Kohler, United States
The American Club Resort Hotel: Midwest’s only Forbes Five-Star resort in historic Kohler with Whistling Straits golf and Kohler Waters Spa
Surrounded by lush private gardens and tranquil woodlands in the historic village of Kohler, Wisconsin, The American Club Resort Hotel opened in 1918 as a Tudor-style dormitory built by the Kohler Company for immigrant workers. Meticulously restored into the Midwest’s only Forbes Five-Star resort and a proud member of Historic Hotels of America, the 241-room landmark is world-famous as a premier golf, spa, and culinary destination. Home to four major championship golf courses designed by Pete Dye (including the legendary Ryder Cup-hosted Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run), the flagship Forbes Five-Star Kohler Waters Spa, and the fine dining restaurant The Immigrant, The American Club is an American resort legend.
Arrival introduces travelers to stately Red-brick Tudor hospitality: personal bellmen greet guests beneath timbered gables in the grand oak-paneled lobby with warm apple cider and views of the Fountain Courtyard. Day-one logistics focus on coordinating bespoke Kohler golf, spa, and culinary pursuits: playing 18 holes on the dramatic Lake Michigan dunes of Whistling Straits (Straits and Irish courses, 10 minutes away), playing the river-carved Blackwolf Run (River and Meadow Valleys courses, 5 minutes away), experiencing hydrotherapy water treatments at the Kohler Waters Spa, taking private Kohler Design Center design tours, exploring the 500-acre River Wildlife nature preserve for hiking and clay shooting, and reserving dinner at The Immigrant.
Resort living balances championship golf with world-class hydrotherapy: the Forbes Five-Star Kohler Waters Spa features private treatment suites, a rooftop deck with whirlpool and fireplace, hydrotherapy custom showers, and mineral bath rituals. Dining is exceptional: The Immigrant Restaurant presents refined American fine dining (arranged in six intimate dining rooms honoring ethnic heritage), casual pub fare in the Horse & Plow, and lakeside dining at the Blackwolf Run Restaurant.
Accommodations comprise 241 rooms and luxury suites distributed between the historic American Club and the nearby Carriage House ranging from 35 to 110 square metres. Each room features custom heritage oak furniture, gas fireplaces, king beds, and opulent Kohler custom bathrooms with hydrotherapy digital showers and whirlpool tubs.
Golf purists, spa enthusiasts, and luxury travelers seeking Midwest Forbes Five-Star perfection, Whistling Straits major championship golf, and Kohler hydrotherapy in Wisconsin should book The American Club without hesitation. Travelers seeking tropical palm resorts should look elsewhere. Grounded review consensus confirms legendary standing with a 4.8 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 2,400 reviews and a 4.7 out of 5 on Google across 2,800 reviews.
First day
- Arrive in Kohler and enter the historic red-brick Tudor gables of The American Club.
- Check into your suite, admire the custom Kohler bath fixtures, and light the fireplace.
- Dine in the historic candlelit dining rooms of The Immigrant.
What guests say
Hotel Flock Score
Exceptional
Based on 5.2k published ratings
Category breakdown
Guests Love
Forbes Five-Star Midwest Grandeur & Whistling Straits
Guests revere the 1918 Tudor heritage, Pete Dye golf courses, Kohler Waters Spa hydrotherapy, and The Immigrant dining.
Kohler Custom Baths & Immigrant Dining
Reviewers consistently praise the custom digital showers, whirlpool tubs, delicious food, and friendly Wisconsin team.
Guests Warn
Historic Immigrant Hall Heritage
Visitors love the rich history and oak-paneled architecture.
Golf & Hydrotherapy Destination
Travelers celebrate the combination of major championship golf and world-class spa relaxation.
The overall score is a review-count-weighted average of named public platforms, normalized to /10. Category scores — including cleanliness and location — are Hotel Flock editorial readings of those reviews, not a platform's private formula. Hotel Flock is not affiliated with Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Trivago, or any other review site.
Awards & Recognition
Forbes Five-Star Resort Landmark
Forbes Travel Guide
Historic Hotels of America Member
Historic Hotels of America
In the stay
- Full access to Sports Core health and fitness club and resort walking trails
- Complimentary shuttle service to Whistling Straits, Blackwolf Run, and River Wildlife
- High-speed Wi-Fi throughout the resort and morning coffee service
Usually extra
- –Green fees and caddie services on Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run golf courses
- –The Immigrant multi-course tasting dinners and Kohler Waters Spa hydrotherapy rituals
Good to Know
- The 241-room historic 1918 Tudor resort is the Midwest’s only Forbes 5-Star resort in Kohler, Wisconsin.
- Includes 4 Pete Dye championship golf courses (Whistling Straits & Blackwolf Run), Kohler Waters Spa, and The Immigrant.
- Located in Kohler village, a 55-minute drive from Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (MKE) or 2 hours from Chicago O’Hare (ORD).
Editor's Note
Book a Heritage Suite in the Carriage House with direct elevator access to the Kohler Waters Spa, and reserve a morning tee time on the Straits Course at Whistling Straits along Lake Michigan.
Reviewed by Hotel Flock · Last updated September 2026