Twin Lakes, Genoa City, & Richmond Guide
Quick answer: Twin Lakes, Powers Lake and Genoa City are 3 Wisconsin lake towns on the Illinois line, 10 to 15 miles south of downtown Lake Geneva. Richmond is the Illinois village just across the border on US-12.
Come for the free Aquanuts water ski shows on Lake Mary, Country Thunder in July, a fish boil at Fitzgerald’s and dinner at Paisano’s in Richmond. Lake property here generally costs less than on Geneva Lake.
This corner of the Lake Geneva area has 6 lakes within a few miles of each other: Mary and Elizabeth in Twin Lakes, Powers and Benedict to the west, and Pell Lake and Lake Ivanhoe a short drive north. Chicagoans have summered here since the 1880s.
Each town has its own feel. Twin Lakes is the busiest, with 2 lakes and a big festival. Powers Lake is almost all lake homes. Genoa City is a small village on US-12, and Richmond has a historic Broadway Street business district.
The 4 towns at a glance
| Twin Lakes, WI | Powers Lake, WI | Genoa City, WI | Richmond, IL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,338 (2025 Census est.) | 1,401 (2020 Census) | 2,903 (2024 Census est.) | 2,089 (2020 Census) |
| County | Kenosha | Kenosha (towns of Randall and Wheatland) | Walworth and Kenosha | McHenry, IL |
| To downtown Lake Geneva | About 14 miles, 20 min | About 12 miles, 20 min | About 10 miles, 15 min | About 13 miles, 20 min |
| To downtown Chicago | About 70 miles, 1.5 hours | About 70 miles, 1.5 hours | About 70 miles, 1.5 hours | About 65 miles, 1.5 hours |
| To Milwaukee | About 50 miles, 1 hour | About 50 miles, 1 hour | About 55 miles, 1 hour | About 65 miles, 1.25 hours |
| Lake access | Lake Mary, Lake Elizabeth (public launch and beach at Lance Park) | Powers Lake, Benedict Lake | No lake in the village; Powers Lake and Nippersink area nearby | No lake in the village; Twin Lakes 10 min north |
| Municipal website | twinlakeswi.gov | Town of Wheatland / Town of Randall | vi.genoacity.wi.gov | richmond-il.com |
What should you do first?
Things to do
1. Aquanuts water ski shows
FreeSummerAll agesThe Aquanuts have 7 Division 1 national titles, the latest in 2026. Shows run about an hour, with ballet lines, barefoot passes and 4-tier human pyramids.
Tip: Bring a lawn chair and get to Lance Park by 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Parking is free.
2. Country Thunder Wisconsin
TicketsJulyA 4-day country music festival with camping that brings tens of thousands of people to Twin Lakes every July. Expect traffic on US-12 and Highway 50 all weekend.
Tip: If you’re not going, plan errands around it. Lodging within 20 miles books up months ahead.
3. Golf at Twin Lakes Country Club
GolfDiningA traditional parkland course open to the public. The clubhouse is a 100-year-old red barn turned into a lounge and restaurant, open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday.
4. Nippersink Golf Club
GolfEventsOne of the older courses in the area, with a remodeled pavilion that hosts outings and weddings. Book tee times through the club.
5. Learn the local stories
John Prine wrote “Lake Marie” about Twin Lakes, and the village’s 2 lakes are named for twin daughters of settlers Jonathan and Mary Rae Imeson. Genoa City inspired the fictional city in “The Young and the Restless,” after the show’s creators vacationed near Lake Geneva.
More free summer nights: Mueller Park in Twin Lakes hosts outdoor movies and has a sledding hill in winter. Check the village events page for Libertyfest and other dates.
Where to eat
Ranked by what you can’t get anywhere else first. The Richmond steakhouses are the area’s special-occasion dinners; the lake bars are the summer default.
Fitzgerald’s Genoa Junction
Fish boilHistoric buildingAn all-you-can-eat fish boil cooked outdoors and served in a Victorian octagon house, one of the few 8-sided houses left in the state. There’s a patio and a gift shop.
Tip: Winter hours drop Wednesday. Call ahead for a big group.
Paisano’s on Broadway
SteakhouseItalianAn Italian steakhouse with prime steaks and handmade pasta. Its sister restaurant, Seaside Prime, is a few doors down on Broadway and focuses on seafood.
Herner’s Hideaway
Bar & grillLive musicA bar and grill with a full kitchen and live music on the deck most summer weekends.
Twin Lakes restaurants and bars
The Blue Goose
Casual dining with a hand-battered fish fry.
Sand Bar and Island Grill
Tiki-style bar and grill on the water, with an ice cream counter.
Twin Lakes Local
Newer bar and grill with locally sourced food and brunch.
Buoys
Lake-view pub known for its fish fry and Cuban sandwich.
Aces Sports Bar & Grill
Sports bar with a signature Aces burger and Sunday pizza deals.
Corner Kitchen
Breakfast and lunch with a big menu.
On The Go Bar & Grill
Gyros, tacos and soft serve.
Twin Lakes Roadhouse
Bar with a dance floor and live music.
Donovan’s Reef Sports Bar
A few blocks from downtown Twin Lakes.
Copper Bottom Bar and Grill
Just east of Twin Lakes, with a lakeside patio and fish tacos.
Powers Lake and Genoa City
The Rock Bar II
Lake-view bar known for prime rib.
Sit N’ Bull
Tavern known for its Friday fish fry and potato pancakes.
2 Brothers Sports Bar & Grill
Friday fish fry and Tuesday tacos.
Richmond, Illinois (US-12)
Richmond Dog N Suds
A classic drive-in with carhops, Vienna Beef hot dogs and root beer on tap.
Red Dogs Sandwiches
Chicago-style dogs, stuffed burgers and Italian beef, next door to Dog N Suds.
Jamie’s Country Kitchen
Country breakfast and lunch diner.
Richmond Cafe
Espresso drinks and a full breakfast and lunch menu.
Coffee in Twin Lakes: Cup O’ Joe Coffee House (406 N. Lake Ave.) has espresso, bagel sandwiches and pastries. For the Geneva Lake side, see the coffee shop guide and the Friday fish fry guide.
Parks, beaches and lakes
Lance Park
BeachBoat launchThe village’s main lake park: a sandy beach, fishing pier, boat launch and the Aquanuts show site.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area
HikingATV trailsCampingAbout 4,500 acres of prairie, wetland and lakes on land once planned as a jet fighter base. It’s named for Maj. Richard Bong, America’s top World War II ace, and has camping, a swim beach, a nature center and motorized trails.
The lakes
Lake Mary and Lake Elizabeth give Twin Lakes nearly 1,000 acres of water inside the village. Lake Elizabeth crosses into Illinois. Powers Lake is ringed by homes and piers with little commercial development. All of them freeze for ice fishing most winters. See the 26 lakes guide and the fishing guide for species and launches.
Schools
School district lines here don’t follow ZIP codes or village limits. Confirm the district for any specific address with the district office.
| Town | Elementary and middle | High school |
|---|---|---|
| Twin Lakes | Twin Lakes School District #4 (Lakewood School, 4K to 8, 41218 Wilmot Ave.) | Wilmot Union High School District |
| Powers Lake | Wheatland J1 School District (Wheatland Center School) for much of the lake | Wilmot Union High School District (some addresses differ) |
| Genoa City | Genoa City Joint 2 School District (Brookwood Elementary, Brookwood Middle) | Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union High School District (Badger High School) |
| Richmond, IL | Nippersink School District 2 | Richmond-Burton Community High School District 157 |
Commute and getting here
All 4 towns sit along US-12, which runs from the Chicago suburbs north to Lake Geneva and Elkhorn. Highway 50 runs east from Lake Geneva to I-94 and Kenosha.
| Destination | From Twin Lakes | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Lake Geneva | About 20 min | US-12 or County H/Hwy 50 |
| Downtown Chicago | About 1.5 hours | US-12 / IL-83 to I-94 |
| Metra (Antioch, North Central Service) | About 8 miles | IL-83 south |
| Milwaukee Mitchell Airport | About 50 min | Hwy 50 to I-94 north |
| Kenosha | About 30 min | Hwy 50 east |
Housing types
Prices here generally run below Geneva Lake for comparable lake frontage, and you’re still 15 to 20 minutes from downtown Lake Geneva.
Twin Lakes
Older village homes a few blocks from Lake Avenue shops and both lakes, lake-access cottages with shared piers, lakefront homes on Lake Mary and Lake Elizabeth, and newer subdivisions on the edges of the village.
Powers Lake
Mostly lakefront and lake-access homes, from original cottages to large estate properties on the water. Few commercial buildings and almost no subdivisions.
Genoa City
Village homes on grid streets, newer construction subdivisions, and rural acreage on surrounding town roads. Often the lowest price points of the 4.
Richmond, Illinois
Older homes near the Broadway Street business district, newer subdivisions, and farm parcels. Illinois property taxes and Illinois commuting patterns apply.
Nearby lake communities with their own listings: Pell Lake (village of Bloomfield) and Lake Ivanhoe, both a few miles north toward Lake Geneva.
Season by season
Summer (June to August)
Peak season. Aquanuts shows twice a week, Country Thunder in mid-July, boats on every lake and the lake bars full. Libertyfest and summer movies at Mueller Park fill out the calendar.
Fall (September and October)
The water stays warm into September and the festival traffic is gone. It’s the best time for golf and a fish boil on the patio. For color, see the scenic drive guide.
Winter (December to February)
Ice fishing on Lake Mary, Lake Elizabeth, Powers Lake and Benedict Lake once the ice is thick enough, sledding at Mueller Park, and skiing at Wilmot Mountain, a few miles east. See the winter activities guide.
Spring (March to May)
Piers go in, the golf courses open and the Aquanuts start their season Memorial Day weekend.
Best by category
| Category | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best free | Aquanuts at Lance Park | National-champion ski show twice a week |
| Best dinner | Paisano’s on Broadway | Prime steaks and handmade pasta |
| Best only-here meal | Fitzgerald’s fish boil | Cooked outdoors, served in an octagon house |
| Best on the water | Sand Bar and Island Grill | Tiki bar right on the lake |
| Best golf | Twin Lakes Country Club | Public 18 holes and the Red Barn |
| Best outdoors | Bong Recreation Area | 4,500 acres, trails and a beach |
| Best cheap eats | Richmond Dog N Suds | Carhops and root beer |
Mistakes to avoid
Assuming the school district by town name. Powers Lake and the edges of Twin Lakes split across districts. Check by address.
Forgetting Richmond is in Illinois. Taxes, schools and licensing follow Illinois rules, even though it’s 13 miles from Lake Geneva.
Driving US-12 on Country Thunder weekend. Leave extra time or take back roads.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Twin Lakes, Powers Lake and Genoa City, Wisconsin?
They sit on the Wisconsin-Illinois border in Kenosha and Walworth counties, about 10 to 15 miles south of downtown Lake Geneva along US-12. Richmond, Illinois is just south of the state line on the same highway.
Is Richmond in Wisconsin or Illinois?
Richmond is a village in McHenry County, Illinois, just south of the state line on US-12. It’s about 13 miles and 20 minutes from downtown Lake Geneva.
What is there to do in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin?
Watch the free Aquanuts water ski shows at Lance Park on Wednesday and Saturday evenings in summer, boat or fish on Lake Mary and Lake Elizabeth, golf at Twin Lakes Country Club, and go to Country Thunder in July.
When is Country Thunder Wisconsin 2027?
Country Thunder Wisconsin runs July 15 to 18, 2027, at Shadow Hill Ranch in Twin Lakes.
When are the Aquanuts water ski shows?
Every Wednesday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day at Lance Park on Lake Mary in Twin Lakes. Admission and parking are free.
What school district is Genoa City, Wisconsin in?
Genoa City Joint 2 School District runs Brookwood Elementary and Brookwood Middle School. High school students are in the Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union High School District, which runs Badger High School in Lake Geneva.
What school district is Twin Lakes, Wisconsin in?
Twin Lakes School District #4 runs Lakewood School for 4K through 8th grade. High school students are in the Wilmot Union High School District. Confirm the district for any specific address.
How far is Twin Lakes, Wisconsin from Chicago?
About 70 miles, roughly 1.5 hours to downtown Chicago. The nearest Metra station is in Antioch, Illinois, about 8 miles south on the North Central Service line.
Where should you eat near Twin Lakes and Genoa City?
Paisano’s on Broadway in Richmond for steaks, Fitzgerald’s Genoa Junction for an outdoor fish boil, the Sand Bar for drinks on the lake, and The Blue Goose or Buoys for a Friday fish fry.
Looking for a lake home south of Geneva Lake?
Kim and Joel Reyenga with eXp Realty cover Twin Lakes, Powers Lake, Genoa City, Pell Lake and Lake Ivanhoe, from lake-access cottages on Lake Mary to lakefront on Powers Lake and acreage outside Genoa City.
Search Twin Lakes area properties Equal Housing Opportunity. Reyenga Team, eXp Realty.