Black Point Estate and Gardens

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 the Kaye's Park.

Kaye’s Park, a popular summer resort on the south shore of Geneva Lake, was owned and operated by the Arthur Kaye family from 1873 - 1901.

The grounds covered 300 acres with one mile of shoreline. The hotel and cottage accommodated 200 people. A dining hall offered garden fresh vegetables, sweet cream, milk and butter.

Activities included shady walks, bathing in sparkling lake waters, after-dinner dining, fishing, outdoor amusements, and exploring the Wyant museum collections.

Ads proclaimed splendid railroad connections to and from Chicago. The steamer Arthur Kaye awaited all trains at Williams Bay to convey passengers directly to Kaye’s Park.

The Park was sold and replaced by the Northwestern Military and Naval Academy from 1915-1995. Today it is known as the South Shore Club, a housing development.

Walworth@250 #72.

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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 the East Troy Railroad Museum.

“All aboard!” the conductor shouts!

The passengers settle into their seats on the East Troy Electric Trolley for a 7-mile trip to Elegant Farmeregant Farmer near Mukwonago. A favorite is their Apple Pie baked in a brown paper bag.

In 1907 the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company was completed establishing lines to many small towns making this the “Mass Transit” of that era. Not only would people be able to ride to Milwaukee, but there were other stops on the line and connections to other lines.

Coal, lumber, and various freight was important to businesses along these routes. Maybe even more important to the area was that these lines would bring electricity to the towns.

In 1939 the trolleys to Milwaukee were discontinued. However, the Village of East Troy purchased the 7-mile line to keep the freight service connected.

The Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society began running the trolley in 1972, and they purchased the line in 1995.

The East Troy Railroad Museum was founded. Artifacts from the “railroad era” are housed in the museum, Trolley rides along the line are available. Members volunteer to make their passion of railroads important and interesting to the public.

The 2026 spring season will begin with the Special Bunny train! (March 28th, 29th and April 3rd, 4th)

The entire operation was recently added to the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places.

Walworth@250 #71

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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 The Whiting House Hotel.

The Whiting House Hotel was built in Lake Geneva by David T. Whiting in 1873. The four-story hotel was designed to host elegant social gatherings overlooking the lakefront…the first hotel to focus on the lake rather than be located “downtown.”

It had over 60 rooms, “sky parlor” dancing on the top floor ballroom, a billiard room, dining room, parlors, a barber shop and stunning lake views.

Whiting operated it as a summer only establishment.

The second owner, W.W. Watson, operated from May to November. In July of 1894 a fire in the middle of the night destroyed the hotel, and the site was vacant for over 17 years—replaced by a Frank Lloyd Wright designed hotel in 1912.

That hotel was razed in the late 1960’s and replaced with today’s Lake Geneva Towers.

Walworth@250 #70

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