Anglers, spearers and the community groups that gather at Wendt’s on the Lake in Van Dyne, Wisconsin, will lose the restaurant on the western shore of Lake Winnebago on Nov. 21, 2026. Shawn Wendt announced the closing in a news release Friday. Wendt’s Marina will stay open. Wendt says a failed purchase of the property from his sister and her husband led to the closing.
The closing ends nearly 65 years of business, according to Wendt’s release. The release attributes the closing to a stalled property sale, not to the restaurant’s trading. Everything below about the dispute is Wendt’s account. The sources contain no response from the other side.
Sale Falls Through Between Siblings
Wendt says he and his wife tried to buy the location from his sister, Ann (Wendt) Cross, and her husband, Todd Cross. Fox11online describes the other party as relatives. Fox969 refers to a dispute among family members, but says the owner’s sister and her husband were trying to buy the business. That conflicts with the release, in which Wendt is the would-be buyer. The release’s version is used here.
The sources give no sale price and no lease terms.
- April 2025: Wendt says he and his wife attempted to purchase the restaurant property from his sister Ann Cross and her husband Todd Cross, but they were unable to come to terms.
- Mid-January 2026: With no signatures, his attorney reached out.
- April 2026: Wendt says the Crosses sat down with his sons and Kali and said they would sell the restaurant to them but not to him.
- In August 2026, Wendt says, he sent Ann (Wendt) Cross and Todd Cross another signed proposal.
The release names the sons as Zack and Sawyer, alongside Kali. It does not explain Kali’s relationship to the family.
Wendt Cites Deferred Maintenance
Wendt cites the condition of the property, specifically repairs that have been put off, as the reason he is not continuing. We have had to make the hard decision because there is so much deferred maintenance and repair that needs to be updated to the property,
he said. The sources do not estimate repair costs.
He added: We wanted everyone to know that we gave it our all.
Sturgeon Season Loses Its Hub
The restaurant is a destination during the February sturgeon spearing season on Lake Winnebago. Speared sturgeon often hang on hooks outside while successful spearers celebrate inside, according to WTAQ and Fox11online.
Wendt wrote that Everyone in our community will be impacted by the closing: the West Shore Fishing Club, Sturgeon For Tomorrow, Water & Wings Youth Foundation, Lake Watchers, Van Dyne Lions Club, Van Dyne Fire Department and many more organizations.
The sources do not say how those groups use the restaurant, and they give no staffing or job figures.
Property’s Future Stays Unclear After Nov. 21
The release says only the restaurant is closing and the marina continues to serve customers. It does not say who owns the property now, whether it will be sold or whether the restaurant could reopen under other operators.