T R A V E L
we found Lake Geneva
to be a wonderland
of treasures
One of the remaining houses that is open to the public is
a Queen Anne Victorian named Black Point, that was built
in 1888 for a Chicago brewer. The three-story “cottage” had
13 bedrooms and one bath and is located on the highest
bluff overlooking the Lake’s South Shore. It remained in
the family until 2005, along with all the household artifacts.
It is now managed by the Wisconsin Historical Society
and is easy to get to via the Lake Geneva Cruise Line,
(800-558-5911).
We stayed at the luxurious Grand Geneva Resort and
Spa, which we discovered had originally been built as
the Playboy Club in 1966. It has picturesque grounds,
progressive architecture and an air of sophistication. The
1,300-acre resort has had a $30,000,000 renovation, and
now has a AAA Four-Diamond rating. One of the resort’s
restaurants, The Geneva Chophouse, made it to our list of
top dining experiences, (800-558-3417).
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 147
The U.S. Mailboat delivers
the mail to lake residents, as the
young carriers jump off and back
on again at each dock.
The Baker House, a 30-room Queen Anne
mansion, is now a luxury hotel with lakeside
dining and a costumed staff.