Sandpiper Inn accommodates senior guests with new ramps

A celebrated lakeside dining spot has been refreshed for the better under new ownership.
When restaurateur Eric Schairer came across the Sandpiper Inn on Lake Bernice in Campbellsport, he didn’t just see a restaurant — he saw an opportunity. “I really like the look of the location, the feel of being out in the country a bit. I really like the atmosphere out here, along with the community,” Schairer said.
Schairer took over the Sandpiper Inn in 2023, after having acquired another restaurant in West Bend three years earlier, and decided to focus entirely on this scenic, longstanding spot.
While preserving the restaurant’s cherished traditions — including its signature broasted chicken and family-style fish dinners — Schairer immediately turned his attention to a series of accessibility improvements.
“About three months into reopening the location, I saw the need to help senior customers enter the building,” he said. “So I wanted to add ADA aspects and help offer ramps instead of stairs to guests.”

The restaurant now features a wooden handicap ramp off the west parking lot, dedicated handicap parking spots, ADA-accessible restrooms, and a newly added back-deck patio with seven additional outside tables overlooking the lake. In addition, 15 new parking spots were added behind the building, and extra servers were brought on board to accommodate guests more comfortably.
The enhancements are part of a broader vision: Schairer plans to expand into outdoor events on the grounds, updating the shed in the back for larger gatherings and leveraging the lakeside setting to offer more than just dinner.
“We want to update our shed in the back to eventually host bigger outdoor events,” he said.
For longtime patrons, the changes are welcome. Schairer, who visited the location years ago as a kid and had gotten to know its previous owners, explained he wanted to honor the legacy.
“There is a lot of history here,” he said.
With the renovation now complete and accessibility improved, Schairer hopes the Sandpiper Inn will continue serving visitors and locals alike — and do so in a way that welcomes everyone.
Check on the Campbellsport News website to watch a video with the full interview with Schairer and see inside the building.