Take a Cruise to the Victorian Summer Retreat of a Chicago Beer Baron
Black Point Estate was built for Chicago Beer Baron, Conrad Seipp, in 1888 as a retreat, and in that spirit the home remains a place to relax, refresh, and explore. Just like the Victorian VIPs who established the estate, you’ll arrive in style and enjoy stunning Geneva Lake views on your cruise to this magnificent summer home, considered one of the finest examples of period architecture and furniture in the Midwest, and one of the oldest homes in Lake Geneva.
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Black Point Estate and Gardens
Step into Gilded Age elegance at the 1888 Summer home of Chicago beer baron, Conrad Seipp. Guests enjoy a narrated boat ride to the property via the Lake Geneva Cruise Line, a guided tour of the mansion, & time to relax and sip Seipp beer on the veranda.
To everyone we fooled today, thanks for being good sports about it!
To be 100% clear, there was never a bridge being constructed from Kaye's Park across the lake to Yerkes Observatory. It was a zip line.
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You got me!
You always have the best! 😀
2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Over the next 250 days we will be highlighting historic people, places or things from around Walworth County.
Up next is Kaye's Folly.
In the summer of 1896, Arthur Kaye attempted to build a bridge from his resort, Kaye's Park, to the newly built Yerkes Observatory.
Construction on the bridge was halted after just 13 days when the project engineer, Lowell Spencer, realized the depth of the lake would make it impossible to erect the necessary support columns.
The bridge was dismantled in 1900 and the stone from the column was used for shoreline stabilization.
Walworth@250 #91
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Nice try..
That’s the deep part of the lake
Wow! Thanks for sharing!
Got me! Took a minute
April Fool’s Day?
Great photo.
I thought it would end with being a pedestrian lookout.
This was the best Thanks for the laugh!!!
Good one!!
Wow...never heard that story either
That's a new one on me ...and I live in what was once part of Kayes Park.
I never knew this. Wow! I guess they didn't need the approvals we need today to start building such a structure
I have never heard this before!
At Lake Geneva one can always see the other side unless there's zero visibility fog. The land that can be seen behind the bridge is a fair distance
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2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Over the next 250 days we will be highlighting historic people, places or things from around Walworth County.
Up next is Catharina Orb Seipp
(1846-1920)
Catharina immigrated to the United States from Westhofen, Germany in 1865 and married Conrad Seipp a year later. They had four daughters and one son.
In 1888 Conrad and Catharina had Black Point constructed as their summer residence on Geneva Lake.
Catharina never remarried following Conrad’s death in 1890, remaining a widow for 30 years.
Under Catharina’s supervision, a second “cottage” was built in 1904 on the estate that could be used year-round and more acreage was acquired including a farm.
She hired the notable landscape designer, Olof Benson, and had much of his plan executed. She founded the Seipp Memorial addition of the Grant Hospital in Chicago and was a founder of the Chicago Columbia Club.
Walworth@250 #90
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How about mentioning that she had 13 kids, yet outlived her husband! And their money came from beer!
interesting Alma Seipp Hays did work at Grant Hospital