The Great Chicago Fire, while devastating for the Windy City, helped bring life to the southeastern quadrant of Wisconsin. After fire broke out Oct. 8, 1871, thousands of residents lost their homes and the city began reconstructing its core. During that time, a number of wealthy Chicagoans waited out the rebuilding of the city among the tall pines and sparkling waters of nearby Lake Geneva.
The quaint area was soon transformed into a perfect hideaway from
the hustle and bustle of Chicago’s renewal mania, and its wealthy transplants quickly got busy building palatial mansions on the shores of Geneva Lake, Delavan Lake and Como Lake.
The late 1800s and early 1900s were flush for the Lake Geneva area. Families roamed the region’s charming streets while yachts cruised along its crystal clear waters.
These days, little has changed. The destination has retained its historical charm and the mansions remain, giving the region the moniker, “The Newport of the West.”
The Lake Geneva area, comprising the towns of Lake Geneva, Delavan, Williams Bay, and Fontana, sports both small bed-and-breakfast properties and impressively sized resorts with plenty of meeting space.
Besides its beauty and hotel offerings, planners are drawn to the region for its proximity to metros such as Chicago and Milwaukee. In the same amount of time it takes to drive from Chicago’s airports to its downtown hotels, groups can be relaxing in Lake Geneva.
“We are only 75 miles from O’Hare International Airport, which gives us access to the entire world,” says George Hennerley, executive vice president for the Lake Geneva Area CVB.
Stephen Magnuson, vice president, managing director for Grand Geneva Golf Resort & Spa, also says the location is ideal for Midwest groups.
“In order to get to a lot of resort destinations, you often have to drive three, four or even five hours after you fly across the country to get there,” he says. “But with Lake Geneva, you are here within one hour of flying in.”
Refined Retreat
The community of Lake Geneva, the region’s largest municipality (with only 7,200 permanent residents—blossoming to thousands more in the spring, summer and fall), features plenty of historic appeal, Hennerley says.
“We have a great turn-of-the-20th-century downtown. It is on the National Register of Historic Places,” he says. “We are kind of like Disney World, but we are real.”
Lake Geneva’s uniqueness is not only attributed to a plentiful array of one-of-a-kind boutiques and restaurants, but Geneva Lake sits adjacent to downtown, providing easy access to the waterfront.
When it is time to get down to business, the area offers many hotels and meeting facilities, most of which have been recently renovated or have plans for future updates.
“We have a number of major resorts,” Hennerley says. “There are about 2,600 lodging-type units in the area.”
First opened in 1968 by Hugh Hefner as The Playboy Club, the Grand Geneva Golf Resort & Spa no longer has “bunnies” waltzing around, but instead boasts 1,300 acres of high-end accommodations, residential units and even a waterpark. The 355-room property also features 62,000 square feet of meeting space, two golf courses, horseback riding, and a ski hill.
Sitting adjacent to the Grand Geneva (and in the same complex) is Timber Ridge Lodge, offering several meeting rooms as well as a 50,000-square-foot indoor waterpark.
Just 12 miles from the Grand Geneva is Lake Lawn Resort & Spa, a 282-room property with 32,000 square feet of group gathering space, located on Delavan Lake.
The property, in the midst of a major renovation, sits on 250 acres and touts two miles of shoreline “just footsteps away from our guest rooms,” says Pete Zellmer, director of sales and marketing for Lake Lawn Resort & Spa, adding that the resort offers groups fishing and boating excursions as well as bonfire cookouts. “We have meeting rooms overlooking the lake and we have a 120-slip marina as well.”
A little over six miles from Lake Lawn sits The Abbey Resort & Fontana Spa, a 334-room property with just over 40,000 square feet of meeting space located in Fontana on Geneva Lake.
Like Lake Lawn, The Abbey offers planners meeting rooms overlooking the water as well as a large private marina. The property also offers team-building activities such as competitive Olympic-like events on its lawn and cruises on the lake, provided by Lake Geneva Cruise Line (see sidebar, page 12).
Groups looking for an intimate location turn to The Geneva Inn, located right on Geneva Lake and offering 37 guest rooms, 2,000 square feet of meeting space and the group-friendly Grandview Restaurant overlooking the water.
A longtime group favorite, The Interlaken Resort and Spa closed in late 2006 for a major renovation and plans to open March 21 as The Lodge at Geneva Ridge. The property, located on Como Lake, is slated to offer 146 guest rooms and 16,000 square feet of meeting space.
Rounding out the region’s hotel lineup is The Cove of Lake Geneva. The property is situated in downtown Lake Geneva, making it an easy choice for groups that like to stroll through the destination’s historic streets in their free time. The property features 222 guest suites and 8,500 square feet of meeting space.
After-Hours Enjoyment
Even though the Lake Geneva region is relatively small, it offers an impressive array of off-site options, perfect for groups that need a little change of scenery from the conference room.
The Riviera Lakefront Facilities is one such place, presenting a ballroom and even a beach right on Geneva Lake.
In downtown Lake Geneva on Broad Street sits Horticultural Hall, known for its well-appointed indoor and outdoor event spaces. The English cottage-like structure houses a library, great hall and outdoor garden.
Geneva National Golf Club is another fun place for groups to visit. The club offers 54 holes of golf on three courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Gary Player. Beyond its golf offerings, groups can meet in the club’s variety of spaces, from its 4,000-square-foot grand ballroom overlooking Como Lake to an outdoor pavilion. The club also features the Hunt Club, a group-friendly fine-dining restaurant.
For a taste of Wisconsin’s farm culture, attendees can head over to The Dancing Horses Theater and Animal Gardens in Delavan. The 300-seat theater sits on a 44-acre horse farm and from May through December offers shows featuring horses performing with their trainers to music. During the day, groups of up to 1,000 people can schedule outdoor picnics on the facility’s grounds.
The Lake Geneva area also offers excellent culinary choices, many of which cater to groups.
Gilberts, located across the street from Geneva Lake, offers American cuisine with a European flair and uses local organic ingredients whenever possible. Located inside a circa-1885 mansion, the eatery has three private rooms on its second floor for up to 100 guests.
Kirsch’s Restaurant at the French Country Inn, located on Como Lake, is another group favorite with a wide variety of outdoor and indoor gathering spaces. The restaurant can fit up to 250 inside and 300 outdoors and specializes in French American cuisine with Hawaiian influences.
The Great Outdoors
Beyond its resorts and dining options, the Lake Geneva region is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.
For starters, after a day of meetings, delegates can venture out for a stroll on the Geneva Lake Shore Path, a 21-mile-long trail along the water, snaking through the backyards of extraordinary mansions.
Attendees can also hit the greens in their free time.
“We are very well known for golf,” Hennerley says. “We have 22 different golf locations within minutes of downtown.”
Others who are interested in getting out on the water can take a boat cruise with Lake Geneva Cruise Line, go fishing or even try snorkeling and scuba diving, which are popular activities since the water is crystal clear.
Grand Geneva’s Magnuson says the destination’s natural scenery is one of its best attributes.
“People who have never been here get here and say, ‘Oh my gosh. I had no idea it was so beautiful,’” he says.
For More Info
Delavan Lake Area COC 262.728.5095
www.delavanwi.org
Geneva Lake West COC 262.275.5102
www.genevalakewest.com
Lake Geneva Area CVB 262.248.4416
www.lakegenevawi.com
