/ Business of the Month / The Guides Inn
Business of the Month: October 2024
The Guides Inn
The Guide’s Inn
5427 Park Street
Boulder Junction, WI
Phone: (715) 385-2233
Website: https://theguidesinn.com/
In 1984, Chef Jimmy Dean VanRossum purchased The Guide’s Inn near downtown Boulder Junction with a handshake, a rarity then and today. Jimmy Dean’s son, Jesse VanRossum, now owns the treasured supper club known for its Northwoods fine dining. For Jesse, it was important to carry on the tradition of his father’s restaurant for generations of patrons. “It’s like walking into a time capsule,” he said. “Folks came here a generation ago and now their grown children bring their families.”
Upon high school graduation, Jesse moved from Green Bay to Boulder Junction and worked at The Guide’s Inn with his father. He enjoyed it and went to study at the Culinary Institute of America graduating in 2001. He gained experience as a chef in Martha’s Vinyard and Key West before ultimately returning to Boulder Junction to purchase the Boulder Beer Bar with his father in 2006.
Chef Jimmy Dean was beloved by many, working his restaurant for 37 years, preparing Northwoods dishes and often taking time to step out of the kitchen to walk around the dining room and greet his guests with warmth and hospitality. He died of heart complications in 2022. Jesse sold the Boulder Beer Bar in 2024, and is now operating The Guide’s Inn full-time after a generous benefactor purchased the building to continue its historic legacy.
Jesse‘s father knew many in the community. At Jimmy Dean’s passing in 2022 hundreds of patrons and friends expressed condolences and pleasant family memories during his Celebration of Life. Three weeks prior to closing the restaurant briefly in February 2024, loyal customers showed support and came for a final meal and memory. Thinking the supper club may be closing for good, according to Jesse, some patrons even changed vacation plans elsewhere in the country to ensure they could dine at The Guide’s Inn one last time. “Those generational memories included marriages, anniversaries, and birthday parties all at The Guide’s Inn,” he said. Yet, the restaurant, with just 15 tables in its quaint setting, was meant to be and remains open.
Online reservations, somewhat of a rarity in the Northwoods, began in 2024, a great convenience for patrons. It helped to guide food prep and prepare the wait staff for each busy evening, with some evenings in high tourist season serving hundreds of patrons.
Jesse continues to provide new menu offerings with his knowledge of current restaurant practices. For example, placing an order with a supplier in Boston to receive a shipment of fresh seafood including salmon, sea bass, and halibut the next day.
Everything is made to order. The large menu consistently serves delicious cuisine including walleye, seafood, and great steaks. Patrons enjoy homemade soups, bread, pasta, and bacon. Complete meals range from $31-$50. Staffers are treated like family which has resulted in little turnover. Some staff have worked at The Guide’s Inn 20+ years. When the restaurant transitioned to Jesse, he asked the staff if they would like to stay. Overwhelmingly, they said yes!
Jesse believes it’s important to give back to the community. The Guide’s Inn serves breakfast annually to the local snowmobile club returning funds raised back to the club. They also donate gift certificates to local causes including the Lions club and library.
“At The Guide’s Inn, we are dedicated to providing an exceptional dining experience that blends the rich traditions of the Northwoods with culinary excellence,” said Jesse. “Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor exploring the beauty of Boulder Junction, we invite people to enjoy the warm hospitality, unique ambiance, and exquisite cuisine that have made The Guide’s Inn a cherished destination for decades.”
To make a reservation visit, https://theguidesinn.com/
Congratulations Jesse and staff!
