Area Guide Spotlight: Brisbane House

Tell us about Brisbane House!

The Brisbane House is a beautiful, tall, skinny stone house on the State and National Historic Register of Historic Places. The award-winning restoration on 18 wooded acres sleeps from two to ten people in the main house and in the adjacent "summer kitchen."

William Henry Brisbane built the house in 1868. He made his way to Wisconsin from South Carolina crusading for human rights. To honor his legacy, all of the museum-quality contemporary art on the walls is by nationally recognized artists of color.

There are five bedrooms, containing seven beds, and two full bathrooms. The new kitchen features new appliances, custom cabinetry by a master craftsman (and French horn player) with a Carrera marble countertop, a harvest table made of local cherry wood, and the existing quirky pie-safe upper cupboards, originally installed in the 1920s or 30s. The kitchen and living room have soaring 10' ceilings and both are graceful spaces with clean lines. The summer kitchen bedroom, which is nearly all windows, is an uplifting retreat, with a new screen porch attached. It's a blend of historic appointments and modern luxuries — a project of a lifetime!

What inspired your journey with Brisbane House?

We had had our eye on this singular, beautiful place for nearly 30 years! We purchased it in 2021, restored and furnished it in only 6 months, and loved every minute of it (well, not EVERY minute). Over 150 people contributed to its preservation. We are gaga for the house and for hosting, and want to make each guests' stay special. The story of human rights activist and original owner William Henry Brisbane can be found all over in the details of the house.

What's something people may be surprised to learn about Brisbane House?

Guests may be surprised that this amazing architectural wonder is singular in Wisconsin. They may also be surprised to learn that we won an award from the State Historical Society and the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation for our restoration efforts. Furthermore, there are little, beautiful surprises around just about every corner of the house. It's delightful: full of light, color, and gorgeousness.

Why should the APT audience stay at Brisbane House?

The Brisbane House is great for out-of-towners who love to binge on APT since it's only a 13 minute drive! Establish your home base here, surrounded by woods. Guests will adore the warm wood floors, 24" thick stone walls, re-plated East Lake hinges and vibrant heirloom quilts, as well as modern amenities like new bathrooms and kitchen.

Art lovers will also appreciate the thoughtful artwork by acclaimed American artists Sam Gilliam, Kara Walker, Alison Saar and Mickalene Thomas. It's like sleeping in an art gallery, as one guest put it.

If you don't picnic at APT, you can grill out at Brisbane before-hand. As dusk falls, step into the screen porch to hear whippoorwills here, too, and the night sky will illuminate with shining stars.

Where else would you recommend folks visit in the Spring Green area?

While you're in the River Valley, you should definitely drive around to see the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, eat lunch at the visitor's center cafe overlooking the Wisconsin River, and even splurge for a Taliesin Tour.

When you're in downtown Spring Green, stop at Convivio, my favorite table wares store for an item for yourself or a gift, and a great espresso. Or "pre-game" in their cellar speakeasy! For dinner, if you're not picnicking, dine at Reunion Family Barbecue and experience the local farm-to-table scene.

Connect with Brisbane House to book your stay and learn about upcoming events.