Black Point Estate and Gardens opened July 1 for in-person, reservation-based special programs and tours. All tours must be reserved in advance and the amount of guests will be limited. Guests will not be allowed on-site without a reservation.
“From walking tours to private tours of the estate and gardens we’ve created a wide variety of experiences for our guests to participate in this season,” said David Desimone, site director at Black Point. “We also developed a new program, called “Picnic at the Point” which allows small groups to enjoy the veranda and a private picnic.”
Similar to previous years, guests who register for the private tour will enjoy a scenic boat tour of Lake Geneva before disembarking on a private tour of Black Point Estate and Gardens. During these tours, guests will have special access to the site, including behind the scenes locations not typically available on the standard tour.
In September and October, Black Point will once again offer their walking tours including, Maple Park Historic District Lantern Tour, Oak Hill Cemetery Walk and the Sordid and Scandalous tour of Lake Geneva.
Black Point Estate and Gardens is also partnering with the East Troy Electric Railroad on Sept. 5 for a special beer train.
Guests should visit blackpointestate.org and easttroyrr.org for full details, dates and information on how to register.
Safety steps
Black Point has implemented enhanced health and safety measures that adhere to the Badger Bounce Back – State Government Edition at the site with the following guidelines:
- Guests and staff will be asked to adhere to proper social distancing regulations, and it is highly recommended that face masks are worn while interacting;
- The number of visitors will be limited to ensure proper social distancing;
- Increased daily cleaning and sanitation schedules; and
- Guests and staff who are exhibiting symptoms or think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 are asked to stay home.
There is also a “know before you go” guide to help guests before they arrive at the site, which can be found at blackpointestate.wisconsinhistory.org/#Health.
“We greatly appreciate the flexibility and patience shown by our members, guests, supporters, and staff as we navigate this unprecedented circumstance together, and we look forward to this opportunity to reconnect with guests,” Desimone said.
About the estate
Black Point Estate and Gardens is one of 12 historic sites administered by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The estate is a 20 room Queen-Anne style “cottage” built by Chicago beer baron Conrad Seipp with construction completed in 1888.
Visitors can reach the site by boat, just as family and friends did in a bygone era. For more information and a list of upcoming events, visit blackpointestate.org.
About the Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services.
For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.
