Baumgarten’s Resort and Baumgarten’s Bar got their names from Ernst Guenther William “Bill” Baumgarten and the resort he built. The road was built and the area for the resort was cleared  using a horse named Nellie and then later with an old blue ford tractor.

Bill Was born on 6 Aug 1903 at Benrath, Stadtkreis Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.  Bill immigrated in 1920 and was naturalized in 1931.  Bill worked at the AO Smith Corp as a machinist before coming to Hayward in (exact date unknown at the time of writing this article)

Baumgarten’s “Resort” was located on the hill to the east of Baumgarten’s Sand Bar.

Bill originally started building on the water to the east of the beach but ended up moving to the top of the hill after having water/well issues. He was just too close to the water to NOT get lake water in his well.

In the 1970’s there was still wooden boards that cased the well. They were surrounded by a stone/cement frame. in the ’75 you could throw stones down the hole and hear water.

If you are ever walking around the area be careful!! There could be a hole! (* Walked around this area in the spring of 2024 and couldn’t find the well)

The breakwaters on either side of the beach can still be seen as well as the old boat canal.

The resort operated from the 1940’s? until 1992.

The Resort was started by William & Emily Mable Rohrig Baumgarten. “Mae” was the school teacher at the Riverview school (see photo below) that WAS located at the intersection of River Road and McGilligan Road.  Mae died of cancer in 1957.

In 1966 Bill married Helen Helen Neckerauer (Helen worked at the resort, Hayward bakery, and at Rivkins) .  Helen’s first husband passed away in February of 1960. Bill and Helen sold the resort in 1969/70 to John & Ruth McGilligan. Bill Passed in 1986, Helen Died March 26, 2001. 

The last owners of Baumgarten’s Resort was Walt & Diana Robb 1976-1990.