Como’s leafy streets and local restaurants follow the lakeshore
Como is a small lakeside community just outside the city of Lake Geneva, which is known for its expansive lakeshore. While Lake Como may not be as popular as Geneva Lake, it still offers plenty of recreational opportunities to locals. People spend summers fishing and boating on the water, then enjoy skating across its icy surface in winter. The community's tree-lined residential streets are near a major golf resort and several locally owned bars and restaurants. Highways connect the area to the rest of the Geneva Lake region, where people can find busy downtowns, vacation destinations and nearby schools.
Exploring Lake Como and Geneva National golf resort in the summer
The community surrounds Lake Como. This nearly 1,000-acre lake attracts boaters and anglers looking to catch largemouth bass and northern pike. "It's a wonderful lake in the wintertime because it freezes early and stays frozen longer," says Marc Jensen, Realtor with Twin Realty and 50-year resident of the region. "You'll find cars, snowmobiles and ice boats out on it." The Lake Como Beach Property Owners Association controls access to all the lake's piers and beaches. Residents apply for annual beach passes, which are typically available. While some homes have private docks, the other 140 piers are available only to access holders who have applied through the association. However, securing access to one of the piers can be a decades-long wait. Public boat launches have fees. The community is also a few miles from Geneva Lake, which is deeper and better suited for watersports. Destination Geneva National may be a private resort, but its three championship golf courses are open to the public. The resort also offers public passes to its saltwater pools, seasonal boat slips and watercraft rentals. The Geneva Lake Conservancy and the Duck Lake Nature Trail have wooded hiking areas, while Lakeland Park has indoor playgrounds and sports facilities. At Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures, people explore the forest via ziplines, sky bridges and ropes courses.
Lakefront homes are part of an association and have lower prices
Como's residential streets are leafy, as mature trees and bushes fill the spaces between spacious lots. This foliage and the occasional fence help create privacy between neighbors. Homes range from bungalows and ranch styles to new traditional houses and custom-built properties. Lakefront homeowners are automatic members of the Lake Como Beach Property Owners Association. Residents pay dues to the association to access amenities like private piers, a clubhouse and a park. Home prices typically range between $150,000 and $860,000, with a median price of around $350,000. "You can find lakehouses for $500,000," Jensen says. "It's a totally different animal from Lake Geneva or Fontana, and yet it's only about 2 miles away." Pricing primarily depends on a home's size, condition and location.
Como has several locally owned bars along the lakeshore
Holly's Como Inn serves classic American fare to patrons playing volleyball and pool. DJ's In The Drink offers a similar experience but adds lakeside views. Next Door Pub Lakeside is the local sports bar, while Papa's Blue Spruce Resort is a laidback spot for burgers and po'boys. Hunt Club Steakhouse sits inside a 1900s-era estate and serves an upscale steak and seafood menu. On the south side of Lake Como, Mars Resort is the community's most popular supper club. "It's a 90-minute wait on any given day," Jensen says. Patrons enjoy barbecue dishes and fish fries while listening to live music and relaxing on lakeside Adirondack chairs. People get groceries at the Geneva Outdoor Market or Green Grocer & Deli.
Students attend school in nearby Lake Geneva
Students attend Central-Denison Elementary School for prekindergarten through third grade before transitioning to Eastview Elementary School for fourth and fifth grades. Both schools earn B-plus ratings from Niche. Kids then attend Lake Geneva Middle School, followed by Badger High School. These schools have B and B-plus scores. Students taking Career Technical Education at Badger High can choose courses from four department fields: agriscience, business, engineering and family consumer science.
Highways connect drivers to the larger Geneva Lake region
Residents are car-dependent and use County Highway H to reach Lake Geneva's downtown and destination areas. Flooding along Como Creek can occasionally cause road closures. Highway 12 and state Route 67 are other nearby options for traveling around the region. The nearest hospital is Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center–Walworth. Como is 47 miles from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
Destination Geneva National opens its property events to the public
Throughout the summer, Destination Geneva National hosts outdoor movie nights and live concerts at its clubhouse. June brings the annual Food and Wine Festival. Attendees buy tickets to enjoy wine dinners, tastings and interactive events like Wax Your Own Wine Bottle. In winter, the resort offers an ice-skating rink, snowshoe trail, sled hill and equipment rentals.
