Experience the Unique Lake Geneva, WI US Mailboat Tour

Summer…who doesn’t love summertime in the Midwest? A favorite summertime town that’s been an escape for Chicagoans since the late 1800’s is Lake Geneva, WI. Lake Geneva is a charming lakeside town nestled in the southeastern part of the state, right over the border from Illinois. Lake Geneva, WI has a unique tradition of delivering mail by the US Mailboat and you can see it first hand.

One of the town’s most unique traditions is the US Mailboat Tour, which has delivered mail to lakeside residents every summer since 1916. The tour aboard the Walworth, the only mail-jumping boat in the United States, provides a 2.5 hour narrated journey around the lake, featuring the impressive skills of mail jumpers who leap from the moving boat to deliver mail directly to docks.

This unique experience blends historical insights, stunning views, and the thrilling spectacle of mail jumping, making it a must-see adventure when visiting Lake Geneva.

Where is Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Lake Geneva is part of Walworth County in the southeastern part of Wisconsin and situated on Geneva Lake. It’s only 10 miles from the northern Illinois state line, 75 miles north of Chicago and 45 miles southwest of Milwaukee. It makes it the perfect day trip from the Chicagoland area.

Don’t confuse this with Geneva, IL- another cute town that you must visit.

Actually, Lake Geneva, WI was originally named Geneva, WI by a government surveyor because he said it resembled a small town in Geneva, New York. It was later renamed to Lake Geneva to avoid confusion with Geneva, IL.

A Bit of History of the US Mailboat

The US mailboat has been delivering mail to local residents around Lake Geneva for over 100 years. The cruise line has had a contract with the US post office to deliver mail during the summer season since 1916 and you can ride along to see the mail being delivered. Before the mailboat, residents had to come to the city dock to pick up their mail.

The mailboat jumpers have to interview for the job by going on a mailboat delivery try-out. They go out on the boat and practice making mail deliveries. Watch a video of a “job interview”.

The US Mailboat

You will set sail on the Walworth. It was launched in 1966, but local Lake Geneva residents have been receiving summer mail delivery by previous boats since 1916. The Walworth is the only mail jumping boat in the United States.

Two photographs of the Walworth mailboat in Lake Geneva, WI. The first image shows a close-up of the boat’s informational plaque with details like its launch year (1966), builder (Schwartz Marine), length (75 feet), and other specifications. The second image displays the Walworth docked, with passengers aboard, and the caption "Lake Geneva US Mailboat - Walworth" written below.

What Do You See on the US Mailboat Tour?

The 2.5 hour boat tour includes a narrated tour of the homes along the shoreline of the entire lake as well as a front row seat to the daily mail delivery. The delivery person on my tour was 19 year old Ella. She successfully made every delivery. By successfully, I mean she didn’t fall in the water. We were told that this happens from time to time.

You see, this mail delivery is like nothing I’ve ever seen. The mail person has to jump off the moving boat onto the dock to the deliver the mail into the mailbox as quickly as possible. Then they have to jump back onto the boat without falling into the water. The boat never stops. They jump off the boat from the front and if all goes well, they jump back on toward the back as the boat continues to move forward.

The first stop is a goose mailbox. It’s tradition to kiss the goose on your delivery or it’s said that you may have bad luck on the rest of your deliveries- you may fall in the water.

We saw over 50 deliveries being made on this tour! And without a single mistake. Way to go, Ella.

At two different stops on the route, Ella and another jumper jumped off the boat and had to run around to multiple mailboxes on land. One of the runs was about 1/2 mile. It was incredible to see. They even made it to the pick up dock before the boat. They were waiting on us!

I’ve been wanting to take this US mailboat tour for a number of years and it just hasn’t worked out. I’m so glad we finally made it happen-it was well worth it. I went with my 2 daughters and parents and everyone enjoyed it.

If you’d like to get a sneak peak of the mailboat jumpers, check out it out here!

Many of these homes were built in the late 1800’s and owned by well known millionaires. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, many wealthy Chicagoans stayed in their summer houses in Lake Geneva while the city was being rebuilt. Some of the houses you will see and learn about are the Wrigley complex– chewing gum mogul, Schwinn Estates– famous bicycle company, and the Aloha Lodge-built for Tracy Drake who founded the Drake Hotel.

Two photographs showing the mailboat jumpers in action on the Lake Geneva US Mailboat. The first image captures a jumper in mid-action from inside the boat, while passengers look on. The second image shows two jumpers running along the dock, with the caption "Lake Geneva US Mailboat - Mailboat Jumpers" written below.

US Mailboat Tickets

You can purchase tickets here. Tickets range from $37-$55 (child/adult/senior) at the time of this posting for the 2024 summer season.

Know Before You Go

Travel Tip: When facing the front of the boat, sit on the right side of the boat (starboard) for the best view of the mailboat jumper in action.

Where to park:

There’s metered and non metered street parking all throughout the downtown area as well as some paid and free parking lots. The free parking lots are Sage parking lot near City of Lake Geneva Museum and Dunn Field Parking Lot-Tennis/Frisbee Golf/Dog Park. Here’s a map of the parking situation and here’s another map in the downtown area. As you can imagine, the free parking gets taken very quickly.

Where to board the boat:

You will board at the Riviera Docks, 812 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva, IL. This dock is right in the downtown area- you can’t miss the big building on the lake. It’s one block south of the main downtown intersections of Broad Street & Main Street (Hwy. 50). As you walk through the building, you will see some small stores, a coffee shop, and a bathroom.

When to board:

Boarding begins at 9:30AM- 1/2 hour before the tour begins. I suggest getting there early, to get a good seat. The right side of the boat is best for seeing the mail jumper. I’m not sure how much you can see from the upper deck. We sat inside and it seemed to be a better view than trying to look over the railing.

A photo of the Riviera Docks building in Lake Geneva, WI, framed by a large tree and greenery in the foreground. The path leading to the building is surrounded by well-maintained lawns, and the building itself features a classic design with red-tiled roofs and an arched entrance. The sign "The Riviera" is prominently displayed above the entrance.

Bathrooms:

There is a bathroom at the Riviera Docks and 1 small one on board the US Mailboat Walworth.

Want to enjoy Lake Geneva for the whole day? Check out my post about the best 1 day itinerary!

The Lake Geneva US Mailboat Tour is a unique experience that you’ll never forget. It combines the rich history of the area with the unique tradition of mail jumping. You’ll not only enjoy the breathtaking scenery and beautiful historic mansions but also witness the remarkable skill and agility of the mail jumpers. This one-of-a-kind adventure offers a perfect blend of excitement, education, and scenic beauty, making it a memorable outing for your next summer visit to Lake Geneva.