History
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This land was a favorite place for Native Americans. The first white settler and owner, Gaius Munger, was noted for maple syrup production. Later owners included Abraham Perkins, a sheep raiser and Wisconsin Central Railroad promoter; Philip Best, a Milwaukee brewer and stock raiser; Thomas Spence, a Shetland pony raiser; George Schuster, a Milwaukee tobaccoist who built a large Spanish-style home; and Lloyd Dewey, a gambler. In 1932, Chicago street preacher A.J. Moore purchased the site for a commune prototype called Heaven City. The commune failed, and in the early 1940s buildings were added to convert it into a commercial hotel and resort. Lavish accommodations and meals attracted underworld figures for getaway weekends. After many business problems, the property passed through a series of owners including Pat Talcott, Cindy and Richard Wilkening, and Ralph and Carol Hibbard.
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Vernon, Wisconsin · United States
