Summit is where Oconomowoc meets Lake Country
Just south of Oconomowoc, Summit serves as this city’s gateway to Waukesha County’s Lake Country. “Summit proper offers more of a country setting with its small lakes,” says the JJ Hausmann Team, which has sold scores of properties throughout Lake Country. This community of nearly 5,000 residents is largely employed in Oconomowoc’s manufacturing, healthcare and retail industries, but many of Summit’s residents live far from urban society. “Summit is mostly part of the southern side of Lake Country, and some neighborhoods have lake access for swimming and kayaking,” the JJ Hausmann Team says. Farmland and lakes separate small subdivisions, giving Summit a semi-rural feel that contrasts with more suburbanized neighbors.
Lakeside properties mix with single-story residences within Summit
In Summit, properties may sit along lakesides, in small subdivisions or on patches of farmland. Housing styles are just as diverse as their locations; ranch-style homes built in the 1920s share a neighborhood with 21st-century, New Traditional-style estates up to 10,000 square feet in size. Summit's median home price is about $630,000. Older, single-story residences can sell well below the median, while large homes near the water can sell for more than a million. Summit's median price is higher than Oconomowoc's, which is around $550,000, and Waukesha's, which is around $380,000; this higher price tag and the continuing construction in the area reflect its popularity as a bedroom community. “The housing scene in Summit is still booming; Milwaukee, Madison and Waukesha are the main commuter destinations,” the JJ Hausmann Team says. Summit has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Summit's lakes offer boating and beach access
Due to its location at the southern end of Lake Country, Summit offers a wealth of outdoor adventures to its residents. Backyard boat launches allow for the exploration of Genesee Lake, as does a public boat launch along Genesee Lake Road. Fishing is allowed on this lake, which is populated with panfish, largemouth bass and northern pike. The nearby Genesee Lake Road Park is popular for baseball in the warmer months and for sledding during the winter, and it also has a playground for year-round recreation. At Summit’s southwest corner, Golden Lake is accessible through Miller’s Sandy Beach Drive Inn, which sells burgers and ice cream from a traditional drive-in and makes its beachfront available to visitors for $10 per car.
“Summit is also close to Lapham Peak State Park,” the JJ Hausmann Team says. “There are hiking trails, walking trails and seasonal activities like a haunted hike around Halloween.” This park covers more than 1,000 acres within the larger Kettle Moraine State Forest, and a section of the 1,200-mile-long Ice Age Trail follows the path of migratory glaciers. Local sports venues also serve as hubs of local recreation. “There’s a new baseball stadium in Summit where our regional team, the DockHounds, plays. It’s fairly new, built over the last three years,” the JJ Hausmann Team says. “The big Harley-Davidson dealership also does events throughout the year.”
Valley Road connects a shopping district with a lakeside restaurant
Much of Summit’s shopping scene revolves around the Market Place at Pabst Farms, situated at the village’s northern end. This small retail center includes the local Metro Market grocery store and a handful of eateries, including El Jimador, a colorfully decorated Mexican restaurant that opened in 2022. An Aldi and Sendik’s Food Market are also close to this shopping district. Farther down Valley Road, Lucky Chucky’s Beach Bar and Grill offers a diverse menu and panoramic views of Silver Lake.
A-rated education at Oconomowoc's schools
Students can start their education at Summit Elementary School, which receives an A rating from Niche, before attending the A-rated Silver Lake Intermediate School and the A-minus-rated Oconomowoc High School. Oconomowoc offers college pathway, workforce development and apprenticeship programs to help students with their college and career planning.
Highways provide easy access to nearby cities
Summit is located at a crossroads of highways, connecting it to nearby cities. Oconomowoc is about 5 miles up Wisconsin Highway 67, while Madison is 50 miles west on Interstate 94. Milwaukee is about 30 miles in the opposite direction. Summit’s own Aurora Medical Center puts healthcare and employment close to home.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
