- Bookwood Historical Collection, Star Lake
Text of the section on Star Lake: Sayner and Star Lake--Pioneers of Northwoods Hospitality. Sayner and Star Lake were two of the first Northwoods communities to recognize the enormous potential the region had for attracting tourists. In 1892, Orrin W. Sayner opened a lodge that attracted vacationers from around the country. In Star Lake, the Hotel Waldheim was built in 1894 as a getaway for lumber barons and their guests. The area is also the home of Wisconsin's oldest 9-hole golf course--the Plum Lake Golf Course was built in 1912. In 1924, the first snowmobile was invented here, and that very machine can be seen today at the Vilas County Historical Museum. For more information, visit www.sayner-starlake.org or call 1-888-722-3789. [Image: The Sayner Lodge on Plum Lake.]