About Us

The current Country House building was built in 1948 by Gib Williams. 

The restaurant originated as Gib’s Skelly Service and motel. Gib moved his seven overnight cabins to this site on East Hwy. 14. He and his wife Sue operated a thriving modern motel, a two-bay garage, and a popular café. A Lake Benton newspaper reported at the time that, “Gib’s cabins had 2,640 registered guests from Canada to Texas and from New York to California – every state in the union, every walk of life.” 

Bill, Gib and Sue’s third son, and his wife Marge, purchased the service station and café in early 1950s. Bill and Marge changed the name to the B&M Café and service station. Noon hour was busy with high school students walking down the back drive of the school to order hamburgers and malts for 25 cents each, or a beef commercial for 99 cents. A bottle of soda cost 5 cents. Bill and Marge’s children worked at the café and all remember peeling potatoes to make French fries. The café was also busy after the dances at the Showboat Ballroom and would fill to capacity at 1:00 a.m. on the weekends. The jukebox in the corner would play your favorite selection for 5 cents, or six songs for 25 cents. 

In the early 1960’s a laundromat was installed where the service station garage was previously located. In 1967, the café was remodeled to create a 60-seat supper club and was renamed the Country House. Dinners were served with a deluxe relish tray and a crisp lettuce salad. At the time, you could order filet mignon for $3.95, walleye for $2.65, and could even splurge and order steak and lobster for $4.25! 

In 1976, Bill and Marge built an addition to the east side of the restaurant, allowing for an occupancy of 110. A bar/lounge was established in the former dining area and the now closed laundromat was used for a storage area. Bill and Marge’s second daughter, Dawn, with husband Gary Johansen, joined in partnership with the Williams when this addition was completed. After two years in the business, Dawn and Gary opted to relocate to Fort Worth, Texas where Gary accepted a partnership in a well-established photography business. 

After graduating from Southwest State University (now Southwest Minnesota State University), Tony and Erin Schwing purchased the Country House in January 1983 from Bill and Marge Williams (Erin’s parents). After successful experimentation with a second casual family menu, the Schwings in 1987 again added on to the building, this time on the south side, increasing seating by 60. In the late 1980’s and through the early 2000’s they had approximately 30 people on the payroll, most part-time. Promoting dinner theater charter groups in conjunction with the lake Benton Opera House was a key part of operations and some years hosted around 50 of them per season. The Schwings also expanded their offerings in off-premises catering over the years to the point that it is now 40% of the business. 

Tony and Erin’s six children all worked at the restaurant from around the age of 13, some of them through college and beyond. The youngest “retired” in late 2020 after finishing grad school. Although none of them elected to take on the rigor of the business for a career, a some of them still fill in occasionally as well as other extended family.