Dear readers, today we are going to present you one miraculous place where nature and human civilization coexist in harmony and beauty for more than 200 years. Living nearby crystal clear water resort, romantic and relatively low ground hills, blue sky, and good weather is no less than a blessing in today’s hectic and busy world. What could more a person ask for? If you would like to know where this magical place is located and what it has to offer, take a look at our article and at least for a while have a break and relocate your mind into this “Heaven on Earth” place. Moreover, you will be amazed to find out that modern luxury has its place there without destroying or shadowing the scenic natural image of the town.
Shortcut to Happiness
Before we start our city of Lake Geneva review, we would like to present you a short movie showing the nearby forest and local area which will give an insight to our readers what it is like to be there and confirm all that it is written below. Give yourself a few minutes into it before you continue reading, and I promise you that your interest to find more about the city of Lake Geneva will skyrocket:
History
Founded in 1836 we are talking about the famous city of Lake Geneva which is located in southeastern Wisconsin, USA. If you are interested in casinos, you can check out this list of Wisconsin casinos. However, if you prefer playing online we´d recommend reading a well-researched casino review beforehand. The town is settled nearby the shore of Seneca Lake by John Brink who first saw the opportunity that this gorgeous land provides. At first, the newborn place was called after the town Geneva in New York state, but because it was often mistaken with the nearby Geneva city located in Illinois, it was renamed to the City of Lake Geneva to prevent any confusion and misunderstanding. Back in time, the region was occupied by the native American population or more exactly the Potawatomi tribes. They resembled Great Plains, the upper part of the Mississippi River, and the western Great Lakes area which this place belongs to. The Indian name of the town is “Maunk-suck” which means “Big-Foot” and was named after a Potawatomi chief. There is a legend that the “Big-Foot” creature has been living in this area for decades and this intensifies the mystery around the town even further. The geographical location and landscape enhance a spiritual feeling with a strong connection to a higher plane, an important factor for native Americans in choosing their homeland. In 1954, the town was expected to become a base location for the United States Air Force Academy but lost this position to Colorado Springs and continued providing relief and resort for the ordinary Americans. The place was spotted by the big USA investor Hugh Hefner and it is an interesting fact that his first Playboy resort has been built in the city of Lake Geneva. Currently, the town is a resort with luxurious hotels and private mansions where wealthy Chicago residents relocate during summertime to take advantage of the sunny weather and magnificent beaches. On the other hand, during the winter, the town is known for winter sports like skiing and ice skating. All around the year, the city visitors could enjoy golf, spa and fitness activities.
Geography and Location
The city is located on flat ground at the northeast side of Geneva Lake as its geographical coordinates are as follow 42°35′33″N 88°26′4″W. It is 10 miles away from the Illinois borderline and 75 miles away from Chicago. The overall area of the town is around 5.8 sq. miles and locals try to keep it as small as possible and preserve the unique image of it. Building permit licenses are hardly obtained and city mayor wishes to keep the area free of any new buildings which could change the vision of small and protective community. Below you could see a map showing the exact location and nearby areas:
In the region, we can spot some steep hills, but most of the city infrastructure is built on flat ground. The location is known for its undisputed natural beauty. During autumn the trees are “painted” by mother nature in rainbow colours increasing further the mystery around this place.
Size and Demographic Data:
The city of Lake Geneva is a small resort city as the population for the year 2020 is count to 8104 people. The town is growing but at a very slow rate and this is a main goal of the city administration. It is the 112th in size for the Wisconsin region and 3592nd for the United States of America. As a resort city, it is known as a preferred summer destination for wealthy and high – net worth individuals from Chicago who have their own homes there. More than 90% percent of the population is white with less than 1 percent Afro American citizens. The Native American population is allmost gone as they form less than 0.11% of the overall. The average age of the residents is 41 years old, and the division between males and females is 51% to 49%. As we mentioned, the place is known among wealthy individuals and this explains why the average household income is around $51,200. The crime rate is very, very low and the local police department has almost no work to be done. However, this is expected as richer and wealthier the population is the less it is likely to engage in street criminal activities. Last but not least, in this section, we will include some Notable people living in the city of Lake Geneva Wisconsin:
- Margaret H. Bair – U.S. Air National Guard general
- Hiram Barber, Jr. – U.S. Representative from Illinois
- S. Carey – musician, member of Bon Iver
- Bobby Cook – NBA player
- Gary Gygax – writer and game designer, the author of Dungeons & Dragons
- M. W. Kalaher – Wisconsin Legislator
- John Brayshaw Kaye – politician and poet
- Mary L. Kirchoff – author of Dragonlance novels
- Kerwin Mathews – actor
- Ryan Mathews – NASCAR driver
- Buddy Melges – Olympic gold medalist, member of the American’s Cup Hall of Fame
- John R. Powers – author
- Ralph Townsend – author
- William Trinke – Wisconsin legislator
- Margaret Weis – author of Dragonlance novels
- Edward A. Williams – Wisconsin legislator
- Robert H. Baker – Wisconsin legislator, Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin
Attractions Around the City of Lake Geneva
The local people and visitors could choose from various types of resort activities. There are magnificent beaches around the lake at the Library Park area where you could enjoy summertime sunrays with a lovely view. As we mentioned earlier, the city was called by native Americans “Big – Foot” and there is a park called the same way where people could take a relaxing walk into the wild or have a picnic. If you are interested in native American history and way of life, you could choose to go hiking the Potawatomi trails nearby, an unremarkable experience which will lift up your spirit and strengthen the roots with nature. The town is also known for its plenty of lodging services and delicious food. In the city centre, it is located the famous Popeyes Restaurant offering indoor and outdoor seats. It focuses on always serving fresh food and greatly cooked meals for its clients. If you want to learn more about the history of the city, you could check the Geneva Lake Museum of History. It has been founded in 1983 at the 818 Geneva Street address. However, the Waterworks Department has been moved from the Wisconsin Power and Light building to a new larger facility at the year of 1929. The museum is a must-visit place which gives insight into the native Americans way of live and we recommend to book and secure your spot there if you go on visit as the tourist groups are often full for several weeks ahead. Wealthy people are always searching for the best and it was not long before they decided to take advantage and move to the area of Lake Geneva. if you take a walk at the lakeside shore path, you will see Gilded Age mansions which have been built by rich people from Chicago. Close to this path, it is the Black Point Estate and Gardens, a Victorian-style house that has been the summer home of Conard Seipp – a well-known beer magnate. He was an immigrant from Germany who started making beer in Chicago and later moved to Wisconsin.
Things to Do
Despite visiting the famous old-school mansions, history museum, or hiking at Potawatomi trials, visitors of the city of Lake Geneva also have plenty of modern and pleasurable activities to do. First, if you are unfamiliar with the town, we advise you to do scooter rentals and tours. For a small size city like that one renting a scooter is one of the best options to learn fast how the town is structured and where is everything situated. After getting familiar with the city, it is time to leave the machinery alone and take a ride on a lovely horse at Dan Patch Stables. Starting from $35 per person for a 45 – minute trail ride, this is an experience suitable for families that will stay with you and your children and will hardly be forgotten. As we mentioned, the town is a resort shelter for the high net and wealthy individuals and it is not a surprise that Grand Geneva Resort & Spa offers excellent Golf courses and membership cards. Combining the rich people game with scenic natural beauty is pure bliss for the mind and soul. During the winter season, locals and visitors could enjoy ski and snow sports. You either buy a ticket for the lift or go by yourself to the near Mountain’s Top and there you could try skiing or snowboarding. Winter fun at the city of Lake Geneva goes beyond Mountain Top ski hill in Wisconsin as you could also go Ice skating & Sledding Hill. On the other hand, if you are a more relaxed person, you could enjoy relaxing spa procedures and fitness activities. Last but not least, the town Is a perfect place for banquets and social events like teambuilding or even marriages so you will not be bored during your visit to this remarkable town. Moreover, if you would like to feel what it is like to be rich you could choose to visit Riviera Beach and hire a boat for yourself or your family. The beach is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. However, to be able to use the beach you should purchase a ticket which is only free for children aged under 6. If the kids are between 7 years and 12 years, the fee is $4 and for an adult or a child above 13 it is $8. There are Season Pass options for $80 per person and respectfully $40 for a child between 6-12. The beach is open only during the summer months and logically alcohol, smoking and drugs are forbidden.
Climate and Weather
The city of Lake Geneva is not randomly chosen by wealthy American citizens. It represents natural beauty at its fullest and last but not least, and the climate conditions are also more than good. The weather during the winter is soft with a few cold months, which are December, January, and February. During this period of the year, the temperature is a little bit below zero around -4 to -13. On the other hand, during the summer, the degrees go up to 25 with the hottest months being June, July, and August. The fact that the summertime is not very hot provides relief for the citizens and because of that, the destination is perfect for vacancies and tourism. The geographic location is known to have four seasons – which is a natural blessing of diversity. This provides plenty of outdoor activities which the city visitors and locals could enjoy. During spring and summertime, locals and tourists often go on a picnic in the nearby forests which are kept wild and a goal of city administration is to bring down to a minimum the human interaction at these places and to keep their initial state of natural beauty. However, if you are a fan of luxury and wealth, the yacht port of the city of Lake Geneva is there to help. Expensive and shiny boats are everyday view there, and it is worth to check what the atmosphere feels like.
Wild forests, yachts and beaches accompanied with delicious food and luxury mansions – what more you could ask for?
The City Administration and Public Services
The small size of the town is not a problem for having a fascinating administration. The city has its own webpage – cityoflakegeneva.com where you can find any information regarding mayor and city council, city budget, elections and voting, taxes and even job opportunities. On their website, you can check all city departments, their structures, and who is responsible for any of them as well as their working hours. There is also a business section explaining the different types of business licenses and permits offered by the municipality. All available information is displayed clearly, straightforward and in a friendly way. You could pay a parking ticket online with their automated system and there is even a citizen request form which you could fill in case you have any issue to be addressed. Last but not least, the administration has updated the website to show any news, rules or restrictions regarding the current COVID – 19 situations. In this section we would be happy to include some important overall information regarding the city of Lake Geneva Wisconsin some of which we have already mentioned:
- Population – 8104 for the year 2020
- Size – 5.8 Square Miles
- Zip Code – 53147
- Location coordinates – 42°35′33″N 88°26′4″W
- Area telephone code – 262
- Mayor – Charlene Klein
- Lake Geneva Police Department Address – 626 Geneva St, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, United States
The only downfall which we could see in the city administration is that people should pay fees for almost everything as there are even tickets costs for visiting the Riviera beach.
Night Life
Besides the scenic beauty which you will experience during the day just by walking around the town, the city of Lake Geneva offers plenty of nightlife places to go as well. In this section, we will list the best bars in the area and their unique features. On the top list of our research is a place called “Thumbs up – Lake Geneva”, it has a friendly atmosphere and offers great drinks which are done by professional and skilful bartenders. It has a large dancing scene, and If you enjoy dancing, and you are going after a great night, this is the place to go! However, before going to the bar, we advise you to have dinner at Maxwell Mansion, a unique place with an aristocratic atmosphere and superb kitchen. Its Victorian style and sophisticated furniture will impress even the wealthiest people in the country. Dining at this place will make you feel like a king or queen from the 18th century.
We continue our top three list with the dive bar “Fat Cats”, even though not so sophisticated like Maxwell Mansion, you could have a really fun time as drinks are well priced and people going there are friendly and in party mood as even bartenders often start a conversation with clients. This is a way more ordinary place where you could meet any type of people without feeling overwhelmed by an expensive and shiny atmosphere. Last but not least, we would like to do a review of Hogs and Kisses night bar. There are 3 bars at that place and usually, two DJ’s on the weekends. On top of that, there is no cover charge and the place offers food as well. However, if it is late at night or after 11:30 pm don’t bother coming as you will be turned away. If it is raining outside, the bar might be full but during normal conditions, it is pretty roomy with the two outdoor patios. In the city of Lake Geneva, there is something for everyone, although the town is an image of wealthy and sophisticated people, you could still rock and roll with your favourite hard rock band at Fishers bar. The club features live hard rock music so you can check their list to see if the band is going to fit your style.
Conclusion
At the end of the day our thoughts are that if you have decided to spend your holiday time in the city of Lake Geneva, you will do a great favour to yourself. By choosing to stay there, you will be able to enjoy a place with unique natural beauty and a fairytale history to be explored, combining a relaxing atmosphere with a luxurious and aristocratic feeling. You could enjoy wild camping or traveling down a Potawatomi trail as well as sunbathing on the Geneva Lake seashore. On the other hand, you could still take advantage of the great restaurants, bars, nightclubs and other modern benefits without sacrificing calmness and relaxation provided by the scenic nature nearby. The crime rate is almost zero as locals will meet you with a smile and warmth on their faces. This is a magical place which has kept the balance between modern life and wild nature providing relief and happiness to everyone who has been in touch with it. However, the destination is not a low-cost one so be prepared to spend some money there in exchange for the great services which the city of Lake Geneva offers.