Lac La Belle offers a lakeside retreat near Oconomowoc
Though Lac La Belle may be a small village of less than 300 residents and just a square mile in size, it’s one of the most unique and in-demand communities in Waukesha County’s Lake Country. “It’s one of the top lakes people search for,” says the JJ Hausmann Team, which has sold scores of properties across Lake Country. “There’s a public beach on the south side of the lake that’s very popular - it’s one of only two public beaches in the area - and there’s a boardwalk that you can walk along.” In addition to beachgoing and boating opportunities, Lac La Belle is also home to a golf course that’s open to the public. Wisconsin Highway 16 connects this quiet hamlet to the nearby city of Oconomowoc and, after joining with Interstate 94, to Milwaukee, offering direct access to major urban centers.
Large waterfront homes dominate Lac La Belle's housing scene
Founded in the 1930s as a seasonal lakeside resort, Lac La Belle has since evolved into a community of year-round residents. However, the village has taken care to preserve its quiet atmosphere by only permitting the construction of single-family homes with strict aesthetic guidelines. While ranch-style homes built from the 1950s to 1960s have sold for between $280,000 and $430,000, larger lakefront properties built from the 2000s to 2020s have sold for between $2,800,000 and $3,400,000. Nearly all of Lac La Belle’s homes sit along the waterfront, many of them featuring boat launches in their back yards.
Lac La Belle is one of the region's main summertime destinations
The 1,154-acre lake for which Lac La Belle is named is open year-round for fishing, while the summer months see the lake become a prime regional venue for swimming, boating and surfing. “There are fireworks over almost all of the area lakes on the Fourth of July,” the JJ Hausmann Team says. Bender Beach on the lake’s eastern shore includes a few picnic tables and offers a relatively quiet swimming outlet. City Beach, located at the lake’s southern edge in Oconomowoc, is significantly busier due to its location in the city’s downtown area. Unlike Bender Beach, this lake outlet includes lifeguard stands; kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals and even a sandwich hut. This beach is also the starting point for the Lake Country Triathlon, which uses Lac La Belle for the swimming leg of the competition. Those who prefer a more laid-back fresh-air outing can play at The Club at Lac La Belle, which is open to the public. Founded in 1896 and renovated in 2018, this golf club is the second-oldest 18-hole course in the state and has received high marks from Golf Digest.
Downtown Oconomowoc's retail and restaurants are 4 miles away
By design, Lac La Belle has no shopping or retail district, instead retaining a quiet, residential character. However, the community sits across the lake from downtown Oconomowoc, a 4-mile drive away. “Lac La Belle’s shopping scene is primarily in downtown Oconomowoc. There are lots of restaurants and lots of shops; they also have a lot of seasonal activities like parades and events throughout the year,” the JJ Hausmann Team says. Metro Market serves as the local supermarket, while a diverse dining scene sits along the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Main Street. Lago Su Bella offers an Italian fine dining setting with panoramic views of the lake. A handful of wine and martini bars share this street corner, while the Cornerstone Sports Pub & Eatery serves as the local sports-watching venue.
A-rated education at Oconomowoc schools
Students can start their education at Greenland Elementary School before attending Nature Hill Intermediate School and Oconomowoc High School; Niche gives each school an A-minus rating. Oconomowoc High offers both college and career pathway programs, including apprenticeships, to students looking to map out their post-high school futures.
Highway access to Milwaukee and Madison
In addition to being a 4-mile drive from downtown Oconomowoc and its ProHealth Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital, Lac La Belle is around 40 miles northwest of Milwaukee, accessible via two state highways and Interstate 94. Madison is not much farther away, with the same interstate highway covering much of the 50-mile journey.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
