MONEY

Condos will allow car buffs to live with their toys

Josh Lintereur
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Construction is underway on a new 32-unit condo project in Elkhart Lake that caters to car collectors who frequent this road racing haven.

A new condo project that's now under construction in Elkhart Lake will allow car collectors to live under the same roof as their toys.

The Motorsport Villas, located near Quit Qui OC Golf Club, will be one part luxury garage and one part man cave, with custom-built living spaces and room for a half-dozen or so cars.

Bart Wolf, the project’s developer, said the development targets car enthusiasts who want to vacation, or live year-round, under the same roof as their luxury and antique car collections.

The project comes as similar developments are gaining popularity in other U.S. markets, Wolf said. Given the proximity to the Road America grounds and other tourist amenities, Elkhart Lake was a natural fit.

“Some people have million-dollar car collections and you have to store them away in a garage somewhere and you barely see them,” said Wolf, owner of Wolf Motorsports, which maintains and repairs vintage cars and will also be housed on site.

The project will include up to 32 custom-built units spread out among eight buildings, with individual condos ranging from 1,250 to 5,000 square feet. The units can house five to seven cars on average.

Prices range from $137,000 to $245,000, not including the custom-built interiors chosen by the owners.

Construction of the building shells – interiors will be added later – should be completed in May.

The project has attracted interest from auto enthusiasts in Chicago, the Twin Cities and from throughout Wisconsin, with a dozen condos sold in advance of construction.

Wolf said buyers so far have been looking to store collections of vintage Ferraris, Porches, Corvettes and others. About half already regularly race their cars at Road America.

The condo interiors will include a range of styles, depending on the buyer. One of the units now under construction will pay homage to a famous restaurant near a Ferrari plant in Italy.

“It can be as much or as little as you want it to be,” Wolf said.

With similar condos in development in other states, Wolf believes the Elkhart Lake project stands out given its proximity to Road America, Kohler golf properties, the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive, La Budde Creek State Wildlife Area and other tourist attractions in Elkhart Lake and beyond.

“I think it’s a combination of proximity to a world-class resort town and world-class racing, and being able to enjoy and live near their cars, all in one spot,” he said. “This is just a great place to be driving and to enjoy your toys.”

Reach Josh Lintereur at 920-453-5147,jlintereur@gannett.com and on Twitter @joshlintereur