Property Record
104-106 E RIB MOUNTAIN DR
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | King's Cabins |
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| Other Name: | Pro Motor Sports |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 120070 |
| Location (Address): | 104-106 E RIB MOUNTAIN DR |
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| County: | Marathon |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | Rib Mountain |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | 28 |
| Range: | 7 |
| Direction: | E |
| Section: | 3 |
| Quarter Section: | NE |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: | NE |
| Year Built: | 1945 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2000 |
| Historic Use: | resort/camp building |
| Architectural Style: | One Story Cube |
| Structural System: | Masonry |
| Wall Material: | Rock-Faced Concrete Block |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | August 2000-This property is composed of six cabins and an associated structure. All are modest, masonry vernacular buildings. The cabins were built in c. 1946 and are nearly identical. Each is a concrete block construction on a concrete slab foundation. A concrete block chimney rises through the asphalt-shingled, hip roof. Each cabin is finished with stucco, enlivened with concrete block quoins and rusticated concrete blocks in a decorative pattern. Two, regularly-spaced, six-pane, metal, hopper windows appear on each façade, except for the northeast-facing (front) façade. On the front of each cabin, a door is set off-center, balanced by another six-pane window. A smaller window appears southeast of the door. Five of the six cabins retain very good integrity; the sixth displays boarded windows and appears to be used for storage only. The associated structure was erected c. 1945. It was built as the House of King tavern and probably housed the office for the cabins after the cabins were built. The front-gabled section that is now a repair garage likely is an addition. Most of the building is of concrete block construction with a rusticated finish. The repair garage shows a concrete block finish that matches the cabins. The frame sections are finished with clapboards. Fixed, single-pane windows appear at the first story. The second story of the tavern section displays six-over-six, double-hung sash windows. Some of the windows have been replaced and the second-story frame section may be an addition, making the integrity of this building only fair. Statement of Significance: All of the buildings on this property were built for Arthur S. King. According to Wausau city directories, the associated structure was built first, c. 1945, as the House of King tavern. The cabins, first called King's Cabins, were erected c. 1946. Until at least 1952, the property was known as King's Cabins. In 1954, it was called King's Lake Shore Court. By 1960, the property had become Rib Mountain Resort and Auto Service; Mr. King was still the owner. It is unclear when the tavern use was discontinued. From at least 1965 until at least 1975, Dalles Ristau was the owner of the Rib Mountain Resort and Auto Service. The property continued to be advertised as a tourist court or motel until 1982. However, at least two of the cabins were being rented to long-term residents by 1975. In 1985, the property was called Ross Repair and Service. It has been Pro Motor Sports, an auto parts store and repair shop, since at least 1992. Five of the six cabins are rented out. King's Cabins and the House of King tavern were evaluated under Criterion A, in entertainment and recreation, as an example of an automobile tourist court, or "cabin camp." In his article, "Motel by the Roadside; America's Room for the Night", John Jakle explains that the earliest known cabin camp opened in 1913. There were about 600 cabin camps in the United States by the late 1920s. Cabins generally were arranged either in a single row, in two rows, in an L, in a crescent or in a cluster. A central building with a few amenities was included. Other businesses, especially gasoline stations, often formed a part of the cabin camp. The cabin camp usually was located on the edge or outside of an urban area, where land was inexpensive. The typical cabin camp consisted of 12 or fewer cabins and was operated by a husband and wife who resided on site. Parking was available alongside each cabin. During the mid-to-late-1930s, competition between cabin camps grew and many cabin camps were improved to attract customers. Cabins were winterized and made larger, incorporated private bathrooms and sometimes a separate kitchen. Many facilities were arranged around open spaces or courts, giving this type of tourist accommodation the name, #28;cottage court.#29; During the 1940s, new cottage courts were erected as a single structure with contiguous units. Cars were parked in front of each unit. The office and reception area was generally the only separate building and increasingly was included within a larger structure. At first, this new type was called the "motor court," but by the late -1940s it was known as the "motel." Two-story motels, called "motor inns," appeared in the 1950s. In addition to more luxurious rooms, motor inns included a dining room, a gift shop and even a swimming pool. The motor in was expensive to erect and had driven most private owners out of business by the mid-1960s. Motel chains, such as Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson's prevailed thereafter. King's Cabins and the House of King tavern present a good example of a cabin camp, consisting of a few small, single cabins arranged in a row, with parking alongside each cabin and a separate associated structure. The cabins retain very good integrity. The tavern's integrity is only fair, but many tourist cabin complexes have lost their associated structures. As a whole, King's Cabins and the House of King Tavern display good integrity. However, the McCleary Bridge project, as currently planned, has no potential to affect the historic character of King's Cabins. It will not cause the physical destruction, damage or alteration of the cabins and will not acquire any right-of-way from the property. The McCleary Bridge project has no foreseeable connection with the foreseeable connection with the possible future neglect, transfer, sale or lease of King's Cabins. The new bridge will be erected one-third to one-half mile west of King's Cabins, and will not be very visible from the King property. Thick stands of trees and at least one island will screen the new bridge from view. Therefore, King's Cabins will not be isolated from its setting and the setting will not be altered. Because the project has no potential to affect the historic character of King's Cabins, a DOE is not recommended. |
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| Bibliographic References: |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |