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Late-summer fun a short drive away in Lake Geneva

Last spring, my wife, Cheryl, and I talked with friends about taking in the Lake Geneva Cruise Line's Black Point Mansion trip

What a great day to be in Lake Geneva. Scores of people were swimming and sunbathing at Riviera Beach. We saw people boating, fishing, parasailing and people-watching. Folks were shopping at Maxwell Street Days or eating at the many fine restaurants downtown. We arrived before noon and hoped to find a parking spot downtown, then had to double back and were happy to grab the last open metered spot adjacent to Library Park.

Black Point is one of the oldest mansions on the lake. Conrad Seipp, a Chicago beer baron, built it in 1888 for his large family. The stately Queen Anne home has 13 bedrooms and one bathroom. The State Historical Society of Wisconsin now owns it, and if you want to visit, essentially you need to book a boat tour.

I remember vividly the fight neighbors waged a few years ago against the state taking ownership and offering tours, lest their little neck of Geneva Lake be overrun by visitors.

Diane Thompson, a neighboring teacher, was one of those who resisted the idea at first. Then she realized it would be better to preserve it than have the property subdivided, so she switched sides in the battle.

On Saturday, she served as our docent. We appreciated learning about the family and the many fine furnishings that remain in the home, including an amazing chandelier and many pieces from the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.

Afterward, we dined at Popeye’s, across the street from the tour line’s ticket office at the Riviera Lakefront Facility. Popeye’s is a favorite spot for Cheryl and me, but it was a first-time experience for our friends.

We topped it off with ice cream cones at a Riviera snack shop, then strolled through the park, enjoying the late-afternoon view and summertime warmth.

The Black Point tour isn’t cheap, at $34 per person. However, we all agreed it was a fair value given the mansion tour and narrated boat tour past many mansions.

You don’t have to spend that much to enjoy Lake Geneva. The Riviera Beach is free for children younger than 6, or $3 for ages 7-12 and $6 for older children and adults. If that’s still too rich, you could find a side street to park without plugging a meter and simply enjoy a picnic in Library Park and spend the day watching the scenery and people. Who knows? Someone rich and famous might stroll by.

What about you? Have you enjoyed Lake Geneva recently? Do you have a favorite activity there?

Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or gpeck@gazettextra.com. Or follow him on Twitter