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Private | Sleeps 26 | Swimspa, Tennis/Pickleball | Fire pit | Near Lake Geneva Great Retreat Dogs OK

Photo gallery for Private | Sleeps 26 | Swimspa, Tennis/Pickleball | Fire pit | Near Lake Geneva Great Retreat Dogs OK

Front of home
Arial view of property
Main floor den with fireplace
Outdoor spa area (Available May 15-Oct 15)
A spacious room with a pool table, large windows, a ceiling fan, and a mounted television.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • Arcade/game room
    A rare find - fun for all ages with on-site arcade and game room.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Geneva Lake
9 bedrooms5+ bathroomsSleeps 20

Popular amenities

  • Spa pool on site
  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Fontana, WI
  • Place, Big Foot Golf Range
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Place, Geneva Lake
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Place, Fontana Beach
    ‪2 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

9 bedrooms (sleeps 20)

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

+4
8 Single Beds

Bedroom 6

2 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 7

2 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 8

1 King Bed

Bedroom 9

1 King Bed

Queen bedroom

1 Queen Bed

5 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 5

Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Half Bathroom 6

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Private | Sleeps 26 | Swimspa, Tennis/Pickleball | Fire pit | Near Lake Geneva Great Retreat Dogs OK

Black Walnut Farm – Historic 1836 Barn Retreat by Geneva Lake

Step into the timeless charm of Black Walnut Farm, a masterfully converted 1836 post-and-beam barn just a 10-minute walk from Geneva Lake and the Abbey Resort. This one-of-a-kind property blends rustic character with modern comfort, offering a warm and welcoming space perfect for large family gatherings, group getaways, and corporate retreats.

With 9 bedrooms and 5.5 baths, the home comfortably sleeps up to 26 guests. Gather around the impressive 14-seat “team table” for meals, meetings, or celebrations. Relax in the bar and game room, enjoy friendly matches on the private tennis & pickleball court, or unwind in the swim spa (available May 15-Oct 15) before ending the evening with s'mores by the fire pit under a canopy of stars.

Whether you're planning a multi-family vacation, reunion, or team retreat, Black Walnut Farm offers space, privacy, and a sense of history that's hard to match. Experience the magic of a bygone era, without sacrificing modern luxury!

*Please note: After your reservation is confirmed, we will send an electronic guest rental agreement. Signing the agreement and completing additional identity verification, which may include providing a valid form of identification, are required to finalize your booking and receive check-in instructions.
*Swim spa is available for use May 15-Oct 15
*Up to 2 dogs permitted with an additional pet cleaning fee. Dogs must be kept off furniture and crated when left unattended. Guests are required to pick up all yard waste.
*Bachelor/ette parties prohibited

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2217115vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Fontana

Fontana is home to this holiday home. While the natural beauty of Geneva Lake and Lake Como can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Resort. Yerkes Observatory and Animal Gardens are also worth visiting. Spend some time exploring the area's activities, including birdwatching.
View more Holiday homes in FontanaOpens in a new window
Map
Fontana, WI

What's nearby

  • Big Foot Golf Range - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Geneva Lake - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Fontana Beach - 2 min drive - 1.8 km
  • Lake Como - 10 min drive - 12.7 km
  • The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Resort - 23 min drive - 26.4 km

Getting around

  • Harvard Station - 17 min drive
  • Milwaukee, WI (MKE-General Mitchell Intl.) - 60 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Big Foot Market - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Watershed Saloon - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Fire2fork - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The Waterfront at The Abbey Resort - ‬20 min walk
  • ‪The Bar at Chuck's - ‬2 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Private | Sleeps 26 | Swimspa, Tennis/Pickleball | Fire pit | Near Lake Geneva Great Retreat Dogs OK pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Swim spa, tennis, 10 min walk to lake?

As of 12 July 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Swim spa, tennis, 10 min walk to lake on 6 Oct 2026 start from AU$2,709, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Private | Sleeps 26 | Swimspa, Tennis/Pickleball | Fire pit | Near Lake Geneva Great Retreat Dogs OK?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Private | Sleeps 26 | Swimspa, Tennis/Pickleball | Fire pit | Near Lake Geneva Great Retreat Dogs OK?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private | Sleeps 26 | Swimspa, Tennis/Pickleball | Fire pit | Near Lake Geneva Great Retreat Dogs OK?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Private | Sleeps 26 | Swimspa, Tennis/Pickleball | Fire pit | Near Lake Geneva Great Retreat Dogs OK located?

Situated in Fontana, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Big Foot Golf Range and Geneva Lake. Fontana Beach is 1.2 mi (2 km) away.

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 12 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 12 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 12 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 12 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 12 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

9.2/10

Location

8.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marty O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent facility

Exactly as advertised in that it accommodated our large family and the location was terrific.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent stay!

Everything as described! Loved the experience
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion

The property allowed our family to get together and enjoy time while staying all at one location. There was good spaces to congregate as a whole group as well as places for kids to play. The outdoor space was great for various activities. We enjoyed ourselves and appreciated the accommodations.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 23 June 2025
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're happy to hear the space worked well for your family and that everyone had room to relax and enjoy. We hope to host you again in the future!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

great family house

We loved the area. The house was great, and we had lots of room to spread out for different activities. We enjoyed tennis & pickle ball every day.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Sept 2024
Hi Susan! Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We are so glad you had a wonderful stay with your family. We would love to host you again!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Horton Clan

Very comfortable with lots of areas to spread out. The tennis court/pickle ball court saw plenty of action. Fire pit was awesome. And, Lake Geneva was beautiful and great fun for the kids and teens.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Darin E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion

This was a great property. We had 10 adults and 10 kids ages 3-18. This property had plenty of space for us to all sleep with lots of room for games indoors and activities outdoors. The pool table and tennis/pickle ball court were favorites.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome Family Vacation

Everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed Black Walnut Farm. The layout was good for our group that included 10 kids (9 months to 7 yrs) some of whom needed rooms away from the fray for napping and or early bedtime. Kids could sleep and parents were able to play games and enjoy gathering spaces without worrying about waking sleeping babies. The kids loved the grounds from exploring the frogs by the shed and playing soccer and games on the grass. The adults and kids enjoyed the tennis courts for pickle ball. Lots to do in the area. The beach is walkable for older kids, however sidewalks not always available so we often drove with the little ones. We really enjoyed our stay, and explored a lot of the Lake Geneva area.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

4/10 Poor

Madylon M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location

House Renovation Incomplete

The property is beautiful but house needs additional renovation. There are large cracks in the pavement on the tennis court, uneven, challenging back staircase from the MBR to lower level, no AC in the MBR, and access to some bedrooms is through other bedrooms.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Sept 2023
Hi Madylon, This home was a barn in its previous life, so some of the rooms/layout reflect that. There is one Queen bedroom that would require entry through the bunk room. All other bedrooms do not. The master bedroom has two entry/exit points. The interior option is not steep. There is AC in the master bedroom. We wish you had called during your stay so we could have helped you turn it to your desired temp. We hope you and your group had a nice time and appreciate your feedback. Thank you, The GLV team
Verified

8/10 Good

Susan T.

Liked: Check-in, location
Dishwasher was not working. Found pieces of broken glass near the filter. We were able to fix the problem on our own. Dryer was not drying. We had to clear out the lint from the rooftop vent. We fixed the problem ourselves. Not enough hot water for all guests to shower. Toilet tank water was warm, almost hot. Floors are very uneven throughout the house, and steps in very unusual places. Three falls throughout our week stay. No serious injuries. Called for a garbage pickup since it was full, told that garbage would be picked up but it never was. Plenty of space in the home for our group. Liked the long table in the kitchen/dining area. Favorite was the outdoor space. Tennis/pickleball space was really great. Firepit and swim spa were good. Front porch was wonderful. Back deck space good, but had to worry about bare feet and splinters. Overall, an enjoyable stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 2 July 2026
Thank you for your feedback and review. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the spacious home and especially the outdoor amenities like the tennis/pickleball court, firepit, swim spa, front porch, and deck areas! Regarding the garbage, we did call for an additional pickup and apologize if they were not able to make it during your stay. Had we been made aware of the other concerns during your stay, we would have helped address them at that time. Thank you for fixing a few items. With multiple guests showering back-to-back, the system can sometimes take time to regenerate. This is a unique historic home with original architectural features, including variations in flooring and steps throughout the property. We’re glad you had an overall enjoyable stay and hope to host you again!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jolyn S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay at a wonderful villa!

We had a wonderful stay at this property! It was even bigger than we thought it was when we arrived, giving all 14 of us ample space throughout the weekend. The big dining table was a highlight and we really enjoyed being able to sit around the table together.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathie S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Idyllic Farm Property

The home and the setting were wonderful. While none of us are tennis players we used the tennis court every day and had a wonderful time. Very close to the town and lake. Highly recommend
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great for a big group!

The house was such a unique and comfortable place to stay! The home is tucked away in a quiet area but just a brief walk to the lake and restaurants/bars. The bedroom set up is perfect for large groups or families with young kids. The large dining table and multiple gathering areas made entertaining so easy. Our group especially enjoyed many games of pickle ball and cornhole in the beautiful private backyard!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

About the host

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