Lake Geneva, Wisconsin - History

History

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 (e.g., Morton Salt, Wrigley Chewing Gum, etc.), with mansions and large homes such as Stone Manor and Black Point built on the lake during the heyday of the Roaring 20s. The city was then known as "The Newport of the West." The city is also known today as "The Hamptons of the Midwest." In the early automobile era, the city's fortunes at first declined, and it soon became a haven for Al Capone and other mobsters. Shortly thereafter, it became the beautiful, natural, amazing small town it remains today. The city has been named one of the "Best Small Towns in America" on numerous lists during the last 50 years.

Hugh Hefner built his first Playboy resort there, which was much larger than any Playboy Club. The club was closed in 1981 and converted into the Americana Resort, and later to the present Grand Geneva Resort. Lake Geneva was also home to Dungeons and Dragons creator Gary Gygax until his death in 2008. Guns N' Roses lead singer, Axl Rose, also owned property on the southwest side of Geneva Lake from 1988 until 1998. It is rumored that George Lucas (Star Wars) and girlfriend Mellody Hobson have rented a residence on the south shore of Geneva Lake, when Mellody is not working in Chicago at Ariel Investments. Maria and Billy Bell (major modern art collectors and part of the daytime dramatic television dynasty), are also known to visit, along with the siblings Lauralee Bell and Bradley Bell.

In 1954, Lake Geneva was named as one of the three finalists for the location of the new United States Air Force Academy, but ultimately lost to Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The city operates under a mayor-council form of government. Lake Geneva recently annexed a large tract of land that will expand the city around the south shore of Geneva Lake.

Originally called "Muck-Suck" (Big Foot) for a Potawatomi chief, the city was later named Geneva after the town of Geneva, New York, located on Seneca Lake, to which early settler John Brink saw a resemblance. Geneva, to avoid confusion with the nearby town Geneva, Illinois, was renamed Lake Geneva; later the lake was renamed Geneva Lake. In practice both forms are used for the lake but never for the city.

Royal Records (formerly Shade Tree Studios) was a Lake Geneva music recording studio where artists such as Ministry, Cheap Trick, Queensryche, Crash Test Dummies, Iron Maiden, Black Diamond and Skidrow have all recorded albums.