Welcome
Foolery's serves elevated American tavern fare with Wisconsin roots
Enjoy delicious American dishes with scenic lake views
About Foolery's
Our History
1839 – The First Building in Okauchee
The story begins in 1839, when Orson Reed settled in Okauchee and built a water-powered sawmill on the exact site where Foolery's stands today. According to the Okauchee Area Business Association, this was the very first building constructed in the community.
The mill used the water flowing between Upper and Lower Okauchee Lakes to power its machinery.
The Mill Built Wisconsin
Reed's mill produced lumber that helped construct the Watertown Plank Road, one of Wisconsin's earliest major transportation routes connecting Milwaukee with the interior of the state during the 1840s and 1850s.