WEDC Vibrant Spaces grant will help fund a community gathering space including pathways, fire pits, seating options, and a replica Kiwanis concession barn
MADISON, WI. AUGUST 17, 2026 – Earlier this year, Mukwonago residents learned some disappointing news: the iconic Kiwanis barn that had been a fixture of the community for decades was set to be demolished.
First painted in 1982 by a group of Mukwonago High School seniors to deter vandalism, the barn has since become a local landmark. Painted bright blue with the words, “Welcome to Mukwonago,” the barn is hard to miss. Its exterior is covered in a sun, pine trees, a family holding hands, and a brown bear—all symbols of the Mukwonago community.
“I think it’s representative of rural life in Mukwonago, and people just love that,” said Diana Dykstra, Mukwonago village administrator. “It’s a quality of life that I think they appreciate.”
The land the barn sits on was sold to a private developer, and the barn wasn’t structurally sound enough to move again. Not wanting to lose an iconic landmark, village leaders decided to build a replica of the barn at Indianhead Park and repurpose it as a concession stand to support the new outdoor performance stage.
“People were asking, ‘What are we going to do? We’ve got to rebuild it. We’ve got to do something,’” Dykstra said. “So, we had to come up with a solution, and we knew we needed to recreate the barn to make it happen.”
Natanael Martinez, a regional economic development director from WEDC, addresses the crownd gathered at the Mukwanago Kiwanis concession barn shovel ceremony.
The replica Kiwanis concession barn is part of a broader initiative to create a community gathering space at Phantom Junction in Indianhead Park. With the support of a $50,000 Vibrant Spaces Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the Village of Mukwonago plans to turn the space into a cultural and recreational hub complete with fire pits, seating, and walkways.
“Success stories like Mukwonago’s reflect the strength and vibrancy of small communities,” said John W. Miller, secretary and CEO of the WEDC, the state’s leading economic development organization. “We are excited to see the iconic Kiwanis barn find its new home and continue serving the community for generations to come.”
The Village of Mukwonago held a groundbreaking event today at Indianhead Park to celebrate the new Kiwanis concession barn.
The barn will feature catering sinks and a roll-top side to serve food and beverages. Groups who rent the newly constructed Phantom Junction stage will now have a place to prepare their food and get it ready for all their guests.
“Families or performers can utilize the stage any day of the week,” Dykstra said. “They’ll have a sturdy building that they can serve food out of or beverages and not have to worry about weather.”
While the barn’s interior is getting an upgrade, the village plans to replicate the original design on its exterior, even enlisting the help of Jaime Vega and his two friends who painted the original barn.
“It is absolutely great,” Vega said. “It’s so nice because the village is really including me and acknowledging the hard work everyone did over the decades, so it’s been wonderful.”
Vega and his friends, Dave Arkin and Mike Crey aren’t the only community members involved in the project. Students in the Mukwonago Area School District trades program will help construct the barn, and art students will contribute to the design and finishing elements. To bridge the gap in funding, the Kiwanis Club of Mukwonago also donated $50,000 towards reconstruction efforts.
“It is through the memories and affection of our residents this barn has become an iconic symbol of the Village, and now with this collaboration of past generations, new students, community leaders, and funding from Kiwanis and WEDC, we are able to allow those memories to live on,” Dykstra said.
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