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Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown

Lake Geneva vacation home with kitchen

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Photo gallery for Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown

Microwave, dishwasher, coffee/tea maker, cookware/dishes/utensils
Dining
Property grounds
Smart TV
Interior

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

6 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 16

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Lake Geneva, WI
  • Place, Geneva Lake
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Riviera Beach
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Lake Geneva Cruise Line
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Airport, Kenosha, WI (ENW-Kenosha Regional)
    ‪49 min drive‬

Room options

About the area

Lake Geneva

In Lake Geneva .Your stay at this Lake Geneva vacation home places you within a 10-minute walk of Geneva Lake and Riviera Beach. Lake Geneva Public Library and Lake Geneva Cruise Line are also within half a mile (1 km).
View more Vacation homes in Lake GenevaOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Geneva Lake - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Riviera Beach - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Lake Geneva Cruise Line - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Riviera Ballroom - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Lake Como - 4 min drive - 3.9 km

Getting around

  • Harvard Station - 31 min drive
  • Kenosha, WI (ENW-Kenosha Regional) - 39 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Culver's - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪The Porch - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Lake City Social - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Flat Iron Tap - ‬11 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown

Book this 1896 charmer **with guest house** for your extended family getaway, golf outing, girls trip, wedding weekend or peaceful and fun retreat of any kind! There are a few summer weekends still available, but consider visiting Lake Geneva midweek as well when there are fewer people in town.

This home is fully updated, brimming with character, spacious and in the middle of everything that Lake Geneva has to offer. It has five bedrooms, three full baths and a hide-a-bed couch in the main house in addition to a guest house with living room, 4th full bath and 6th bedroom. The guest house offers some options for larger groups with some people that need or want a little more separation. Maybe grandma and grandpa want to come along, but would like their own space. Or a young parent with a baby that might be up at night. Or an introvert’s dream-come-true. Part of things, but on your own when you want to be.

The basement is a cozy place to hang out and play a game or watch a movie. The stone walls and visible support beams provide a reminder of the history and legacy of the home.

Your whole group can hang out together in the large kitchen, stocked with dishes and cooking supplies and a keurig. Appliances include double ovens, microwave, warming drawer, gas stove with pot filler, and beverage refrigerator. Cook a big meal or go out. You’ve got options.

Laundry detergent and shampoo/conditioner are available. Wi-Fi and Nest thermostats are provided in both units.

The lake is visible from the den and a couple of bedrooms as well as the long front porch where you can enjoy your morning coffee or a book while sitting on a rocking chair or the porch swing.

I grew up in the area and I'm excited to help you plan your stay and enjoy a wonderful time away with your people. The lake path and the park and library are right across the street. Walk to Inspire Coffee or Starbucks, restaurants, shops of all kinds, the beach or the Riviera boat dock to catch a delightful boat tour. So many fun things to do! Skip the parking and walk. It’s all right there.

I’m excited for the opportunity to serve you and your group!

Similar properties

Front of property
The Cove Of Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva
  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Kids pool
  • Free WiFi
4.5 out of 5, Wonderful, 1,424 reviews
The price is CA $136
CA $189 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 5 - Apr 6
The Cove Of Lake Geneva

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave

Bedrooms

  • 6 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 4 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Dock
  • Porch/lanai

Laundry

  • Laundry detergent
  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • One pet total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Only dogs are allowed
  • Maximum 1 pets
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.

Frequently asked questions

How close is Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown to the airport?

This vacation home is 28.7 mi (39-min drive) away from the Kenosha, WI (ENW-Kenosha Regional) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.

How close is Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown to the beach?

This vacation home is a short 5-minute walk from Riviera Beach and 5.1 mi (8-min drive) from Williams Bay Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown offer free breakfast?

This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown?

No, there is no casino at this vacation home.

What time is check-in at Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown?

Free parking is not available at this vacation home.

Does Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown have a pool?

This vacation home does not have a pool.

Does Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this vacation home.

How close is Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown to downtown Lake Geneva?

This vacation home is 0.4 mi away from Lake Geneva.

Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 35 out of 37 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 37 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 37 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 37 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 37 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Christina V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing host and location. The house is really special with a beautiful kitchen perfect for families
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay B.

Liked: Cleanliness
The host was very welcoming and accessible if we needed anything. The house was perfect! Walking distance was great! We really had a great weekend!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gail T.

Liked: Cleanliness
The house is amazing! Old home with lots of antique character and yet totally modern classy baths and kitchen! More drawers and cabinets in the kitchen than we could count. We hung out on the front porch and the TV room, ate great meals in the spacious dining room, and mostly just sipped and noshed in the giant kitchen! House is 2 blocks from beautiful Geneva Lake and 2 blocks from shops, bars, cafes and more. Located in a historic neighborhood so we had scenic walks past elegant homes every day. A great stay! Highly recommend Rachel's rental and Lake Geneva for a long weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mike B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Really nice house for a family vacation (6 adults and 3 young children), and within walking distance to downtown and the lake. Highly recommended.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan D.

Liked: Cleanliness
We had a great time! Beautiful home with lots of space and a nice easy walk to downtown shops, restaurants, and the lake. Rachel was an excellent host - very responsive!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

MaryGrace M.

Liked: Cleanliness
We had such a wonderful stay at this home in Lake Geneva!! The hydrangeas out front were blooming and the porch was the perfect spot to hang out for a cup of coffee in the morning and to watch the storm roll in Saturday afternoon. We had 10 girls staying for my bachelorette party and the space was perfect for our group size! Plenty of seating for relaxing and eating in both the living spaces and the kitchen area, and the bedrooms were super comfortable too! Everyone felt like they had plenty of room to make themselves at home and the long island was a great congregating space. The house is just a short walk from the beach and downtown so it worked out really well for us to be able to walk everyone all weekend long. We didn't use the carriage house but it looked so cute when we popped in! Rachel was really quick and easy to communicate with and she left us with delicious cookies that were such a sweet touch! I would 100% recommend this place to anyone and would love to come back!! Thank you for such an amazing stay!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eric E., Phoenix

Liked: Cleanliness
Our family stayed at this property in July 2025. We had a great stay. The location of the house was perfect as we were able to walk to the lake as well as the various restaurants. Everything was within a 10 minute walk which was fantastic. It was also nice that the house owner provided us with beach passes.We also appreciated the board games that are available at the house for guests to use. The plate of cookies awaiting our arrival was a nice surprise as well and the cookies tasted delicious!I highly recommend staying at this property.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness

Back a 2nd time!

Just love this house, this was our second time staying there and we booked it again for next year already. The host is amazing, makes homemade cookies, brought us extra beach towels and did everything within her power to make our stay comfortable. Home is charming, comfortable and properly equipped for large groups. We had two families of 5 each in the main house, grandparents loved having the cottage/apartment detached behind the house. They could visit and then retire to their peace and quiet when they were ready. Cannot say enough great things about this home and host. Is give it 6 stars if I could.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Betty H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great family vacation

Loved the house! Location, convenience, well maintained, jusr perfect!
Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Amy D.

Liked: Cleanliness

Girls weekend

Enjoyed the location for a large group of friends. Well appointed but needed to pick up a couple things
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lewis B., Milwaukee, WI

Liked: Cleanliness
Just a GREAT neighborhood, so close to everything in town yet quiet and safe. House was amazing, super clean and well equipped - with the guest cottage a nice bonus.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cindy G.

Liked: Cleanliness

So comfy and roomy for everyone!

We really enjoyed our stay with our adult children, spouses, girlfriends and grandchildren. Walkable to parks, shops and the lake. Comfortable spaces in the home to talk and play. Comfy beds and beautiful bathrooms and kitchen! We loved it!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Megan W., Chicago

Liked: Cleanliness

A wonderful winter getaway

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this property. The host was very accessible, the location was nice and central, and the house had lots of room for all of us (10 in total) to spread out. Pro tip: bring extra layers if temps dip below zero. It's an old house and got a bit drafty.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica H., White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Liked: Cleanliness

Such a beautiful home!

We had a very nice weekend staying at the Maxwell House! The renovations in the home are beautiful, there is a lot of space, and the location is perfect! We were blessed with good weather, so we walked all over town. We hope to come back again.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

kimberly m.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing in town rental for whole family

We utilized this home for our daughter’s wedding weekend. It was perfect for our family to stay together and have a central location for the girls to get ready! The “coach house” in back was a fabulous bonus for the bride and groom to have their own space.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Most Wonderful Experience!!

Had the most wonderful stay at this beautiful home with our family. The location is perfection- walking distance to town, park, library and beach. Communication with owner was prompt and extremely helpful. Every small hospitable detail did not go unnoticed. Welcomed us with freshly baked cookies waiting on counter. The home and accommodations were perfect for our large family. Truly appreciated the toys and room for play! We cannot wait to come back!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Lori J.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great location

Adult family members together with spouses stayed 3 nights Sun to Wed. Within a block of the lake & a few blocks to the beach, this property is an ideal location. Nice size kitchen for preparing meals & large dining table for all to comfortably sit down together. The beds were comfortable & the rooms were as described in the listing. There was delicious homemade cookies & a welcome note for us upon arrival, which added a nice touch to our stay. Our host Rachel responded very promptly to an inquiry made upon arrival with respect to accessing the guest house. All in all, a nice home to stay in when in Lake Geneva. We recommend this property.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness

5 stars all around

Property was very clean, and comfortable - very accurately represented on the listing. Host was super friendly, went above and beyond with communication, very flexible and accommodating with requests and quickly responded to all communication. Plenty of space and well appointed kitchen. A few blocks from a school playground, beach and shops. Highly recommend and hope to stay there again in the future!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rita Marie B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Holiday at Lake Geneva

Wonderful house! Plenty of counter space to make homemade spaghetti. Loved the Christmas decorations. Loved the location. We went skiing for a day and spent a day at the waterpark. A little problem with basement... grandson had an asthma reaction when down there. So we didn't spend time down there. Guest house was a perfect way for us all to spread out. It snowed and made everything feel like Christmas
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brian W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Family Thanksgiving!

13 of us stayed very comfortably at this house for thanksgiving. Rachel was easy to communicate with pre, during, and post. Everything was perfect! I would highly recommend this location.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Beth T.

Liked: Cleanliness

Historical House in Lake Geneva, WI.

We LOVED the property and the location. Easy walking distance to everything. Great house for friends and family to gather and bond. Beautiful kitchen! Comfy beds, great remodeled baths! Would definitely recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

megan l.

Liked: Cleanliness

labor day family reunion.

we had a great time at this home with 15 adults and one baby. It was a great location for walking to town and the water. We also had plenty of common area to hangout and make and enjoy meals together. Given we have a lot of couples in our family we had to get creative with some sleeping situations. If the room in the front living room with a fold out couch had black out curtains that would have been nice. We also had a couple stay in the basement, we brought a queen sized air mattress but having a more permanent sleeping situation down there would have been nice. We were just happy to get the whole family together so we made it work! Rachel the host also made cookies with a sweet handwritten note to greet us when we got there. She was very timely and detailed in her responses to all my questions. Everyone in the group is excited to go back!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert T.

Liked: Cleanliness

302 Maxwell was fantastic

We had 9 people stay for the week prior to Labor Day Weekend 2023 and had an excellent weekend! We are a group of college friends all in our early 40's who came up for a Golf trip and played Thursday (night) and Friday/Saturday. Having the guest/coach house was great for those who had to take work calls/less social in the evening. It's a dream kitchen for those who like to cook and suited our group well for big breakfasts prior to our tee times. The rooms were spacious and the bathrooms updated, everything was perfect! I We look forward to returning again very very soon. Rachel (host) was an excellent communicator leading up to and during our stay with questions and updates. We can't thank her enough for the chance to stay at her place. I couldn't click five starts fast enough on this review, highly recommend and although we were a group of guys for our yearly meetup, this place would suit 2-3 families with 6/7 or less kids extremely well also! Thank you! - Rob & friends
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ann R.

Liked: Cleanliness

Historic home by the lake

Upon driving up to the property you are immediately welcomed by the long front porch filled with rocking chairs. Walking into the home and seeing cookies on the counter with a welcome note made us feel right at home from the start. Our granddaughter immediately went for the room with the bunk beds and was thrilled to open the closet to find a huge choice of books and a rocking chair. The dining room table was large enough to seat our entire group and the family room was great for watching Disney with the little ones. The primary bedroom was well appointed and the bed was incredibly comfortable. Everything in the house worked perfectly. We absolutely appreciated Rachel giving us things to do and restaurant recommendations before we arrived and especially her letting us know about a special celebration at the lake one of the days we were there. The children loved watching the fireworks from the bedroom window. The proximity of the house to the lake and beach, shopping and restaurants was fantastic. We could walk everywhere. We even walked to a nearby park at the school to use the playground. Rachel is a fantastic hostess and her home is a pleasure to visit. Hopefully we can return soon!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ron S., Hayward Wisconsin

Liked: Cleanliness

What an awesome home!

The home was exactly as advertised! Great location (a block from the Lake). Quick walk to the public beach, shops, and restaurants. Beds were very comfortable and was great for 10 adults. Could have added another or a several kids in the ‘bunk’ room. Kitchen was well stocked and convenient to use. Bath towels were probably the nicest we had in a STR. Host was very responsive and helpful. Cookies were awesome! Highly recommend the home!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023