Southfork Lounge to Close as Owner Retires After Decades in Watertown Nightlife

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Southfork Lounge, a longtime gentlemen’s club on Watertown's south side, will close at the end of the year as owner Bill Schmitt prepares to retire.

In a public announcement Monday, the business said Schmitt will retire and surrender the club’s entertainment license, ending decades of Schmitt family operation. The post described the closure as “a sad farewell,” noting the club had become a place where patrons formed friendships and a close-knit community.

The club will continue operating through a final retirement party scheduled for Dec. 12, 2026. Management encouraged longtime customers and community members to visit before the business closes.

Southfork Lounge has operated for years as one of the region’s few gentlemen’s clubs, advertising live entertainment and nightlife events.

No additional details about the property's future or business operations were released.