WHAT ABOUT LAKE GENEVA?
By Melissa Urban Silhan
December 9, 2023
I know that some of us visited Lake Geneva in our youth and may have nostalgic memories of spending time there. Since time has marched on, we wanted to highlight some history and fun facts as well as some current things to see and do in the Fall on your own (or in meetups).
VITAL STATISTICS AND HISTORY
1. The city sits on Lake Geneva and is home to 8,277 people as of the 2020 census.
2. Lake Geneva is a popular resort town, probably due to its proximity to both Chicago and Milwaukee. It is 45 miles from the Milwaukee airport and 60 miles from O’Hare airport.
3. Originally named Maunk-suck (Big Foot) after the leader of the local Potawatomi band, it was later renamed Geneva after Geneva New York and then Lake Geneva.
4. After the Great Chicago Fire (1871), wealthy Chicago industrialists fled to Lake Geneva and many built mansions. Names include the Wrigley’s, the Schwinn’s, Otto Young and Richard Driehaus. Two mansions are open to the public: the Baker House (1888) is a B&B and Black Point (1888) built by beer baron Conrad Seipp, now a Historical Society Museum in nearby Linn (accessible only by boat tour).
THINGS YOUR MOMMA (PROBABLY) DIDN’T TELL YOU
1. Legend has it that Lake Geneva was a getaway for gangsters from Chicago during prohibition (1920’s to early 1930’s). Rumors of underground tunnels led to beliefs that the area played a large part in the Chicago-based bootlegger trade. Bugs Moran in particular frequented nearby Lake Como and brought bootleggers Baby Face Nelson and Jimmy Murray. Bootleggers were known to escape the city and FBI raids, sometimes running to the northern Wisconsin backwaters.
2. Hugh Heffner opened his second Playboy Club here (the first was in Chicago) in 1968. The property had a 350-room lodge, an airstrip, golf course, pools, fitness center, racquet club, dance club, salon and three bar/restaurants. The Club was staffed by attractive women wearing (infamous) bunny attire. The club closed in 1981. It became the Americana Resort in 1982 and in 1993 - you guessed it- the Grand Geneva Resort.
ON YOUR OWN (OR IN MEET-UPS). PRICES/HOURS SUBJECT TO CHANGE (seasonal)
1. GRAND GENEVA RESORT: The resort has many amenities including 2 championship golf courses, horseback riding stables, spa, workout facility with climbing wall, pickleball, tennis, indoor and outdoor pools, basketball court, hiking, and biking and scooter rentals (list may not be all inclusive). Some of these activities are offered through the Adventure Center. There is a nightclub and live music on-site.
Fun Fact: Hugh Heffner hired Jack Nicklaus to help design one of the golf courses, bandleader Sam DiStefano to handle entertainment and book top name performers (Peggy Lee, Tony Bennet, Sonny and Cher, etc.) and Arnold Morton (founder of Morton Steakhouse) to oversee operations.
Location: Grand Geneva Resort Adventure Center, 7036 Grand Geneva Way
Hours: Adventure Center: Monday-Sunday, varies by activity.
** Now Closed for the Season) **
Costs: Varies by activity listed @ grandgeneva.com/adventure-center
Contact Information: 262-248-9598
2. Yerkes Observatory: The birthplace of modern astrophysics, located in Williams Bay on the outskirts of Lake Geneva. Funded by Charles Yerkes (presumably to polish up his image) it opened in 1897 as a satellite campus of the University of Chicago. The largest of the three domes houses the largest refracting telescope in the world. In 2020 the University of Chicago transferred the property to the Yerkes Future Foundation. The 50-acre grounds were originally planned by the legendary Olmstead Brothers firm (Frederick Law Olmstead designed New York’s Central Park as well as the 75-acre gardens adjacent to the Biltmore House in Asheville, N.C.).
Fun Fact: At 63 feet and 19 tons, the refracting telescope is so delicately balanced that it can be moved by hand with a floor that rises to meet the telescope.
Location: 373 W. Geneva Street, William Bay
Hours: Thursday-Monday, 9:30am-5:30pm
Costs: $39.00 PP senior rate for Space and Spaces hour and a half tour. Must be booked well in advance on-line: yerkesobservatory.org
Private group tours are available (up to 25 people, minimum fee $1075).
** May survey classmates for availability/interest for Monday, October 7th.
Contact Information: 262-245-5555.
3. Lake Geneva Shore Path: This 21-mile public foot path created by early settlers of the region circles the entire lake and crosses historic estates, marinas, beaches, and public parks. Approximate time to walk the entire circumference: 8-10 hours. Walkers only.
Fun Fact: Property owners maintain sections of the path that cut through their yards.
Location: A description and map can be found in “visitlakegeneva.com” on pages 24-25.
Cost: Free
Hours/ Contact Information: N/A
4. Safari Lake Geneva: This is a (self-guided) drive through a wildlife preserve where animals from all over the world roam freely. Approximate time to drive through is 90-120 minutes and you can go through as many times as you want.
Fun Fact: This is a family-owned business that supports wildlife conservation at the park and in the wild. For $5 you can buy a 42-gram bowl of animal feed.
Location/contact information: W 1612 Litchfield Road/262-475-8089.
Cost: $22.95. Reservation required: safarilakegeneva.com
Days/hours: 9am-6pm daily (last admission is 5pm).
5. Geneva Lake Museum: Preserves the history of the area with a collection of artifacts and exhibits from many decades. Also has a gift shop.
Fun Fact: All items in the museum are from the area and most have been donated by residents whose families have lived in the area.
Location: 255 Mills Street
Hours: Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11am-3pm all other days.
Costs: $10 seniors
Contact Information: 262-248-6000
6. Shopping: the downtown area is described as “all charm and warmth, offering one of the best walking experiences anywhere coast to coast” in the 2023 Official Lake Geneva region visitors guide (visitlakegeneva.com).
Fun Fact: Lake Geneva has been referred to as the Newport of the West, being compared to the infamous resort community of Newport, RI.
Location: Many listed store addresses are on W. Main, Geneva, and Broad Streets.
Hours: varies by store.
Costs: Free to look. The rest is up to you.
Contact Information: N/A
7. Biking: The Adventure Center at Grand Geneva has 8.5 miles of biking trails with 5 trail options ranging from easy to expert. You can bring your own or rent a bike.
Location: The Adventure Center is at the Grand Geneva Resort, 7036 Grand Geneva Way
Hours: 10am-1pm, 1pm-4pm, 10am-4pm
Costs: bike rentals: $40 for 3 hours and $60 for 6 hours at times listed above.
Contact Information: 262-248-8811
8. Golf: See GBN website, gbn67.myevent.com for sign up details.
9. Grand Geneva Concierge- 262-248-8811 x3121
***More information available @visitlakegeneva.com***