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Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown

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

Exterior
Private kitchen
Interior
Location, location, location!
Living area

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 16

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air-conditioning
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View map
Lake Geneva, WI
  • Place, Geneva Lake
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Riviera Beach
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Riviera Ballroom
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Airport, Kenosha, WI (ENW-Kenosha Regional)
    ‪40 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

1 King Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 6

4 Single Beds

Common area 1

1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Futon

4 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower

Bathroom 2

Shower only

Bathroom 3

Shower only

Bathroom 4

Bathtub or shower

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen

About this property

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!

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 1 total)
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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
On-site 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 and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva is home to this holiday home. Big Foot Beach State Park and Four Seasons Nature Preserve reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Paradise Golf Park and Lake Geneva Balloon Company. Dan Patch Stables and Moose Mountain Falls Waterpark are also worth visiting.
View more Holiday homes in Lake GenevaOpens in a new window
Map
Lake Geneva, WI

What's nearby

  • Geneva Lake - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Riviera Beach - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Riviera Ballroom - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Geneva Lake Museum - 11 min walk - 1.0 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
  • ‪Lake City Social - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Flat Iron Tap - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬10 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total).

How much does it cost to stay at Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown?

As of 1 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown on 26 May 2026 start from NZ$2,066, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown?

On-site parking is available at the property.

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

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

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

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Historic Retreat - steps from the Lake and Downtown located?

Situated in Lake Geneva, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Geneva Lake, Riviera Beach and Lake Geneva Public Library. Lake Geneva Cruise Line and Riviera Ballroom are also within 10 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 36 out of 38 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 38 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 38 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 38 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 38 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christina V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing host and location. The house is really special with a beautiful kitchen perfect for families
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mike B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Betty H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great family vacation

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

10/10 Excellent

Susan D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lewis B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gail T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sue O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous location in Lake Geneva

We had a wonderful stay! So much to do and enjoy in a beautiful historic family home!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Eric E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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
Verified

8/10 Good

Amy D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

House was lovely.

The house was quite lovely and the accommodations were perfect for a family. Location was convenient to shopping and dining establishments.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cindy G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kevin W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion

The property was amazing and located in the perfect spot to really enjoy Lake Geneva Wisconsin!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jessica H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

kimberly m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Beth T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Megan W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shivani C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Maxwell Stay

We went with a couple families with 8 kids ages 11 and under. We had an amazing stay! The owner was extremely friendly and helpful. The location was perfect-short walk to the beach. The house was roomy, clean and lots of fun for everyone. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic house for a Lake Geneva getaway

We had a wonderful time at Rachel's Lake Geneva house. Beautiful and very comfortable house with lots of space to spread out, and so close to the lake and downtown! Rachel was such a thoughtful and responsive host, and we'd love to return the next time we're in the area. Highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brian W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Doreyne D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Didn't Want to Leave!

Great house in a wonderful, safe neighborhood. We used the house for a family reunion. The layout was super conducive to conversation and fun times. We love Lake Geneva and we loved this house. Thank you, Rachel!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karyn S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect family place

We loved that we had our own bedroom suite on main floor while the kids and grandkids were upstairs. The grandkids especially loved the main floor TV room where they gathered and played Mario together. Moms and dads too! We all enjoyed the short walk to town and the beauty of the Lake Geneva area. Everyone especially loved Rachel's cookies that welcomed us!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

MaryGrace M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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

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