Does MPHS have photographs: Yes
Address: 600 River Road
Is building standing: No
When was it built: Unknown
What is at site: Townhomes
When was business founded: 1934
Is business still operating: No
If no, when did it close: 1984
Who owned business: Original owner was William Bahnmaier and his daughter, Rosemary Scala, took over in the mid-1970s
Interesting stories, facts, history:
Forest River, nicknamed Mudville because it was one of the last places to have paved roads, is an unincorporated part of Mount Prospect. In the mid-1800s, a large part of this land was occupied by the Coons-Nagel farm. As the farm transformed into a subdivision during the 1930s, one of the barns opened as the Hapsburg Inn restaurant in 1934.
William Bahnmaier and his wife purchased the barn and set out to make it a restaurant. They kept the original barn structure and transformed the inside into a dining room and bar. Hapsburg Inn was known for their Half Fried Chicken but also served a variety of German and American favorites. Many diners remember the covered porch with a wishing well and outdoor beer garden.
The Hapsburg Inn stayed open until 1984 and many locals have fond memories of dining there. In 1984, the Hapsburg Inn became Ox-Yoke Farm, and by 1986, Kathryn’s Banquets occupied the building. The barn was demolished in the early 2000s and the land is now a townhome development.
