The Wreck Room, Milwaukee's first gay Levi/leather bar, opened in the vintage Catherine Foley Saloon in July 1972. Co-owned by Wayne Bernhagen (1943-1987) and Bill Kindt, it was known for its rustic, masculine, and "butch" themes. It was a popular hangout for the Silver Star Motorcycle/Leather Club. The Wreck Room founded the annual Dairyland Classic tournament in 1978. The Wreck Room closed and was sold to MIAD in 1996. Although the building survived the Historic Third Ward Fire of 1892, a 2013 fire left the structure vacant for over a decade, and it was nearly demolished in 2023. Thanks to a collaboration between Milwaukee Preservation Alliance and the History Project, the building was saved, is being restored, and will reopen in fall 2026.