A Vision Beyond the Fields: One Farmer’s Legacy in Williams Bay
One hundred years ago, nestled among the rolling hills and sparkling waters of Williams Bay, a humble farmer made a decision that would help shape the town’s identity as a beloved retreat for generations to come. While others tilled the soil strictly for crops, Ulyses S Lockwood, a local farmer, chose to cultivate something different: a sense of wonder.
It was the early 1900s, and Lake Geneva was still a well-kept secret outside of the Chicago elite who visited seasonally. Ulyses, who had spent his life working the land passed down from his father, recognized that the real wealth of the area wasn’t just in the soil—it was in the scenic charm of the lake, the peaceful woods, and the gentle pace of rural life.
The Cottages That Changed Everything
Instead of planting another round of corn on a small section of his property just north of the lake, Ulyses made a bold move. He cleared the land and, with the help of local carpenters, constructed a few tiny cottages—simple wood-frame structures with wide windows to catch the breeze off Geneva Lake, each with it’s own outhouse.
Word spread quickly.
What started as a quiet experiment soon became a local sensation. Visitors from Chicago, Milwaukee, and even as far as St. Louis came looking for a “country escape” with modern comforts. Families would stay for a weekend or a week, fishing on the lake by day and sharing stories by firelight at night. Some returned year after year, drawn not only by the lake’s natural beauty but also by the genuine warmth of their host.
Sam didn’t see himself as a hotelier or an entrepreneur. “I’m just a farmer who likes people,” he was known to say, often seen chatting with guests while handing out fresh eggs or sharing vegetables from his garden.
Planting the Roots of Lake Geneva Tourism
Unintentionally, Ulyses Lockwood had created one of the first destination lodgings in the Lake Geneva area outside the resort-style hotels of the city’s wealthier districts. His cottages inspired others—neighboring farmers followed suit, converting barns or building small cabins to welcome tourists.
Within a few decades, the area began to transform. Restaurants, bait shops, and boat rental businesses sprang up. Seasonal tourism became a central part of the local economy, and Lake Geneva’s reputation grew from a hidden gem to a Midwest treasure.
By the time Lockwood passed away in the 1950s, his small enclave of cabins had started to evolve into larger homes, or just be demolished to make way for other versions. His last original cottage—weathered and in dire need of repair—remained, serving as a quiet reminder of a visionary who saw the land not only for what it could produce, but for how it could be shared.
A Legacy That Endures
Today, the Lake Geneva area is a thriving destination, hosting tens of thousands of visitors annually. Yet, among the bustling lakefront and luxury accommodations, the spirit of Ulyses Lockwoods’ hospitality endures. The last of his cottages still stands on the property now known as Serenity and remains as a symbol of how one farmer’s simple idea helped sow the seeds of a community built on beauty, welcome, and rest.
It is in the spirit of this legacy that I’ve begun the transformation of Lockwood’s Last Cabin from a crumbling earthen floor cabin with gaping holes in the roof, and rotting doors and windows, into what will be a more modern tiny house with indoor plumbing and modern creature comforts.
In a world driven by big developments and flashy attractions, U.S. Lockwood’s legacy reminds us that sometimes, the best way to grow something meaningful is to make space for others to simply enjoy what’s already there.
Follow the transformation by subscribing to these pages.