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The Fountain at Lake Geneva
Sleek Brick & Mortar Home Signage
Resort
Colorful Lake MarginsResort Town, Lake Geneva
As much as I love architecture, I was drawn to a major landmark in downtown Lake Geneva, Wisconsin called The Riviera. It was built in 1932 on a man-made peninsula of 280 pilings driven into the bedrock. I read that during the "Swing Era", this building played host to Big Bands such as Artie Shaw, Louie Armstrong, and the Dorsey Brothers!
It is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places ["This is the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. It is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archeological resources"]
For many years now, The Riviera has housed shops and businesses in the lower level and a civic center and ballroom on the upper level.
The docks on the lake side of this building is called Riviera Docks, which are the seasonal headquarters of the Lake Geneva Cruise Line. This is also where you go to wait for your boat cruise. The outside patio sure is a great setting to relax and enjoy views of the lake. It is really quite lovely during sunset and after dark...even romantic.
One of my fondest memories concerning The Riviera happened about five years ago on a beautiful night in Lake Geneva. My husband Allan and I had finished a lovely outdoor dining experience and decided to take a walk on the pier beside the wonderful Riviera Building on the Riviera Dock. We walked hand-in-hand and commented how gorgeous the night sky seemed...the stars appeared closer and brighter, and all was right in our world!
