As Lake Geneva began to attract the glitterati of the day to build vacation mansions and sumptuous resorts, some people of faith saw another kind of potential. The area’s natural beauty and relative seclusion made it an ideal location to build religious retreats. Many camps and retreats still exist today, offering faith and youth groups a chance to experience history and to find inspiration.
Conference Point Center had its beginnings in 1873 when Congregational minister Reverend Joseph Collie purchased 10 acres to build summer cottages and a chapel. By 1884, religious groups were arriving by train and steamboat to enjoy camping and fellowship. The Young Women’s Christian Association was founded here in 1886. Over the next 100 years, the property grew and changed hands several times. Today it encompasses a 21-acre peninsula on Geneva Lake. The center offers conference and retreat facilities for Christian groups. Various lodging options can house approximately 400, and meeting spaces include the 450-seat chapel, built in 1925, and the Cloverleaf and Tipiwakan buildings, both large enough for 140 and built in the 1910s.
George Williams College, named for the founder of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), was established on the shore of Geneva Lake in 1884 in order to educate students who would later serve the organization. The Conference Center at George Williams offers 22,000 square feet of meeting space for all kinds of gatherings. Among its venues are several noteworthy historic buildings. These include Mabel Cratty Hall, built in 1925 and capable of welcoming 100 for events; Lewis Hall, constructed in 1898 and large enough for 250; and the four-person George Williams Memorial Room, an exact replica of the room where the YMCA was founded. The original room, located in London, was destroyed by bombs during World War II.
Lake Geneva Youth Camp and Conference Center celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2010. Founded in 1948 by a group of Christian businessmen from Chicago, the center was dedicated to providing youth with opportunities for religious learning and wholesome recreation. Open year-round, the nondenominational camp can host groups as large as 600. It focuses on church, school and youth sports events. Meeting venues range from the 450-person Ceylon Court Gym to the 225-person Cedar Room and the Walnut Room and Woodlands, both capable of hosting 300. Lodging options include rustic cabins, dorms, guest houses and private suites.
