports are important to the community, with the school’s football, boys basketball and cross country teams all boasting state titles. “They’ve gone to a ton of state championships with their sports teams, which is absolutely incredible for such a small community,” Roach says. “We put out a banner in our front lawn when they go to state championships, and I feel like we’re putting it out all the time.” The main campus of Waukesha County Technical College is also located within Pewaukee Village.
Homes on the water or in midcentury subdivisions
Private piers jut out over Pewaukee Lake from the community’s many waterfront homes. Houses sit along almost the entirety of the lakeshore within Pewaukee Village, save for the portion of the lake that abuts downtown. Demand in the area is high, especially near the water. “There are a lot of people who want to buy here, and there’s not a lot of inventory,” Roach says. “Houses sell pretty fast.” Ranch-style and split-level homes sell between $250,000 and $450,000 in the community’s subdivisions, while more recent new traditional builds can go from $500,000 to $750,000. Lakefront estates don’t often go on the market, but can sell between $1.3 million and $1.9 million when they do. Condos throughout the area sell from $200,000 to $400,000.
Waterfront events, especially in the warmer months
The Pewaukee Village waterfront comes alive over the summer, with residents congregating to enjoy weekly events. Lakefront Park hosts an outdoor concert each Wednesday night, with local bands playing and businesses tabling along the water. The lake is also the setting for weekly water ski shows put on by the Pewaukee Lake Water Ski Club. Annual events include the Pewaukee Kiwanis Beach Party, held over a June weekend with music, food and water activities.
Milwaukee accessible via Interstate 94
Wisconsin Highway 16 cuts through Pewaukee Village and heads south to Interstate 94. Milwaukee is 21 miles east of the community via I-94, while the state capital of Madison is 60 miles west on the interstate. Residents generally drive to their destinations, though a Waukesha Metro bus line serves Waukesha County Technical College and connects it to the city of Waukesha, 6 miles south. Froedtert Community Hospital is located in the community for medical needs. Residents utilize Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, roughly 25 miles away, with direct flights to over 30 cities.
