LAKE MILLS — No matter where people may go in life, there always seems to be a yearning to return home. So is the case for former Lake Mills resident Kyle Sprecher of Houston, Texas.

A graduate of Lake Mills High School, Sprecher went to attend the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Houston, where he received his doctorate in chiropractic and began his relationship with the National Aeronautics Space Administration. In the 30 years since, he has traveled the world, yet he still frequently returns to his hometown of Lake Mills, where he recently opened Sprecher Mill House.

Sprecher, 55, originally purchased the Sprecher Mill House building so he would have a space to provide chiropractic services to family members who he regularly comes home to visit. After five years of renovation projects, the building has rental units on the upper floor and houses a chiropractic area, family room and wine bar.

Sprecher said a wine bar seemed to be a good fit for the space. Not only was it something the town didn’t already have, but wine tasting is a hobby of his and he felt members of the community could benefit from being exposed to the culture that surrounds wines from other countries.

“I’ve been around the world and I’ve had the opportunity to go to a lot of really unique wineries,” Sprecher said.

His travels inspired him to have monthly themes at the Mill House. Each month highlights three red and three white wines from a particular country, as well as a variety of appetizers and gourmet desserts from that country. This also means the Mill House menu is constantly changing.

Customers can enjoy a glass of wine in the wine room or head to the back room, where there is a full-size kitchen and family room with games for all ages.

“I wanted to create an environment where anyone can come and feel comfortable,” Sprecher said. “And I didn’t want someone to be able to go somewhere else to get the same environment.”

Plans for expanding Mill House’s offerings and hours are a possibility in the coming months.

Sprecher said the middle room of the Mill House, which houses a room for him to stay in when he visits, could be converted into a coffee library, and hours could be expanded to accommodate mornings guests. The Mill House is only open from 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, but the addition of gourmet coffees being added to the menu could have the business opening in the mornings and perhaps even serving a light breakfast.

Sprecher said he’s just waiting to see what direction God takes him.

“I have a lot of business opportunities in my career right now that may enable me to be anywhere and still take care of my clients.”

He said he’s weighing his options while continuing to work at his private practice and continuing to research how to best address severe neck pain in military and shuttle pilots.

Despite the distance, Sprecher said he’ll always find his way back home to Lake Mills.

“ Being home with family — there’s nothing like family.”

By the numbers

30 – Years Sprecher has worked on research with NASA

1,076 – Miles from Houston, Texas, to Lake Mills

6 – Wines available at each wine tasting at the Mill House