The Blueprint
- The Social at Olympia is a $22M redevelopment project planned for former Olympia Resort property.
- The four-level entertainment complex will feature pickleball, mini-golf, arcade games, dining and live music.
- Developers hope the venue becomes a regional attraction for visitors from Milwaukee and Madison.
- The first phase could open in late 2026, with full indoor operations targeted for 2027.
OCONOMOWOC, Wis. — Nathan Stoppenbach and partners hope to find out in early 2027 just how locally and regionally sociable they can be within their aptly named entertainment complex in Oconomowoc.
In a growing city that has other attractive amenities, The Social at Olympia — a $22 million redevelopment project rising from the remains of the Olympia Resort’s ski hill and chalet — will add heavily to the “play” aspect that Oconomowoc city officials and developers have long trumpeted in 21st-century redevelopment initiatives.
The Social’s 70,000 square feet of indoor space could open as early as January 2027, with some operations even sooner, with thousands more square feet of outdoor features coming later in the year. Whenever it does fully open, it aims to become a regional year-round attraction, according to Stoppenbach, one of three investment partners in the project.
“There’s a significant amount of development taking place,” he said, specifically noting the additions in Olympia Fields and Pabst Farms of apartments and residential neighborhoods, retail newcomers that include Costco and Wingspan Development Group’s emerging innovation tech campus. “But really not a lot of entertainment. So we’re hoping to fill that void and kind of revitalize that property and provide a gathering spot for the community and families.”
The Social offers all kinds of ‘play’ for people of all ages
The four-level indoor-outdoor complex at 1340 Snyder Way will mix a broad range of attractions and entertainment: sports-oriented activities such as mini-golf, mini-bowling, pickleball and immersive darts; a sports bar; a stage for outdoor concerts; a casual-food cafe; and a large arcade area. There’s nothing quite like it in these parts, Stoppenbach said.
“It’s unique in that it is built into the hill,” he said. “So when you park, you can basically walk into any of the four levels from grade.”
Given Oconomowoc’s proximity to both Milwaukee and Madison, The Social has the potential of drawing significant interest from residents from both the east and west, Stoppenbach added.
The pickleball space alone, leased to Fortify Pickleball, a private company that would install and operate 10 pickleball courts, is a potentially large regional participation magnet, he said. That 34,000-square-foot space could open as early as November 2026.
Some aspects are meant to appeal to a younger crowd, too, to ensure the mix adds up to family fun, Stoppenbach said.
Plan evolved over two years into four-level facility
The proposal was first introduced by Neumann Developments in 2025, followed by the city’s amended approval of a taxing district to further support redevelopment on the Olympia property on the west side of state Highway 67. (Neumann Developments is also involved in housing initiatives below the ski hill.)
As the prospect advanced, Neumann Developments’ Matt Neumann partnered with Stoppenbach, president of electrical contractor Edge Electric, and Kevin Havens, a regional business development manager with Labcorp, to directly invest in The Social. “We’ll own it, develop it,” Stoppenbach said.
Among the changes they have made since the proposal first emerged was an 8,000-square-foot addition to the third level, creating a contiguous 19,000-square-foot space for indoor entertainment. The second level will include the 8,000-square-foot sports bar, while the first level is defined mostly by what Stoppenbach refers to as “the big gym,” where the pickleball courts will be.
Above the gym is a large structural roof, the top of which will include an outdoor stage and open-seating space. People might play yard games there, and it also can be rented out for corporate events and weddings, he added.
“We’ve got activities on the hill, as well,” Stoppenbach said, amounting to a fourth level.
He acknowledged that the January 2027 timeline for opening all the indoor amenities is “aggressive,” but not implausible, given the planning and work already done. That has included meetings with city officials over regulatory steps and practical building details.
“The architectural and engineering [elements] have been ongoing for, I’d say, the last six months, and, you know, we’ve personally been working on the project behind the scenes for about two years,” Stoppenbach said. “We’re just to the point now where it’s time to start building.”
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