America's 20 Best Places

Chicago's wealthy have long been drawn to Lake Geneva by its large spring-fed lake (14 miles in length) and 21 miles of shoreline, including the Wrigleys (chewing gum,) Mortons (salt), and Schwinns (bicycles). But newer Chicago money has since infiltrated the resort. The Pritzkers of Hyatt Hotel fame took over and extensively renovated a large estate originally owned by the Harris Trust banking family. Pat Ryan, the founder of Aon Insurance, owns a 1906 mansion called House in the Woods. Presiding over Lake Geneva these days with a Gatsby-like presence is the financial mogul Richard Driehaus (mutual funds, not bootlegging); his lavish Fourth of July-theme parties are capped off by a shock-and-awe fireworks display for residents. According to realtor Mark Larkin of Keefe Real Estate, the average price of Geneva lakefront properties hit $2.35 million last year, after falling as low as $2.08 million in 2010 from $2.63 million in 2008. Larkin represented the gas industrialist who purchased last year's major $7.2 million property. Generating buzz: Bocelli's, a soon-to-open Italian lakeside restaurant with marina that will allow diners to arrive by car or boat.

Snake Road Home Keefe Real Estate, Mark Larkin