Lake Geneva, WI

Lake Geneva is a resort city on the shores of Geneva Lake in southeastern Wisconsin. Railroad access from Chicago made the area a popular summer retreat for the barons of wealth in lumber, cattle, oil, steel, cement, manufacturing, and durable goods (Morton Salt, Wrigley Chewing Gum, etc.), with mansions and large homes built on the lake during the heyday of the roaring 20s.

A path along the lake allows visitors to observe several of the large homes built overlooking the water. Geneva Lake is 8.6 square miles, 9 miles long, and between 3 miles and ½ mile wide. It is 152 feet at the deepest point.

Stone Manor (below), officially Younglands, the 18,000 square foot Italianate palace with a 250' veranda and an expansive lawn, is visible from downtown Lake Geneva. The estate was built in 1900-1901 by Otto Young, a man who made his fortune buying real estate along State Street in Chicago following the great fire of 1871. It was constructed for over $1,000,000 and has features such as gold-plated fixtures, a basement bowling alley, and a third floor miniature golf course. The property was a single family home until 1939 when it was presented to the order of St. Anne to be used as an Episcopalian private school for girls. The school was discontinued after only a few years. Later the mansion housed a French restaurant. Around the 1980's the mansion and remaining property were purchased for back taxes, reportedly for $74,000. It has recently been restored and converted to 6 condominiums ranging in price up to $1.6 million.