On September 23, 1916, the heirs of Zalmon Gilbert Simmons conveyed a 42-acre site to the City of Kenosha to officially establish Simmons Island Park on the shores of Lake Michigan. There was an existing bath house on the property and in the early years an amusement center was built.
In 1934, the park was redesigned, and a new Beach House built that was partially funded by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) during the Great Depression. FERA was a New Deal agency created in 1933 to provide work relief and employment opportunities for unemployed Americans during the Great Depression. One of FERA's programs was the Public Works Administration (PWA), which provided funding for public infrastructure projects.
The Beach House is a notable example of the Tudor Revival style in Kenosha and features many of the style's characteristic design elements, including the steeply pitched roof, half-timbering, and decorative chimney stacks. The building is also significant because it is the work of City of Kenosha Department of Parks and City Planning architect Chris Borggren, whose known designs are few, but impressive and innovative. The building's distinctive appearance and historic significance have earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Beach House served for many years as a recreational facility for beachgoers, offering changing rooms, restrooms, and a concession stand. Over the years, it fell into disrepair and was eventually closed in the 1990s. In 2018, the City of Kenosha renovated the exterior of the building and prepared it for concession operations.
Now in 2023, Lakeshore Pedal Tours is proudly opening the doors of history and the Beach House will once serve food and beverages and offer recreational activities to the public.