A stay at a historical getaway allows patrons to get close to history without sporting wooden dentures or sleeping on a pile of Indian-head pennies. Relive the past with today’s Groupon to the French Country Inn in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Choose from the following options:
- For $79, you get a one-night stay for two in a standard room, valid Sunday–Thursday (up to a $165 value).
- For $97, you get a one-night stay for two in a standard room, valid any day (up to a $195 value).
- For $149, you get a two-night stay for two in a standard room, valid Sunday–Thursday (up to a $330 value).
- For $189, you get a two-night stay for two in a standard room, valid any day (up to a $390 value).<p>
Up to two additional adults may stay for a charge of $10 per adult, with no extra charge for up to two children.
The French Country Inn’s historic grounds host cozy rooms that open to balconies or patios overlooking the cobalt waters of Lake Como less than 20 feet from the boutique hotel. Innkeepers un-parch throats with complimentary afternoon tea and sherry in the parlor, after which guests retire to classically adorned rooms outfitted with either two queen beds or a king bed. There, travelers warm up beside a crackling fireplace or in-room dragon or dip toes into a steamy whirlpool bath before wandering to the lakeside dining room for complimentary breakfasts the next day. Lake Como’s tranquil waters impart serenity, whereas downtown Lake Geneva bustles with shoppers a short drive from the inn.
Transported by rail from Chicago after being featured as the Danish Pavilion during the 1893 Columbian Exhibition, the French Country Inn’s buildings, which served as a resort in the 1900s, are inundated with history. The secluded locale and a tight-lipped innkeeper made the spot a favored getaway of famous gangsters such as George “Bugs” Moran, Baby Face Nelson, and members of the John Dillinger gang; during Prohibition, bootlegged sips flowed in the hotel’s basement, which served a speakeasy, gambling hotspot, and refuge for hardened jaywalkers. To this day, the restored hotel’s new restaurant, Wakefield’s, proffers a speakeasy menu alongside its dining menu of European cuisine. Though not included with this Groupon, guests can also purchase a new book about the French Country Inn that includes history of gangsters at the inn.
French Country Inn on the Lake
On first glance, it’s hard to imagine that the charming French Country Inn was once a haunt for such notorious gangsters as Bugs Moran and Baby Face Nelson. But the century-old bed and breakfast, which sits unassumingly on a quiet street on the banks of Lake Como, served as a discreet getaway for gangsters during the height of Prohibition.
After walking into the main building, you immediately get a sense of the inn's rich history. Parquet flooring leads to an intricately carved staircase made of solid oak imported from Denmark. In the other buildings, period furnishings and hues of warm crimson lend the accommodations a homey feel.
In keeping with this hospitable spirit, the innkeepers lay out a complimentary breakfast spread each morning. As the day winds on, guests can venture out to nearby downtown Lake Geneva to browse its antiques stores, art galleries, and curio shops.