The Biggest Mansions EVER Built in Lake Geneva

[@randomwilliamsbay]

My home built in 1896, makes the briefest cameo in this video which was fun to see. There is so much more to the history and the homes so if you have not been to Geneva Lake, you can take a boat tour and get the narrative of the history and mansions pointed out to you.

[@blossom1643]

My favorite Grandma was born in 1897 so I’ve always been fascinated with this era of our history. I’m sure each one of those lovely homes has many a Tale to Tell ! My mamaw’s old house had high ceilings 2 screened porches & a fireplace. As a child I had quite an imagination-I thought we were Rich! Lol (I had no idea what rich Was) Didn’t matter to me my people were farmers & hard workers. We were insulated with Family on all sides & couldn’t have been happier so no complaints. However… it IS remarkable to get a glimpse from time to time of places like this!! Evidently these Families worked hard too! Truely Dazzeling. ✌️🇺🇸

[@SallyChrystal-y1n]

It’s a fantastic area to visit by mail boat, and I hiked all the way around the lake with 3 friends. We had a blast in Lake Geneva!!! All the homes are beautiful. 🤩 3:14

[@wendycalkins4831]

I didn't want the video to end! I live in Wisconsin and have visited, knew about the history of Lake Geneva but getting a more detailed look at the homes was fabulous! Awesome video ❤

[@dawnhenderson9461]

OMG we used to boat on Lake Geneva when I lived in Illinois been in Texas for 37 years,how awesome for this video😊

[@christophermarx344]

I worked in Lake Geneva in the late 80's, the town itself is really nice. The other aspect that may not be apparent in the video is the sheer size of the lake itself, great example of Wisconsin at it's best.

[@megfuchs9425]

I especially loved this video! Each house was beautiful in it's own way! I like how the houses were cozier than say the Newport mansions. Also liked all the trees!

[@carcar78]

I loved the dining room in the Selfridge mansion. The craftsmanship in ALL these houses is/was superb! It would take a fortune today to maintain these buildings. Thank you!

[@m.woodsrobinson9244]

Fantastic collection of homes! Eye candy for days!!!

[@papi7827]

My stepmother grew up in a mansion on Lake Geneva. Her father the the first radio station in Chicago and would later become WGN. She was Miss Chicago in the 1940"s. She later became Miss America Runner UP. She late did numerous advertisements for Coca Cola and was one of the original Betty Crocker cover women. Her Maiden name is Marge Nelson. Needless to say she was very beautiful and one of the sweetest women I ever met. She died at the age of 94 a couple of years ago.

[@David-tm8sl]

Such a collection of styles! Great tour.

[@gimpygardner3377]

Many years ago I took an architectural boat tour w/lunch around Lake Geneva. It was a lot of fun. Anyone rich in Chicago in the late 1800's had a summer home at Lake Geneva.

[@susanmolnar9606]

That sounds like a fun and interesting boat trip.

[@jameskiehm546]

One of your best videos. My absolute favorite is the Harris Trust estate!

[@BusterTucker]

I am a Wisconsinite I have been to Lake Geneva many times for water skiing and work it's truly still beautiful! The Playboy mansion is now The Grand Geneva Hotel and spa!

[@bungalowlogic7676]

Hate to correct you, but the Playboy mansion was on 1340 N. State Parkway near downtown Chicago. Building is still there (condos). There was a Playboy Club at the Grand Geneva Hotel for many years. Half-right.

[@LisaNelsonSnugglebunny]

I live about an hour away from lake Geneva

[@mj9291b]

I spent my honeymoon weekend there with my ex husband. It was the Playboy mansion then. It was nice.

[@oltedders]

How refreshing that "wrecking ball" and "razed by fire" weren't mentioned a single time in this video!

[@ritaroad]

My husband worked for a company in Chicago. The family still owned the cobblestone street. The city bought the street but didn’t pave it until the owner had all the cobblestones removed to the company parking lot. They were cleaned and taken to Lake Geneva to be installed in his driveway.

[@777jones]

And I bet some stone laborers were paid well for it! Good story

[@walterstelmach9446]

This was one of my favorites. I wish you would have lingered longer on each of them. I had to pause to get a good look.

[@littlefoot9832]

nice video of lake Geneva, I am living in lake Geneva myself. It is a beautiful town friendly people an not to mention lots of fun here.

[@mikenixon2401]

Nice tour. Thanks, Ken.

[@joeyrobinson1424]

I went to school (Art Institute) in Chicago but every other weekend I would spend it in Lake Geneva. It’s was a short trip out of the city and the historic factor was fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing your precise information on Newport of the mid west. Joey

[@HORSEYANIME2024]

Pls do a part 2 of this video

[@blossom1643]

Wow these homes are so beautiful & beyond anything I could imagine. With the stately old Trees & lawns they even make the “Kennedy’s” look like the country cousins! Thanks for sharing this ✌️

[@devonna6171]

Wadsworth Hall is stunning!.. and those gardens!! Thanks Ken!

[@helenhershtjader5759]

Thanks Ken for another excellent video! That Allerton Mansion looked intriguing.

[@quadb723]

I’m sure there’s a video on the mail delivery they do to the homes on lake Geneva. They do it by boat with someone jumping from the boat to the dock, then they run back & jump onto the boat. Sometimes not successfully

[@ThisHouse]

I remember seeing a Tom Scott video about this- it’s wild to see in action!

[@quadb723]

@@ThisHouse I lived in N. Illinois most of my life & my family would often vacation in Lake Geneva. You can go on a boat tour along with the mail delivery & watch them in action

[@thedawneffect]

All I can say is WOW!!!!!!!

[@jenpink4298]

Wow, they are all beautiful!

[@Hardwareman1343]

I grew up in the north suburbs of Chicago and have been to Lake Geneva many times. I have since moved away but still have family in the area. Three summers ago I took my immediate family back for a visit. I took my mom and family on an entertaining and educational boat tour of Lake Geneva. It was very informative. I had no idea how much money and history is on the lake. If anyone decides to visit do the boat tour. Highly recommended!! And book a trip with the Mail Jumpers 😄. Also, the last house pictured 8:43 is the highest priced house to sell in Wisconsin… so far.

[@nemallasuevasesaelpdog]

I love your videos and I love that you reference all the odd fires that happened in the late 1800.

[@williamtyre523]

Thanks for a great video overview of the wonderful homes at Geneva Lake. I highly recommend a visit to the 1888 Black Point, the only one of the houses open to the public as a house museum. I was also glad to see you briefly included the Mitchell mansion, which started its life as the Ceylon building at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition before being dismantled and rebuilt at the lake. Although that house is long gone, significant pieces of it were salvaged and can be seen at the Geneva Lake Museum.

[@juliesmith8153]

Stone manor is now converted to apartments, I believe. There are so many ma homes to see when you walk around the lake, it is breathtaking .

[@gandfgandf5826]

Stone Manor, 7 luxury condominiums, 6 of them owned by the same person. The interiors are intact! Huge rooms, enjoyably OTT ornamentation.

[@juliesmith8153]

@@gandfgandf5826 that sounds magnificent 🏯

[@jimnite4919]

Is the distance to Piccadilly Circus comparable as a drive in my roadster from Chicago would be??

[@MDiStefano10]

Love your vlogs brother!

[@vincenzaperriano876]

Great video!

[@Magnetron33]

My parents took us to Lake Geneva in 1963. We took the boat tour and they idendified ,ost of the homes. It was very impressive. We stayed at a hotel attibuted to Frank Lloyd Wright

[@gailm9543]

Having grown up in Chicago, marrying and moving to the northwest suburbs, I’ve spent lot of time at Lake Geneva and I have always wondered about Stone Manor. I believe it has now been converted into condos. I moved away in 2020 and can’t verify this but if anybody has any information on Stone Manor I sure would love to hear it. Another great video. So glad you were able to do a show on Lake Geneva. It truly is a stunning place. A boat tour around the lake in the fall is the best way to see the mansions on the lake. The fall colors are stunning and show off the mansions to perfection.

[@KathleenHowell-c6d]

It was converted into condos in the 80s, but a wealthy woman from Chicago has spent the last 20 years restoring Stone Manor. First she bought out the other condo owners. Then she started the renovation to turn it back into a single family home. If I ever meet her, I am straight up begging for a tour.

[@tomlusty8376]

I not only want a tour, I want to marry her!​@KathleenHowell-c6d

[@suenesnidal2600]

​@KathleenHowell-c6d Yes, I also.....have always been facinated by that house, but haven't been to L G for bout 10 years 😢.

[@tomlusty8376]

Spent time at a large cottage in the 50's at Lake Geneva. What a magic time ! Little known fact,many Chicago mobsters owned summer homes at the lake.

[@HORSEYANIME2024]

Thank you 🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@lisadolan689]

Thank you Ken 🙏☺️

[@glasshalffull4831]

Many years ago I took the boat tour around the lake. Just a beautiful place and especially if you enjoy historic mansions.

[@Mahogany3661]

Thank you for sharing. Great grandfathers house looks great.

[@debbiesantibanez1927]

Lake Geneva is gorgeous

[@KathleenHowell-c6d]

I am from Lake Geneva and have been inside Stone Manor. It's more beautiful than the old pictures show. The parlor room with the columns? Those columns and the floor are a stunning marble with pink undertones. The area outside that is up the steps? It's all grass. So one could play croquet without risking a ball rolling into the lake. There's a pool on the roof. On the side opposite the roof was a huge bar on hydraulics that would pop up at the press of a button. But, they cemented it shut in the 80s due to leaks. Just gorgeous.

[@JACOBSJohn818]

My mother's best friend's family owned and still own a home on the lake nearby Stone Mansion. Stayed at their home many summers in 80's. The hiking path that goes around the lake is a good way to get up close views of these stunning homes..

[@jimwiskus8862]

Love it! ❤😊

[@bungalowlogic7676]

I worked at the Dreihaus property off Snake Rd. (Where the gate house greets you) for a few years at Richard Dreihaus' annual Birthday parties held last weekend of July. The fireworks show which wrapped the grand event was, as ive heard, looked forward to by all residents on Lake Geneva.

[@williampry70]

Parties were famous Dreihaus saved two beautiful buildings in Chicago One a museum and the other their corporate headquarters Tiffany lover his foundation restoring the Tiffany windows of Second Presbyterian Church in the south loop

[@SpanishEclectic]

Oh, that Harry Selfridge! I will always prefer Gothic style carved wood to gilded everything. Mock Tudor is my dream home style, though I love my 'little Spanish villa' here in CA. Nice overview. You have certainly found the perfect sponsor, Ken!

[@terrielburrell5545]

I really enjoyed this video! I live in Green Lake and read that the same glacier created Lake Geneva and Green Lake. I was delighted to see that Harry and Rose Selfridge had a home there. Harry lived with his mother in Ripon, the city just east of Green Lake. I love the series on Selfridges. I haven't been to Lake Geneva in quite a few years, but am excited to take a trip down and do a boat tour. Green Lake has an historical boat tour as well on the Escapade.

[@pathader4839]

I never knew that about lake Geneva😊

[@joeyrobinson1424]

If you go to Chicago or close by it’s worth a visit.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Thank you for the video!

[@BlaineShire]

I liked the last 3 mansions.

[@janefitzgibbon4312]

Maybe a bit more on the Wrigley mansion. 👍🏼

[@Jessie-i6s]

Amazing, thanks

[@KWIOL]

Fantastic place !! Hello from Elmhurst IL

[@vickiephilpitt7697]

Not being from the Midwest, I never heard of Lake Geneva, let alone the "Hamptons of the West." I am amazed, however, that many of the houses still stand. Gee, to have something this elaborate and only "live" in for 2 months. Nice to have that kind of money.

[@StamperWendy]

Hi Ken, can you make a similar video about any mansions near Lake George? I once went to a beautiful town there, thanks!

[@ThisHouse]

I'll add it to my list! Videos such as this one take several months to prepare. I'll get the ball rolling. Cheers!

[@Pook23535]

I live really close to it

[@cliffkiehl2070]

The Stone House had been abandoned by 1962 when young people used it for entertainment. I stopped there with a friend one day just to participate. Fun!

[@asylumlover]

KEN, HOW MANY OF THESE ACTUALLY ARE STILL THERE???????????? PROOF ONCE AGAIN THAT THIS SERIES SHOULD BE RENAMED "THESE HOUSES"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mauriciogiraldo8614]

Basically a video about all the Zillow video locations would be nice to know their history. Fort Dodge Iowa deserves a video because I remember the Zillow video Ken you said if you want a mansion on a budget this would probably be the place to do it. A video about Boston, Massachusetts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Omaha, Nebraska, Glen Cove, NY, Baltimore, Maryland, and Alton, Illinois, Dallas, Texas, Tulsa, Oklahoma would be great thank you.

[@peterlarsen7779]

My favourite was _Harrose Hall_ ☺️👍

[@patricksmith2274]

I've been to Lake Geneva a few times and never knew about the mansions. 😮

[@bobhinley5410]

Spent many years boating, fishing and scuba diving this beautiful lake. The architecture of the homes as backdrop is magnificent. Not sure if this is true, I heard circus animals were kept not far from the lake. When some of the animals perished, the animals would be Buried in the lake. Near conference point. Also I heard the Schwinn mansion was destroyed putting up another mansion. A gentleman’s boat (for men only if you know what I mean) was sunk (set on fire) by the wives not far off the shore from the town of Lake Geneva. Dove it several times. In the 1980’s my now wife dove before ice in looking for old bottles and boat anchors. So many good memories of this lake.

[@debbiesueillinois]

I will try to visit Lake Geneva, never knew it existed

[@jimc4731]

Wondering, how many of the mentioned houses remain? JIM 🥰

[@mauriciogiraldo8614]

A video about Wall Street in New York and Black Wall Street in Oklahoma would also be nice.

[@sarahcoleman3125]

I live in Kenosha, the city on Lake Michigan directly east of Lake Geneva. I was surprised to hear the name "Sturges" as I knew a guy named Sturges in my youth. Maybe thats a coincidence or a distant arm of the family, because he certainly wasn't living in any mansions.

[@LisaNelsonSnugglebunny]

I've never been to that big mansion across the lake, only seen it from the lake!

[@jodybruce5097]

great video, where is the wrigley mansion?

[@HORSEYANIME2024]

Pls do more videos on the historical estates owned by weathly families from Illinois that got demolished and were replaced by subdivisions

[@jerrygurley8357]

Black hawk mansion is open for tours, and I think at one time they had a farm to supply the mansion

[@coribird5177]

Sadly, the Stone Manor has been cut up into condos. But that massive structure would have fallen into ruin otherwise. I got to do a walk through of 2 of them. They did a wonderful job of maintaining a lot of the character and beauty while creating privacy for each owner. Now what the owners do to inside, who knows.

[@DLeadVox]

💛💛💛

[@Rachael-m7t]

Can you tour any of these homes ?

[@karenswilson52]

Can you tour any of these mansions

[@GillieWilson-ze2df]

I knew the Wadsworth Hall owners, heirs of Morton Salt . Darryl Hannah came up to Lake Geneva where her parents had an estate, b7t not on the lake ., The Wrigley were drunks that never spent any m9ney in town .

[@stephen4796]

Totally untrue. Mrs Wrigley was a customer in my store many many times and could not have been more lovely!

[@heathervt]

Are these houses still lived or abandoned?

[@susannewendlandt5432]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@collegeri]

I’m sure you know “Buildings on Paper?” It has the original Hunt design for “The Breakers.” If I won the lottery I’d build it.

[@bettythompson4972]

I lived on that estate. GLANQORTH MANOR

[@thefishngod8194]

Wonderful story about the mansions on Geneva Lake but way too fast. You need to do another one and slow it down so we can see more of them.

[@No-One-else-knows]

1:34 this is el Capone house * the Italian mob boss *

[@KathleenTichy]

I often wonder where the workers stayed? With so many homes built around the same time where did the workers live? Where are all the construction photos? If windows are stone came on train and where transport by cart and horse those photos should exist somewhere.

[@JimJoeKnoxTenn]

Where, exactly, "in the midwest" is this lake located? I'm guessing Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes, but I think that northern Illinois and Wisconsin also havr inland lakes -- not too sure about Indiana, and Ohio and more southernly states seem a bit distant for travel from Chicago.

[@stuartm6069]

Lake Geneva is in Wisconsin. Just across the Illinois Border. North East of Rockford Illinois and due west of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

[@acevollmer3079]

Wisconsin has 15,000 lake. 5000 more than Minnesota

[@timeversman9804]

What a grand waste of money for homes only lived in sparsely. But what creative beauty.

[@jefflawrentz1624]

Probably Aloha Lodge.

[@furtim1]

Thank god the income tax, regulation, and welfare stopped ordinary people from becoming this prosperous ever again.

[@ImSuitsMe]

Built in horse and buggy days? We’re more advanced than they were?

[@rang123yea5]

The birthplace of Dungeons and Dragons.

[@marcjames3884]

Harris mansion need video

[@KarlKrogmann]

My back yard.

[@xxcelr8rs]

Who lives there now?

[@richardkronberg4925]

No Walmart I’m not moving there!

[@debbiesantibanez1927]

Actually there is a Walmart.

[@richardkronberg4925]

@@debbiesantibanez1927 my bad thanks.😅

[@nemallasuevasesaelpdog]

Did you gain a bunch of subscribers or is it just in my head question mark

[@ThisHouse]

It’s been a steady climb since we started this channel. Cheers!

[@nemallasuevasesaelpdog]

@@ThisHouse I'm in the St. Louis area. I've been watching your videos for a while now. I kept thinking 🤔 "I hope he dose some stl stuff" and here we are lol. 🤙🤌✌️😎

[@nemallasuevasesaelpdog]

@@ThisHouse very interested in joining the group in st Louis. I am a Carpenter. I work on Victorian houses quite often. I'm especially enthusiastic when Reconstructing ornate details in wood. 🤙✌️😎

[@anthonypopola5773]

Great job Ken,as always

[@leiferickson713]

Fib land

[@jenniferfirer2837]

Totally the downside. Lot of that in Door County and even the Third Ward in mke. Rude flatlanders.

[@ZolaClyde]

When I saw Lake Geneva, I thought Switzerland. Oops.🫥 Should known better. Very cool mansions. Great video!