650 S. Main Street, Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake, Wisconsin
Some homes offer beautiful spaces. Others offer a compelling story. Black Walnut Farm offers both—bringing together an 1836 post-and-beam barn and an 1899 trolley depot in a thoughtfully restored retreat near Geneva Lake.
Located at 650 S. Main Street in Fontana, Wisconsin, this remarkable property preserves two of the village’s oldest surviving structures while creating the comfort, flexibility, and sense of occasion today’s buyers and guests expect.
Two Historic Structures, One Extraordinary Setting
The property’s story begins in 1836, when the area’s first farmer raised the barn later known as the Christopher Douglass Barn. Decades later, the Fontana trolley depot was built on the lakefront for the Chicago, Harvard and Geneva Lake Railway, welcoming summer visitors as they traveled to the lake steamers.
After the trolley line closed in 1929, the depot served several new purposes, including time as a tavern, restaurant, and marina office. Around 1978, restaurant owner Jack Stevenson saved the structure and moved it to the barn, joining two pieces of Fontana history on a single site.
That legacy was formally recognized in 1998, when the property received a Walworth County Sesquicentennial Award for a restored or preserved historic building.
Designed for Gathering
Today, the nine-bedroom property is made for memorable group stays. At its center is a generous kitchen and dining area with a 14-seat “team table”—an inviting place for long breakfasts, celebratory dinners, and evenings that stretch well past dessert.
Exposed beams and a stone fireplace give the den warmth and character, while the bar and game room add an easygoing space for entertaining. Outdoors, guests can move from the front porch to the back deck, lawn, gardens, fire pit, private tennis and pickleball court, and swim spa.
The setting feels tucked away, yet it remains close to The Abbey Resort and the best of the Geneva Lake area. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is approximately 60 minutes away, making the home accessible for regional gatherings and destination stays alike.
A Restoration That Respects the Past
Since purchasing the property in May 2020, the current owners have completed an extensive renovation that preserves the building’s historic identity while strengthening it for the future. Major work includes new roof framing and roofing, updated siding, Marvin windows, a standing-seam porch roof, a Zuri front porch, Azek exterior materials, exposed interior beams, painting, drywall, fixtures, HVAC improvements, and updated appliances.
The grounds and recreational amenities have also received substantial investment. Improvements include a resurfaced tennis court, swim spa and pad, milled-asphalt driveway, Fond du Lac stone outcropping, exterior path lighting, new front steps, and a perennial garden designed by master plantsman Roy Diblik.
A Proven Retreat with Lasting Appeal
Operating as Black Walnut Farm, the property has earned a 9.6-out-of-10 guest rating and generated more than $170,000 in gross rental revenue in 2026. Its combination of documented provenance, large-group capacity, character-rich accommodations, private recreation, and demonstrated income performance is exceptionally difficult to reproduce in the Geneva Lake market.
This is more than a historic home and more than a vacation rental. It is a place where architecture, hospitality, and local history come together—ready for its next chapter.
Offering Details
Black Walnut Farm is offered at $2,495,000 and will be sold fully furnished. The property is available during a single 60-day offering period, with no price reductions. Rental financials are available to qualified buyers.
For additional information or to arrange a private showing, contact Tom Coulman 262-325-7636 tom.coulman@compass.com or Shirley Coulman, 262-745-1885 shirley.coulman@compass.com .
