1. Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio
Known as “Ohio’s First Summer Resort,” Geneva-on-the-Lake once overflowed with families escaping Cleveland and Pittsburgh for lake breezes and boardwalk fun. During the 1950s, its strip of arcades, dance halls, and roller rinks made it a Midwestern gem. The town even drew celebrities and musicians, adding to its summertime glow. Then came the decline, as air travel and changing tastes pulled tourists away.
Today, Geneva-on-the-Lake is a nostalgia trip in motion. The same strip still exists — dotted with neon signs, hot dog stands, and penny arcades that feel straight out of 1962. It’s charmingly worn, but that’s exactly the appeal. You don’t come here for modern luxury; you come to relive a memory.
2. Bombay Beach, California
In the 1950s, Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea was billed as “the next Palm Springs.” Movie stars and vacationers came to boat, fish, and party along what was then California’s largest lake. The shoreline was lined with modern homes and yacht clubs — the perfect backdrop for magazine covers and postcards. But the dream sank fast when the water turned toxic and the fish started dying.
Today, Bombay Beach is a surreal relic — equal parts ghost town and art colony. Rusting trailers, crumbling marinas, and salt-encrusted docks sit frozen in time. Artists have moved in, transforming the decay into desert installations that keep the memory alive in a new way. It’s haunting, yet somehow hopeful, like a mirage of the glamorous 1960s that refuses to fade completely.
3. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Before air travel made Florida accessible, Lake Geneva was the Midwest’s answer to the Riviera. Chicago’s elite built massive “summer cottages” here in the late 1800s, complete with private docks and opulent gardens. Steamboats carried guests from one lavish estate to another, and the lakeside strip buzzed with elegant hotels and live music. By mid-century, though, the party atmosphere had quieted as vacation habits changed.
Today, Lake Geneva is still lovely — but its golden era feels like a distant echo. Many of the grand estates are now museums or wedding venues, not summer homes for the rich. The lake remains a weekend getaway spot, yet it’s nostalgia that keeps the town glowing. When you walk the shore path, you can practically hear the clink of champagne glasses from a century ago.
4. Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
Billed as “the oldest summer resort in America,” Wolfeboro on Lake Winnipesaukee drew politicians, writers, and Boston society for over a century. The lake breeze, grand hotels, and steamboat tours made it the ultimate place to see and be seen. Presidents vacationed here, and entire families came for the season, not just a weekend. But as modern resorts took over, Wolfeboro’s old-fashioned charm became its defining feature instead of its selling point.
Today, it’s a town steeped in memory more than motion. The grand hotels are gone, replaced by bed-and-breakfasts and antique shops. The town still hosts small summer festivals that nod to its storied past, keeping the nostalgia alive for locals and visitors alike. If you squint a little, you can almost picture the Victorian carriages rolling down Main Street again.
5. Lake George, New York
Lake George was once the crown jewel of the Adirondacks, where city dwellers fled for fresh air and fancy resorts. The Sagamore Hotel glittered as the centerpiece, and steamboats dotted the lake carrying honeymooners and families. By the mid-1900s, it was packed every summer — arcades, ice cream parlors, and speedboat tours made it a dream destination. But the modern travel boom and bigger resort towns eventually stole its thunder.
The town still thrives in summer, though much smaller in spirit than before. Its nostalgia is its biggest attraction now — the retro motels, mini-golf courses, and souvenir shops feel lovingly frozen in time. Families return because their parents brought them, not because it’s new or trendy. That generational pull is exactly what keeps Lake George’s memory afloat.
6. Sandusky, Ohio
Before Cedar Point became the mega-amusement park it is today, Sandusky’s lakeside charm was its biggest draw. The town boasted grand hotels, ferry rides, and a bustling waterfront promenade along Lake Erie. Families came for the beaches and cool breezes long before roller coasters defined the skyline. But when Cedar Point expanded, the old-town character slowly faded into the background.
Today, Sandusky feels like two towns in one — a nostalgic lakeside city hiding beneath a thrill-seeker’s playground. You can still find remnants of the old resorts and quiet marinas if you wander off the main tourist track. Locals talk fondly of the pre-amusement-park days, when people came for sunsets and strolls, not adrenaline. It’s nostalgia that gives Sandusky’s quieter side its enduring heart.
7. Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid isn’t forgotten by any means, but its fame has shifted. Once the pinnacle of American resort life in the early 20th century, it was known for its grand hotels, summer theater, and crisp mountain air. Later, the Olympics put it back on the map — twice — but the small-town lakeside magic has since mellowed into memory. It’s more of a winter sports hub now than a summer playground.
If you visit, you’ll find the ghosts of its glamorous past in the faded boathouses and old postcards lining Main Street. The Lake Placid Club, once sprawling with luxury, is now just a nostalgic whisper. Locals keep the history alive through museums and stories told to curious tourists. It’s a town that wears its past proudly, even as it’s quietly outgrown the fame that built it.
8. Petoskey, Michigan
Perched on Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay, Petoskey was once a summer darling for Midwest elites. Its elegant Victorians, resort hotels, and breezy lakeside casinos made it a jewel of the Great Lakes vacation circuit. Ernest Hemingway even spent summers here, writing about its charm in his early stories. But as interstate highways sent travelers farther afield, the town’s resort heyday slowly dimmed.
Today, Petoskey survives on nostalgia and small-town appeal rather than star power. The lakeside views are as stunning as ever, and the old hotels still gleam under fresh paint. Antique stores, fudge shops, and cozy inns fill the place once dominated by glamorous casinos. It’s the kind of town where you come to remember what vacation used to mean.
9. Lake Havasu City, Arizona
When Lake Havasu City was founded in the 1960s, it became famous overnight — especially after importing London Bridge, stone by stone, from England. Tourists poured in to marvel at the oddity of it all, and the manmade lake drew water-skiers and sun seekers from across the Southwest. But the novelty eventually faded, and the crowds followed. By the late 1990s, the town had become more of a memory than a magnet.
Now, it’s equal parts college spring-break spot and quiet retirement retreat. The bridge still stands, of course, and nostalgia keeps it on road-trip itineraries. Locals remember the boom years fondly — when the bridge, the boats, and the bikinis made headlines. These days, it’s calmer, but the echoes of its quirky golden age still shimmer off the water.
10. Olcott Beach, New York
Once upon a time, Olcott Beach on Lake Ontario was the go-to spot for families from Buffalo and Rochester looking for summer fun. The waterfront was lined with hotels, dance halls, and a bustling amusement park that could rival Coney Island on a good day. Steamboats docked daily, unloading tourists eager to ride the roller coasters and sip lemonade by the pier. Today, the crowds are gone, but you can still stroll along the historic carousel park and imagine the laughter that used to fill the air.
The decline came when better highways and new theme parks pulled visitors elsewhere. Fires and flooding destroyed much of what once made Olcott sparkle. Locals have worked hard to preserve its charm, opening small nostalgic attractions that nod to its past glory. It’s a peaceful reminder of an era when summer meant a lakeside escape, not a flight across the country.
11. Saranac Lake, New York
Before antibiotics, Saranac Lake was world-famous as a health resort for tuberculosis patients. Elegant sanatoriums and “cure cottages” lined the lake, and well-to-do families built grand homes for long convalescences. The clean air and serene waters made it an early wellness destination — long before the term existed. But as medicine advanced, the town’s purpose faded.
Today, Saranac Lake lives mostly in the shadow of Lake Placid’s fame. You can still visit the preserved “cure cottages” and the fascinating museum dedicated to its medical past. The town’s quiet streets and vintage porches tell a story of healing and hope that’s long since passed. It’s not bustling anymore, but it’s steeped in memory — and that’s its quiet power.
12. Lake Arrowhead, California
Just a couple of hours from Los Angeles, Lake Arrowhead once reigned as Hollywood’s weekend playground. Movie stars from the 1930s through the 1960s came here to escape the city heat and pose for magazines by the water. Its alpine lake setting made it both glamorous and cozy — a place where film crews and honeymooners rubbed elbows. But as travel got easier, the stars stopped coming.
Today, Arrowhead feels more nostalgic than elite. The lake’s still breathtaking, but the old lodges and cocktail bars now attract families and retirees instead of actors and moguls. You can feel the Hollywood past in its architecture and faded resort signs. It’s no longer a place of flash — it’s a place of memory.
13. Big Bear Lake, California
Before snowboarding and ski lifts defined it, Big Bear Lake was a summertime paradise. In the early to mid-20th century, people came for boating, fishing, and cool mountain air — it was Southern California’s favorite escape. The 1930s saw movie shoots and celebrity visitors, giving it a glamorous lakeside shine. But over time, the emphasis shifted to winter tourism, leaving the summer identity behind.
Now, Big Bear feels like a nostalgia sandwich — part outdoor adventure, part throwback resort town. Old motels and pancake houses still hold their ground beside newer developments. You can sense the town’s former simplicity in its slower corners, away from the ski crowds. It’s a lake that remembers being loved for different reasons.
14. Hot Springs, Arkansas (Lake Hamilton area)
In its prime, Hot Springs and nearby Lake Hamilton were synonymous with luxury, leisure, and a touch of mischief. Gangsters like Al Capone vacationed here, enjoying the lakeside casinos and steamy bathhouses. The combination of hot springs and lake views made it a rare blend of natural beauty and indulgence. But as legalized gambling moved elsewhere, its glitter dimmed.
Today, the bathhouses stand more as museum pieces than playgrounds. The lake is quieter, filled with pontoon boats instead of party cruisers. Visitors still come for relaxation, but it’s the nostalgia that gives the place its character. You go to Hot Springs now to feel time slow down — and maybe to imagine Capone stepping off a boat.
15. Lake Okoboji, Iowa
Once the Midwest’s best-kept secret, Lake Okoboji was the summer resort scene for generations of Iowans. The Arnolds Park Amusement Park drew crowds since 1889, and its wooden roller coaster was a rite of passage. Families returned every year, generation after generation, creating a tradition that defined summer itself. But as big vacations got bigger, small-town lakes like Okoboji lost their broader spotlight.
Even so, Okoboji still hums with old-fashioned magic. The amusement park still runs, though smaller, and the lake hosts quiet fishing mornings and vintage boat parades. Locals cherish it as a living piece of nostalgia, not a lost one. You can feel its history in every wave lapping the shore.
16. McCall, Idaho
Long before it became a ski destination, McCall was known for its pristine Payette Lake and old-time resorts. In the mid-1900s, it was the crown jewel of Idaho’s summer getaways — log lodges, boating, and big band dances by the lake. It drew families from Boise and beyond, all chasing that mountain-lake magic. Over time, though, new vacation trends and year-round tourism shifted the vibe.
Today, McCall’s still beautiful, but its old resort-town innocence is gone. The simple cabins have turned into luxury rentals, and the dance pavilions are just stories in scrapbooks. Yet the nostalgia runs deep — the lake’s still at the heart of everything. And for many Idahoans, McCall remains the memory of summer itself.
This post 16 Once-Famous Lakeside Towns Now Known Only Because of Nostalgia was first published on American Charm.
