Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
PATOKA LAKE – Visitors to Patoka Lake have a new option for lodging since the Memorial Day weekend opening of the Old Homestead Hotel.
The 28-room hotel complements the unique offerings at Patoka Lake Marina, which include houseboats and floating cabins, and the silo suites at Patoka Lake Winery.
In the coming weeks, Old Homestead Distilling Co. will open its distillery, which is attached to the hotel. Jolee Kasprzak, distillery manager, said the tentative opening date for the distillery is in July.
The distillery/hotel development is the latest addition to the hospitality offerings at Patoka Lake by Stephen Bartels, Stephen Shirk and Heather Setser, owners of Old Homestead Distilling Co.
Bartels and Setser were recipients of the 2023 Will Koch Tourism Award, which is the highest tourism honor in the state. Their focus on elevating the experience around Patoka Lake began prior to 2000 with the Patoka Lake Marina. After Patoka Lake Marina was established, they built floating cabins, a first of their kind in Indiana. They have added wine and wildlife cruises and opened Patoka Lake Winery in 2016.
Last fall, Patoka Lake Brewing, owned by DJ Hanselman and Greg Stoner, opened on property adjacent to the winery and hotel.
The addition of a distillery has been on the horizon for some time, Kasprzak said, and reflects the owners’ commitment to expanding hospitality and tourism opportunities in the area.
“We know our customer base. The lake crowd is here to have fun and we want to be able to provide them with things on and off the lake to do,” Kasprzak said. “To expand and offer to some of the people who’ve been coming here for 20 years something new is exciting for us.”
Alan Bishop, who has over a decade of experience in distilling, was hired as head alchemist. Bishop is highly regarded for his knowledge of seed breeding and Southern Indiana distilling history.
Old Homestead Distillery will offer a full product line including gin, two bourbons, a rye whiskey and a single malt. Sunshine Spirits is the distillery’s moonshine line and uses sunflower seeds for the base grain. Also planned are two absinthe options. Absinthe is a green-colored spirit flavored with anise. Old Homestead will offer a green and purple absinthe. Also planned are craft cocktails and spirit slushies.
“Alan is very creative so there will be a lot of cool things along the way,” Kasprzak said. “We plan on doing distilling classes, and tours and tastings will be a regular thing, just like at the winery.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Alan Bishop to the Old Homestead family,” said Bartels in a press release. “His expertise and dedication to the industry align perfectly with our vision of crafting exceptional spirits that supports Southern Indiana’s rich distilling history.”
Bishop’s father, Dale Bishop, joins Old Homestead as assistant distiller, bringing with him a unique skill set cultivated from years of farming and distilling both inside and outside of the industry.
The tasting room at the distillery will be similar to what guests experience at the winery. Yes, guests will learn about the grains used and the distilling process, but, Kasprzak said, just like at the winery, the staff will take an informal approach.
“Our customers want to have a good time and enjoy telling us about their time here,” she said. “At our tastings, you may see a bride in a wedding dress standing beside someone in a bathing suit who just got off the lake.”
More lodging options
The addition of 28 hotel rooms is expected to be a hit with visitors who reserve the event space at Patoka Lake Winery. Kasprzak said the event space is used year-round for weddings, graduation parties and other events.
“During the summer we would definitely use more rooms and having a hotel will give our brides and grooms the opportunity to reserve a block of rooms,” Kasprzak said.
The Old Homestead Hotel has a generous common area for guests to gather. Friday to Sunday guests can enjoy specialty coffees, drinks and food from Java Jo’s.
All the hotel rooms sleep four people. Eight rooms have a king bed with a pullout couch and 20 rooms are outfitted with two queen beds. The common area has a large deck above the porch in the front of the building. All rooms have mini fridges, stand up showers, and coffee pots.
Construction of the hotel began in 2023 and was completed with local partners. The furniture was made by Stoll’s in Washington, Graber Post built the hotel and Wagler Granite installed the showers.
“With our scenic surroundings, Old Homestead is poised to become a premier destination for travelers seeking an authentic Southern Indiana getaway,” said Shirk, co-owner of Old
Homestead Distillery & Hotel. “We are proud to furnish our guests with a home away from
home retreat to complement their distillery experience.”
A grand opening of Old Homestead Distillery and Hotel is planned this fall. For more information, including reservations, visit www.oldhomesteaddc.com or email [email protected] . Follow them on social media
@oldhomesteaddc.