2nd Garage Self Storage and Heritage Business Park

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“THE LION HOUSE”

My colorful grandfather purchased this land in the 1950’s. Just outside of Sun Prairie, it’s a corner of the Renk property with a old farm house fronting Hwy 151. I have no idea what his intent for the property was, but the man bought, sold and bartered property all of the time so I took no notice of it.

In 1985, after my grandfather’s death, my retired real estate developer father and his building contractor brother decided to build storage units and offices on that property so, with sheer willpower and hatchets, they cleared the land, hired an architect and, acting as their own general contractor, built this four office, 60 unit storage facility. Fresh out of college and in need of a job, I was hired to do bookkeeping and property management for their new development company. We moved into our office in 1986 and began renting out storage units and offices while looking for other investment properties and management opportunities. While promoting our little venture, I would often hear the old timers of the area ask if that was the property where the lion lived. As the story goes, in the 1970’s my grandfather rented the old farm house to some tenants who had a lion cub...which grew to adulthood on this property. I learned the house became known as “the Lion House” even long after the lion resided on the property. My grandfather was quite eccentric so it is of no surprising he attracted people of a similar ilk.

As my father and uncle aged, I was drawn away by life.

After becoming and accountant, then an architect, I returned to Heritage Business Park and Self-Service Storage in 2009 to take over for my aged father, mother and widowed aunt. They left me a wonderful legacy for which I am now the custodian, once again. With the help of my sister, I renamed the storages 2nd Garage Self Storage, adopted a website and online rentals and payment. After 32 years, we are still family owned; my father is now gone, but mom and auntie are terrific to work for. So, with their blessing, I continue to run this lovely little facility, where the lion once roamed.