Lake Geneva, WI is a city in southeast Wisconsin that sits on the shores of Lake Geneva or Geneva Lake (both names are used for the lake) and is in Walworth County, WI. Population 7148 with a median income $40,900 and a median age of 36. Lake Geneva is a freshwater lake the covers an area of 8.6 square miles, has a maximum length of 9 miles and mean depth of 62ft and a maximum depth of 144 ft. The greatest width of the lake is 3 miles and it's narrowest is 1/2 mile. The shoreline is 21 miles around.
The Railroad access from the Chicago area made Lake Geneva a popular summer retreat in the late 1800s early 1900s and has continued to this day. The moguls of industry, commerce, business made Lake Geneva their summer home (i.e. Morton Salt and Wrigley's Chewing Gum) with their mansions and large homes all around the lake. During the "roaring 20's" it was a popular hangout of Al Capone and Baby Face Nelson. During this time it was known as "the Newport in the West". Today it is known as "The Hamptons of the Midwest". Hugh Hefner built the first Playboy Resort in Lake Geneva and it was his biggest resort. It closed in 1981. Several celebrities have rented or owned homes in Lake Geneva. Lake Geneva was originally called Muck-suck named after a Potawatomi Indian Chief. The city was later renamed Geneva by an early settler, John Brink, because it resembled Geneva, NY. Today Lake Geneva is still a summer retreat and tourist area.
Lake Geneva to me will always be my favorite lake and summer spot. Since I was born through my teen age years I spent a part of my summer in Lake Geneva. My parents had a small cottage in Norman B Barr Camp and my Grandmother had a home on the lake. This made it possible for me spend my summers at the lake. Today, my cousins all have homes on the Lake and my brother has a brand new cottage at Barr Camp. Later today I will post more pictures of Lake Geneva and tomorrow post more about Lake Geneva.
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