When Chicago beer baron Conrad Seipp built his vacation home on Geneva Lake, he wanted it to be a true getaway. No expense was spared, except one: a driveway. Seipp insisted that this would be a place that could only be reached by boat. Today, you can follow in his wake and discover a place that’s virtually unchanged from the 1800s. Here’s how you can float your way to this time capsule of a vacation retreat, Black Point Estate.

Conrad Seipp, a German immigrant, founded one of Chicago’s first breweries in 1854. It was one of the only breweries to survive the Chicago fire of 1871 and Seipp became very wealthy. He spent a little bit of his fortune on Geneva Lake.
Wisconsin State Historical Society
Today, the Lake Geneva Cruise Line takes people on a trip to Black Point Estate. The narrated boat ride takes about 45 minutes and passengers have about 90 minutes to tour the mansion and grounds.
Wisconsin State Historical Society
You must be comfortable walking and climbing stairs to visit the estate. These are the steps leading up from the boat landing.
Wisconsin State Historical Society

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The journey is worth it to get a close look at perfectly preserved 1800s opulence. The estate spans 8 acres and has 600 feet of undeveloped shoreline. The home is simply magnificent.
Wisconsin State Historical Society
The house was built in the Queen Anne style and was completed in 1888 – only two years before Seipp died.
Wisconsin State Historical Society
The 20-room mansion has 13 bedrooms. Four generations of the Seipp family used the home and each added a few touches, but the home is largely unchanged. In 2007, Black Point Estate was opened to the public.
Wisconsin State Historical Society
It’s considered one of the finest examples of period architecture and furniture in the Midwest. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
Wisconsin State Historical Society

Boat trips run to the estate daily and the ride includes admission to the home. Learn more here. Interested in exploring more Wisconsin history? Here are 13 hidden gems that hold keys to the past.

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Black Point Estate and Gardens, W4270 Southland Rd, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, USA