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Things to do in Shorewood Hills, WI: the pool, lakeshore woods and Frank Lloyd Wright

Shorewood Hills is a village on Lake Mendota, founded in 1927 and later surrounded by Madison. It borders the UW–Madison campus and the university's Lakeshore Nature Preserve, and it's known for its architecture. Checked with the Village of Shorewood Hills, UW–Madison, the First Unitarian Society and the Wisconsin Historical Society in November 2026.

Checked against official sources · Updated November 2, 2026

Parks and the lakeshore

  • Shorewood Hills Pool, 901 Swarthmore Ct., in Post Farm Park: a 50-meter pool with a diving area and a children's pool, whose 2026 season ran late May through August. You don't have to live in the village to join; the pool says two-thirds of its members don't, and guest passes are available. Post Farm Park also has lighted tennis courts, sand volleyball, picnic tables and community gardens.
  • Dudley Davis Quarry Park: walking trails through a former sandstone quarry, with native plants, rock formations and an oak savanna restoration.
  • Koval Woods: a small, unlogged oak woodland with walking trails that continues into the UW's Eagle Heights Woods.
  • Harold C. Bradley Park is the village sledding hill, and Four Corners Park has a playground for small children.
  • McKenna Park: a ravine down to Lake Mendota with a 1930 boathouse. Locals call it the Shorewood Hills Beach, but it isn't a maintained swimming beach today; it's used for fishing and small boats.

The Lakeshore Nature Preserve

  • Lakeshore Nature Preserve: the UW's 300-acre preserve stretches from campus west to the village, taking in Picnic Point, Frautschi Point, Eagle Heights Woods and the Lakeshore Path. It's open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
  • Parking near the village: free lots for preserve visitors at Frautschi Point, 2662 Lake Mendota Dr., and Raymer's Cove, 2900 Lake Mendota Dr. Metro routes 80 and 84 also stop nearby.
  • See our hiking, running and UW campus guides.

Architecture

  • First Unitarian Society Meeting House, 900 University Bay Dr.: Frank Lloyd Wright's meeting house, opened in 1951. Guided tours run most Fridays at 2:30 and Sundays at 11:30 ($30, $15 for students; book a day ahead), and you can look into the auditorium weekdays 10 to 2 when it isn't in use.
  • Friday Musicales: free 45-minute recitals at the Meeting House, most Fridays from October to April at 12:15 p.m.
  • Historic homes: the Shorewood Historic District, roughly between Mendota Drive, Shorewood Boulevard and Topping Road, is on the National Register, and the village has Prairie School, Tudor and modern houses, including Wright's Pew House. They're private homes, so enjoy them from the street.
  • Effigy mounds: a National Register mound group, including one of the state's largest goose mounds, lies on the grounds of the private Blackhawk Country Club. The Lakeshore Nature Preserve has mound groups you can visit.

Food and events

  • Ancora Cafe + Bakery, 3256 University Ave.: a two-story cafe with outdoor seating, serving all-day brunch, espresso and baked goods seven days a week.
  • Fourth of July: the village holds a parade and fireworks each Independence Day.
  • See our brunch guide and events calendar for more.

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Sources

Rules and dates can change. Check the official source before you rely on them, and suggest a correction if something is out of date.