Village of Walworth Community Guide
Quick answer: Walworth is a village of about 2,800 people on the west end of Geneva Lake, built around a historic square. Fontana Beach is about 2 miles east, downtown Lake Geneva about 15 minutes, and Chicago about 90 miles.
Come for breakfast at Sammy’s, a drink at The 46 Tavern and a Big Foot game on Friday night. Homes run from village houses near the square to country acreage and properties with Geneva Lake association access.
Walworth calls itself “The Friendly Village on the Square,” and the square is still where the village does its business: diners, taverns, shops and the gazebo in the middle. It’s a working town first, with Kikkoman’s first U.S. plant on the edge of the village since the early 1970s.
The lake is close without being in your front yard. That’s the trade: Fontana and Williams Bay beaches are minutes away, and the village itself runs on a year-round calendar.
Walworth at a glance
| Fact | Walworth, WI |
|---|---|
| Population | 2,759 (2020 Census) |
| County | Walworth County |
| To Geneva Lake | About 2 miles to Fontana Beach |
| To downtown Lake Geneva | About 9 miles, 15 minutes |
| To Chicago (Loop) | About 90 miles, 1.5 to 2 hours |
| To Milwaukee | About 55 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Lake access | Public beach and launch in Fontana; association piers on some nearby properties |
| Main roads | US-14 and WI-67 |
| School districts | Walworth Jt. School District 1 (PreK to 8), Big Foot Union High School District (9 to 12) |
| Municipal website | Village of Walworth |
Quick picks
Things to do in Walworth
The village square
FreeDiningThe square is the reason to come. Most of the village’s restaurants and taverns face it, and the gazebo in the center hosts summer concerts.
Tip: Parking is on the square and the side streets. Saturday mornings are the busiest time at Sammy’s.
Big Foot High School games and shows
SportsTheaterFriday night football, basketball and theater productions in a renovated 9,000-square-foot auditorium (finished in 2016). The outdoor athletic complex was rebuilt in 2020.
The school takes its name from Potawatomi leader Big Foot (Maumksuck). Geneva Lake itself was once called Big Foot Lake.
Big Foot Recreation District
All agesFitnessYouth sports leagues, a fitness center, music and art classes, adult courses (cooking, photography, gardening), camps and community events. Register through the district’s online portal.
Walworth Memorial Library
FreeRainy-day pickOrganized in 1939. Story times, book clubs and a summer reading program.
Restaurants in Walworth
Almost everything is on or a block off the square. Ranked by how often locals actually go.
2. The 46 Tavern
TavernPatioA neighborhood tavern named for its 1946 start. Get the old fashioned and the Caesar (half orders available). Vinyl nights and game-day crowds.
3. Siemers Cruise-In Bar & Grill
BurgersFish fryOver 30 years on the square. The Original Cruise-In Burger is Angus beef with Merkt’s cheese. Beer-battered fish on Fridays, homemade pizza, cheese curds, Spotted Cow on tap.
4. Two Sisters Thai
ThaiVegetarian optionsVegetarian and vegan plates and pear boba tea. The best non-tavern dinner in the village.
5. Main Street Country Store
CoffeeIce creamCoffee and an ice cream counter inside a country store that also sells feed, fishing waders and gifts.
More places to eat in Walworth
Rise Restaurant
Japanese and pan-Asian: walnut shrimp, ramen, sushi and stir-fried noodles.
King Dragon
Chinese takeout and dine-in on the square.
Luna’s Mexican Restaurant
Tamales, sopes and tacos.
Nayeli’s Pizza & Restaurant
Thin-crust pizza, Italian subs and fried chicken.
Meggy Moo’s Dairy Ripple
Soft serve, malts and chocolate sodas, plus burgers.
Stella Rose (coming soon)
A planned lounge with a sports bar, a live-performance room and a quieter lounge. Not open as of October 2026.
Fontana (about 2 miles) adds the restaurants at The Abbey Resort and Gordy’s Boat House. Williams Bay (about 10 minutes) has PIER 290, Café Calamari and Harpoon Willie’s. See the Lake Geneva restaurants guide and the Friday fish fry guide for more.
Parks, beaches and lake access
Fontana Beach
SwimmingBoat launchThe closest public Geneva Lake beach to Walworth, with a sand beach and a public launch. See the beaches guide for fees and hours.
Geneva Lake Shore Path
FreeHikingThe nearest access is in Fontana. The Fontana to Williams Bay stretch is wooded and less crowded than downtown Lake Geneva.
Big Foot Beach State Park
TrailsWinterTrails, a picnic area and lakefront on the east end. Sledding and snowshoeing in winter.
More ideas: outdoor activities and farm stands, including Pearce’s Farm Stand on N. Walworth Road.
Schools
Walworth is served by 2 districts. Check boundaries by address with each district.
| District | Grades | School | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walworth Jt. School District 1 | PreK to 8 | Walworth Elementary | 121 Beloit St. |
| Big Foot Union High School District | 9 to 12 | Big Foot High School | 401 Devils Ln. |
Big Foot High School serves the villages of Walworth, Fontana and Sharon and the towns of Walworth, Linn, Sharon and Delavan.
Commute and getting here
| To | Distance | Typical drive | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Lake Geneva | About 9 miles | 15 minutes | WI-50 or WI-67 |
| Chicago Loop | About 90 miles | 1.5 to 2 hours | US-14 to I-90 |
| O’Hare | About 70 miles | About 1.5 hours | US-14 to I-90 |
| Metra, Harvard station | About 20 miles | 30 minutes | US-14 south |
| Rockford airport | About 45 miles | 50 minutes | US-14 / I-90 |
| Milwaukee | About 55 miles | 1 hour 10 minutes | WI-67 to I-43 |
Tip: Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest line from Harvard is the usual rail option for Chicago trips.
Homes in Walworth
Most homes fall into 4 types. The price bands are typical recent ranges; check current listings for today’s numbers.
| Property type | What you’ll find | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Village homes | Older homes and ranches on village lots, many within a few blocks of the square | $200K to $475K |
| Town of Walworth acreage | Larger lots, hobby farms, country homes with outbuildings | $400K to $1.2M |
| Lake-access homes | Association pier access or deeded water rights, some 1 to 2 miles from Fontana Beach | $500K to $2M+ |
| Multi-unit | Duplexes and small multi-unit buildings | $250K to $900K |
Price swings fast with lake rights. Two homes a mile apart can differ by hundreds of thousands depending on deeded access, so read the association documents early.
Walworth through the year
Summer
Concerts on the square, beach days in Fontana and Williams Bay, and the Geneva Lake West Rotary Corn & Brat Festival in August. See summer activities.
Fall
Big Foot football, farm stands and the Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn over Labor Day week. Pumpkins and a corn maze at Pearce’s. See fall activities.
Winter
The West End Holiday Open House in November, basketball season at Big Foot, and sledding at Big Foot Beach State Park. Winterfest in Lake Geneva is 15 minutes away.
Spring
Farm stands reopen and the Fontana and Williams Bay beaches get ready for Memorial Day. A good time to tour homes before the summer market.
Best of Walworth
| Category | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Sammy’s on the Square | The French toast |
| Tavern | The 46 Tavern | Old fashioned, patio, since 1946 |
| Burger | Siemers Cruise-In | Angus and Merkt’s cheese |
| Dinner out | Two Sisters Thai | Best non-bar dinner in the village |
| Coffee | Main Street Country Store | Opens 6:30 a.m. |
| Beach | Fontana Beach | About 2 miles away |
Mistakes people make
Assuming “near the lake” means lake rights. Many Walworth-area homes are close to Geneva Lake with no access. Confirm deeded rights or association pier slips in writing.
Skipping the square for Lake Geneva. On a summer Saturday, Walworth’s diners and taverns are the easy table.
Guessing the school district. Boundaries don’t follow village lines. Check by address.
Frequently asked questions
What is Walworth, Wisconsin known for?
Its historic village square, the nickname “The Friendly Village on the Square,” Big Foot High School, Kikkoman’s first U.S. plant and its location about 2 miles from Fontana Beach on Geneva Lake.
How far is Walworth from Geneva Lake?
About 2 miles to Fontana Beach on the west end of Geneva Lake, and about 9 miles (15 minutes) to downtown Lake Geneva.
How far is Walworth, WI from Chicago?
About 90 miles to the Loop, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by car via US-14 and I-90. Metra’s Harvard station is about 20 miles south.
What school district is Walworth, WI in?
Walworth Jt. School District 1 runs Walworth Elementary (PreK to 8). Big Foot Union High School District runs Big Foot High School (9 to 12), which also serves Fontana, Sharon and nearby towns.
What are the best restaurants in Walworth, WI?
Sammy’s on the Square for breakfast, The 46 Tavern for drinks, Siemers Cruise-In for burgers and fish fry, Two Sisters Thai for dinner and Main Street Country Store for coffee.
What kinds of homes are in Walworth?
Older homes and ranches in the village, acreage and hobby farms in the Town of Walworth, homes with Geneva Lake association access near Fontana, and some duplexes and small multi-unit buildings.
Does Walworth have lake access?
The village isn’t on the water. The nearest public access is Fontana Beach and its boat launch, about 2 miles east. Some nearby homes include association pier access or deeded rights.
What is the population of Walworth, WI?
2,759 at the 2020 Census.
Looking at homes near the west end of the lake?
Kim and Joel Reyenga with eXp Realty cover Walworth and the west end of Geneva Lake, from village homes a few blocks off the square to acreage in the Town of Walworth and properties with Fontana-area lake rights.
Search Walworth properties Equal Housing Opportunity. Reyenga Team, eXp Realty.