Geneva Lake Shore Path Audio Guide: 21 miles of stories

Geneva Lake’s history runs as deep as its crystal-clear waters. On this audio guide, you’ll journey along the legendary 21-mile Shore Path—originally created by the Potawatomi people as a route between their lakeside villages. Today, this one-of-a-kind path winds across the private lawns of extraordinary estates, offering a rare, up-close look at the wealth, architecture, and personalities that earned the area its nickname: the “Newport of the West.”

As you walk, you’ll uncover the stories behind the grand mansions built by Chicago’s elite after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871—beer barons, retail innovators, and industrial giants who transformed Geneva Lake into their exclusive summer retreat. You’ll pass historic boathouses, lush gardens, and architectural gems crafted by masters like Howard Van Doren Shaw and Harold Zook, all while learning about the colorful characters who shaped the lake’s remarkable legacy.

You’ll discover the Wrigley family’s sweeping stretch of lakeshore estates. You’ll hear directly from Conrad Seipp’s great-great-great granddaughter as she brings to life the Victorian masterpiece he built at Black Point. You’ll marvel at Stone Manor—the lake’s largest and most imposing residence, spanning more than 40,000 square feet. And because the Shore Path circles the entire lake, you can start, pause, or end your walk wherever it suits you.

On this 150-minute audio guide, you'll have a chance to:

• Walk the same shoreline where Potawatomi Chief Big Foot once established thriving villages before their removal in 1836
• Pass the former estate of Harry Selfridge, the retail pioneer who transformed department-store culture and inspired the TV series Mr. Selfridge played by Jeremy Piven
• See the magnificent 16,000-square-foot Aloha Lodge, built by the founder of Chicago’s iconic Drake Hotel
• Follow the path past the summer home of Charles Wacker, the namesake of Chicago’s famed Wacker Drive
• Discover Black Point Estate and Gardens, now a museum housing one of the most intact collections of Victorian furnishings in the Midwest
• Walk by the former site of Ceylon Court—a replica Buddhist temple from the 1893 Columbian Exposition that once stood on the lakefront
• Compare the shoreline you see today with archival photos of estates that have disappeared over time—sprawling summer mansions lost to fire, redevelopment, or the passage of time

This tour spans the entire Geneva Lake Shore Path, giving you complete flexibility—start anywhere, stop anywhere, and return as often as you like. Whether you’re in the mood for a full loop or just a leisurely stroll, you’ll find plenty of lakeside restaurants and bars waiting for you in the three surrounding towns when you’re ready to relax.

Photo credit:
Lake Geneva Public Library