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The 1855 Room

Experience authentic Dawn Manor dining inspired by Victorian elegance

Named for the year Dawn Manor was built by Captain Abraham Vanderpoel, the 1855 Room blends historic sophistication with modern comforts. This space offers a refined setting that honors the past while welcoming today’s guests in style.

Framed photo of historic Dawn Manor
Original Dawn Manor exterior
Old photo of front of Dawn Manor

About the Original Dawn Manor

In 1855, Abraham Vanderpoel, a signer of the Wisconsin Constitution and a prominent member of the Wisconsin Assembly, bought the land for Dawn Manor for $1,500 from Henry W. Tenney in Newport, Wisconsin. He had a Potsdam sandstone home constructed and moved in with his family shortly after. Vanderpoel and his family lived there until 1865 when Enoch and Rhoda Chaffee purchased the home from them.

The village of Newport began to vanish by 1860 as residents abandoned it for what would become Wisconsin Dells. Eventually, Dawn Manor was the last remaining structure. Dawn Manor was turned into a rental property, a resort, and a country club.

By the time it was sold to Helen Raab in the 1940s, Dawn Manor had fallen into disrepair. Helen restored the manor and it stayed in the Raab family until it was sold to Uphoff Resorts in 2018.

In 2022, Dawn Manor was deconstructed and placed in storage for preservation until it was reconstructed at its current site on Mirror Lake as a restaurant, bar, and speakeasy.

Bottom right photo: Dell County Historical Society

1855 Room Features

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Seats up to 21 guests at multiple tables
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Located on the main level
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Gas fireplace
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Available for private events or group reservations