The Stagecoach Inn: Cedarburg's 1853 Historic B&B

The Stagecoach Inn is one of Cedarburg's oldest buildings and its most historic place to stay — a Greek Revival stone structure built in 1853 as an actual stagecoach stop on the route between Milwaukee and Green Bay. Today it's a nine-room bed and breakfast right on Washington Avenue, with a guest pub on the ground floor. This guide covers its history, the rooms, the honest things to know before you book, and how it fits a Cedarburg visit. For current rates and availability, see the Stagecoach Inn listing.

The history: an 1853 stagecoach stop

The inn earned its name honestly — it was built in 1853 as a genuine stagecoach hotel on the road from Milwaukee to Green Bay, when a stop in Cedarburg was a full day's travel north. The gorgeous cut-stone Greek Revival building is one of the oldest in a town full of old buildings, and it's been lovingly restored rather than modernized, so a stay here is very much a step back in time. Across the street, the inn's Weber Haus — built even earlier, in 1847 — holds a few additional rooms with a private perennial garden.

The rooms and the pub

The Stagecoach offers nine guest rooms furnished with period antiques and private baths, including several suites; three feature whirlpool tubs. The rooms are characterful and, by several accounts, more spacious than you'd expect from a building this old — this is a traditional B&B, antique and atmospheric, not a modern hotel. A continental breakfast with fresh fruit is included.

The distinctive feature is the five20 Social Stop, a cozy guest pub on the first floor with a full bar. It's open to both guests and locals, which gives the inn a genuinely social feel — you can come down for a drink and end up trading Cedarburg tips with a regular. There's live music many Thursday and Saturday evenings, and in warmer months the back deck and a barn behind the inn host music too. For a B&B, that on-site pub is unusual and a real part of the appeal.

What to know before you book

The honest caveats, which come straight from the building's age. The stairs are steep and narrow and there's no elevator — a real consideration if stairs are difficult for you. The good news is there are a few ground-floor rooms (one in the main inn, two in the Weber Haus across the street), so ask for one of those if you need step-free access. Some rooms face Washington Avenue and catch road noise at night, so request a room toward the back if you're a light sleeper. And the breakfast is a simple, pleasant continental spread rather than a cooked-to-order affair — though there's a restaurant right next door if you want something heartier. None of this detracts from the experience if you're the kind of traveler who enjoys a historic B&B; it's just worth knowing the character you're signing up for.

How it fits a Cedarburg visit

Like the town's other in-town stays, the Stagecoach's biggest asset is location — it's right on Washington Avenue in the historic district, walking distance to the shops, galleries, restaurants, the Cedar Creek Settlement, and the wineries. Stilt House Gastro Bar and the downtown restaurants are a short stroll, and the festival footprint is on the doorstep. Our things to do in Cedarburg guide maps out a visit, and the where to stay in Cedarburg guide covers how it compares to the town's other lodging — it's the pick if you want the most historic, characterful stay with a built-in pub.

Booking

For current rates, room details, and availability, see the Stagecoach Inn listing. Like all of Cedarburg's in-town stays, it books up for festival weekends, so reserve ahead.